Essential Vitamins for Healthy Skin
The skin is the largest organ in the body. Like other organs, it relies heavily on proper nutrition and vitamins to retain its elasticity, glow, and healthy look.
Even with the best skincare routine, you won’t achieve much if your skin doesn’t receive the essential nutrients it needs to help keep it healthy and functional.
When it comes to your skin, knowing what to eat and which nutrients matter most is critical. While all nutrients are vital, vitamins might be the most important for vibrant and beautiful skin.
Here, we discuss five of the top vitamins needed for healthy skin.
Whole Foods vs Oral Supplements vs Topical Applications
Before we delve into the vitamins that can help rejuvenate the skin, it’s important to know if vitamins have a better effect when you apply them on the skin or take them as a supplement.
Using topical applications rich in vitamins impacts the skin directly, and the results are immediate. However, there are other organs and body functions that require the same vitamins. It might be a better idea to consume vitamins orally to help your body as a whole. Then you can use topicals as a complementary approach.
Supplements and topical applications should never be a replacement or substitute for whole foods and a healthy diet.
Here are five important vitamins for your skin:
- Vitamin A
Vitamin A plays various roles in the wellness and maintenance of your skin. Its primary function is preventing damage from the sun by stopping the breakdown of collagen. As an antioxidant, vitamin A can help to prevent sunburn, although it is not as effective as sunscreen. It also aids in the healing of cuts and scrapes.
Spinach, mangoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes are some of the foods that are rich in this vitamin. Some creams contain derivatives of vitamin A like Image Skincare, which is efficient in treating wrinkles.
Because your iris contains melanin like your skin, consuming vitamin A also helps to protect your vision.
- Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a well-known powerhouse for overall health. For the skin, vitamin C offers a variety of benefits which include:
• Firming the skin
• Brightening the skin
• Evening out skin tone
Every time you think of Vitamin C, you should remember collagen. Collagen is the connective tissue that keeps your skin firm. Vitamin C helps in the creation of collagen and holding its shape.
Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage and lowers the risk of skin cancer. Together with Sublative Rejuvenation, you can dramatically restore your youthful appearance. The procedure helps treat mild to moderate wrinkles, textural irregularities, and red or brown spots.
Some abundant sources of Vitamin C include bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, Brussel sprouts, strawberries, and citrus fruits. Low Vitamin C intake results in easy bruising of the skin and bleeding gums.
- Vitamin B5
Hydration plays a critical role in keeping the skin looking and functioning its best. Vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenic acid or panthenol) helps moisturize, soothe, and heal the skin. Vitamin B5 is particularly helpful for dry, itchy, or irritated skin because of its hydrating, calming, and healing properties. Some of the other benefits of Vitamin B5 on the skin include:
• Smoothing the skin
• Retaining moisture
• Enhancing suppleness
• Increasing ceramide levels to restore the skin’s barrier
Broccoli, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, and avocados are some of the foods that contain plenty of Vitamin B5. There are also skincare formulations that contain this vitamin, which are perfect for skin in desperate need of moisturizing and soothing.
Other types of Vitamin B complex that can help improve the health of your skin, hair, and nails include B-1, B-2, B-3, B-6, and B-12.
- Vitamin E
This fat-soluble vitamin is found in foods like nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. It plays numerous roles in fostering the well-being of the skin, which include:
• A powerful antioxidant that helps protect skin from free radicals
• Absorbs energy from UV light to prevent wrinkles, sagging, and reduces the risk of skin cancer
• Aids in healing the skin
• Works with vitamin C to strengthen the cell wall.
Vitamin E is also known to work with other vitamins and enhance their results, particularly Vitamin A and C.
If you’re suffering from Acne, Vitamin E can help manage breakouts and soothe the skin.
If you no longer have acne, but you have acne scarring, or issues with skin texture and pigmentation, try Sublative Rejuvenation. It will help to improve skin tone and texture while significantly reducing the appearance of scarring.
- Vitamin K
Vitamin K is best known for its blood coagulation properties. It also plays a critical role in aiding the healing of the skin from wounds and bruises. This vitamin can help in managing various skin conditions like spider veins, rosacea, and stretch marks.
If you have dark patches on your skin, vitamin K can help improve skin pigmentation by enhancing the circulation of blood in that area.
The most reliable sources of Vitamin K are cabbage, liver, kale, and milk.
A triniti ™ procedure, which combines skin resurfacing, rejuvenation, and tightening treatments in a single session, can also help remove minor blemishes and signs of aging. This type of treatment can be extremely beneficial as you work on getting your Vitamin K levels up.
Final Thoughts
Natural foods filled with vitamins keep skin looking young, healthy, and glowing from the inside out. But, by combining the vitamins we ingest with topical treatments, the best skin care results are achieved.
Choose serums with the vitamins you need most and don’t forget to moisturize. Use a moisturizer that includes even more of the nutrients your skin is craving most.
If you would like help deciding which vitamins would improve the look of your skin or how to incorporate them into your routine, contact us. Our doctors and aestheticians are more than happy to help you reclaim your youthful, glowing skin.
