Vitamin for Acne

Most people are lacking in the vitamins that are important for your body to function efficiently. Only around 15 percent of Americans eat the recommended three to five servings of vegetables every day. Did you know that your skin is the largest organ of your body. It above all else requires proper nutrition to function well and act as the first line of defense against infectious diseases and microbes.

Your body needs complete nutrition to promote healthy skin and to prevent acne. There are a number of vitamins and minerals that are powerful antioxidants capable of flushing out free radicals and toxins from your body. Some even have antibacterial effects and promote immunity, both of which are important in keeping your pores clean of clogging toxins and in healing the damaged skin tissue.

Vitamin A with carotenoids strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and prevents acne formation by reducing sebum production. Vitamin A is essential for the maintenance and repair of the tissue which the skin and mucous membranes are made of. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant that relieves your body of oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

Did you know that a deficiency in vitamin A can actually cause acne? It is recommended you take up to 10,000 IU of vitamin A to successfully combat acne but don’t take more than 5,000 IU if you are pregnant. A high-quality liquid multivitamin is a good source for vitamin A, as well as the other vitamins that help with preventing acne.

A good Vitamin B complex helps you maintain healthy skin tone. These vitamins also help you relieve anxiety and stress, and stress can be a major factor that can trigger acne.

The vitamin B group comprises Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (Nicotinic Acid, Niacinamide, B3), Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine (B6) and Cyanocobalamin (B12). Each one of these vitamins has a specific role in promoting healthy skin, as well as overall health.
Thiamine acts as an antioxidant, enhances your circulation, and assists your body to properly digest the food you eat. You should take 100 mg of Thiamine thrice daily to combat acne.

Riboflavin or vitamin B2 works with Vitamin A to maintain and improve the mucous membranes in your digestive tract. It is also essential for healthy skin, hair and nails. Acne is one of the symptoms of riboflavin deficiency. The dosage of vitamin b2 recommended to fight acne is 100 mg, 3 times daily. You may find that this dose also helps with migraine headaches.

Niacinamide or vitamin B3 is also important for healthy skin by improving circulation and helping your body with the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. A deficiency in Niacinamide will cause acne.

Pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 is noted for helping reduce stress, in effect indirectly reducing acne, which stress is known to cause. It is also required for the proper function of the adrenal glands.

Pyridoxine or vitamin B6 is crucial in the functioning of your immune system and your antibody production. A deficiency of vitamin B6 can result in acne.

Vitamin C and bioflavonoids are another set of antioxidants that are required for at least 300 metabolic functions in the body, including tissue growth and repair. Vitamin C protects against infection and enhances immunity. Bioflavanoids have an antibacterial effect. The recommended dosage to fight acne is 1000 mg 3 times daily. If you have diabetes, ask your doctor about the proper dosage.

Chromium aids acne by reducing skin infections rates. To get the adequate amount of chromium in your diet, you need to take liquid supplemental chromium called chromium picolinate or chromium polynicotinate. Chances are you are chromium deficient because the form of chromium in foods is not easily absorbed and is lost during processing. High quantities of sugar in the diet cause a loss of chromium from the body. The recommended dosage to fight acne is 150 mcg per day.

Zinc helps with healing of the tissues and helps prevent scarring. It helps prevent acne by regulating the activity of the oil glands. Zinc promotes a healthy immune system and the healing of wounds. It is also an antioxidant which helps to fight and prevent the formation of free radicals. Acne can be a sign of Zinc deficiency. The recommended dosage to fight acne is 25 to 30mg per day.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that enhances healing and tissue repair. It prevents cell damage by inhibiting the oxidation of lipids (fats) and the formation of free radicals. Take 400 IU daily of Vitamin E to combat acne.

Taking a potent liquid multivitamin with chromium will supplement most of your daily requirements. Remember to find a multi-vitamin that you can take at least twice a day. It is important to know that taking too much of a vitamin or mineral can be toxic and extremely dangerous. Each supplement listed has a recommended dosage that you should not exceed. Taking "too much" of a vitamin will NOT decrease your acne relief and may not be healthy. That said, many people with acne find great relief in the fact that proper vitamin levels can clear up much, if not all of their acne.

A good multivitamin is the foundation of health and nutrition. Take a look at our scientific reviews of many of the popular brands for factors such as ingredients, areas of improvement, quality level, and overall value.

Acne Treatment

Treatment for Blackheads, Whiteheads, and Mild Inflammatory Acne

Doctors usually recommend an OTC or prescription topical medication for people with blackheads, whiteheads, and mild inflammatory acne. Depending on the type of medication, a topical drug is applied directly to the acne lesions or to the entire area of skin affected. The medication helps limit the formation of new blackheads and whiteheads and decrease inflammation.

Patients with moderate to severe inflammatory acne may be treated with an OTC or prescription topical medication, a prescription oral medication, or a combination of these.

Treatment for Moderate to Severe Inflammatory Acne

Topical OTC Medications

Benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, and sulfur are the most common topical OTC medications used to treat acne. Each works a little differently. Benzoyl peroxide is best at killing P. acnes and may reduce oil production. Resorcinol, salicylic acid, and sulfur help break down blackheads and whiteheads. Salicylic acid also helps cut down the shedding of cells lining the follicles of the oil glands. Topical OTC medications are available in many forms, such as gel, lotion, cream, soap, or pad.

In some patients, OTC acne medications may cause side effects such as skin irritation, burning, or redness. Some people find that the side effects lessen or go away with continued use of the medication. Severe or prolonged side effects should be reported to the doctor.

OTC topical medications are usually moderately effective in treating acne when used regularly. Patients must keep in mind that it can take between 4 and 8 weeks before they notice an improvement in their skin.

Prescription Topical Medications

Several types of prescription topical medications are used to treat acne, including benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, tretinoin, adapalene, and azelaic acid. Prescription and OTC benzoyl peroxide work in the same way. Many doctors prescribe benzoyl peroxide instead of recommending OTC versions to make sure patients get the most desirable formulation (cream, gel, or lotion).

Common Prescription Topical Medications Used To Treat Acne • Benzoyl peroxide • Adapalene gel (Differin) • Clindamycin phosphate (Cleocin T) • Azelic acid (Azelex) • Erythromycin • Benzoyl peroxide and sulfur • Tetracycline HCL • Erythromycin and benzoyl peroxide • Tretinoin (Retin-A, Avita) • Sulfur and resorcinol

Antibiotics and azelaic acid help stop or slow the growth of P. acnes and reduce inflammation. Tretinoin, a type of drug called a retinoid that contains vitamin A, is the most effective topical medication for stopping the development of new comedones. It also fights acne by increasing cell turnover, which helps unplug existing comedones, and thereby allows other topical medications, such as antibiotics, to penetrate the follicles better. The doctor may also prescribe a newer drug called adapalene gel, a retinoidlike compound that helps decrease microcomedone formation.

Prescription topical medications come in a variety of products. The doctor will consider the patient's skin type when prescribing a product. Creams and lotions are moisturizing and tend to be good for people with dry skin. Gels and solutions are generally alcohol based and tend to dry the skin, so patients with excessively oily skin or those who live in hot, humid climates may prefer a gel. The doctor will tell the patient how to apply the medication and how often to use it.

Some people develop side effects from using prescription topical medications. Common side effects include stinging, burning, redness, peeling, scaling, or discoloration of the skin. With retinoids, these side effects usually decrease or go away after the medication is used for a period of time. Patients should report prolonged or severe side effects to their doctor. Between 4 and 8 weeks will most likely pass before patients see improvement in their skin.

Prescription Oral Medications

For patients with moderate to severe acne, the doctor often prescribes oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) in addition to topical medication. Oral antibiotics are thought to help control acne by curbing the growth of P. acnes and decreasing inflammation. Common antibiotics used to treat acne are tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline, and erythromycin. Some people have side effects when taking these antibiotics, such as photosensitivity (higher risk of sunburn), upset stomach, dizziness or lightheadedness, and skin discoloration. Tetracycline is not given to pregnant women or children under 12 years of age because it can discolor developing teeth. Tetracycline and minocycline also decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills, so a backup or alternative form of birth control must be used. Patients usually must take oral antibiotics for as long as 4 to 6 months to effectively treat acne.

Treatment for Severe Nodular or Cystic Acne

People with severe nodular or cystic acne should be treated by a dermatologist. For patients with severe inflammatory acne that does not improve with other medications isotretinoin (Accutane), a retinoid, may be needed. Isotretinoin is an oral drug and is usually taken once or twice a day for 16 to 20 weeks. It is believed to markedly reduce the size of the oil glands so that much less oil is produced. As a result, the growth of P. acnes is decreased. Isotretinoin also reduces cell shedding and the stickiness of cells in the follicles, which helps prevent the development of comedones.

Advantages of Isotretinoin

Isotretinoin is a very effective medication that can help prevent extensive scarring in patients. After 16 to 20 weeks of treatment with isotretinoin, acne completely or almost completely goes away in most patients (up to 90 percent). For some people, however, the acne will come back, and they will need additional treatment with isotretinoin.

Disadvantages of Isotretinoin

Patients should carefully consider the several disadvantages of isotretinoin. The drug is not only expensive but is also linked to some adverse effects that can be severe. Possible side effects include inflammation of the lip and mucous membrane of the eye; dry mouth, nose, or skin; itching; nosebleeds; muscle aches; photosensitivity; and, rarely, decreased night vision. Other more serious side effects include increased blood cholesterol, lipid, and triglyceride levels and abnormal liver enzymes. To make sure isotretinoin is stopped if these side effects occur, the doctor usually monitors a patient's complete blood count, blood chemistries, cholesterol, triglycerides, and liver enzymes before therapy is started and periodically during treatment. All of these side effects usually go away after the medication is stopped. Patients who experience side effects while using isotretinoin should tell their doctor. The doctor may be able to reduce the dose of the drug so that the side effects are decreased or stopped.

The most serious potential adverse effect of isotretinoin is that it is teratogenic: it can cause birth defects in the developing fetus of pregnant women who take the drug. Therefore, it is crucial that women of childbearing age are not pregnant and do not get pregnant while taking isotretinoin. Women must use an appropriate birth control method for 1 month before therapy begins, during the entire course of therapy, and for 1 full month after therapy stops. Women should talk to their doctor about when it is safe to get pregnant after therapy with isotretinoin has stopped.

Treatments for Hormonally Influenced Acne

For some female patients, treatment-resistant acne is caused by excessive production of hormones called androgens. Clues that help the doctor diagnose hormonally influenced acne are adult-onset acne, hirsutism (excessive growth of hair or hair in unusual places), premenstrual acne flares, irregular menstrual cycles, and elevated blood levels of certain androgens.

The doctor may prescribe one of several drugs to treat women with this type of acne. Low-dose estrogen birth control pills help suppress the androgen produced by the ovaries. Low-dose corticosteroid drugs, such as prednisone or dexamethasone, may have an anti-inflammatory effect and suppress the androgen produced by the adrenal glands. Finally, the doctor may prescribe an antiandrogen drug, such as spironolactone, which helps prevent androgens from causing excessive oil production. Spironolactone also stops androgen production in the ovaries and adrenal glands.

Side effects of antiandrogen drugs may include menstrual irregularities, breast tenderness, headache, and fatigue.

How To Prevent Acne

• Clean Skin Gently
  People with acne may try to stop outbreaks and oil production by scrubbing their skin and using strong detergent soaps. However, scrubbing will not improve acne; in fact, it can make the problem worse. Most doctors recommend that people with acne gently wash their skin with a mild cleanser, once in the morning and once in the evening. Patients should ask their doctor or another health professional for advice on the best type of cleanser to use. The skin should also be washed after heavy exercise. Patients should wash their face from under the jaw to the hairline; rough scrubs or pads should not be used. It is important that patients thoroughly rinse their skin after washing it. Astringents are not recommended unless the skin is very oily, and then they should be used only on oily spots. Doctors also recommend that patients regularly shampoo their hair. Those with oily hair may want to shampoo it every day.
• Avoid Frequent Handling of the Skin
  People who squeeze, pinch, or pick their blemishes risk developing scars. Acne lesions can form in areas where pressure is frequently applied to the skin. Frequent rubbing and touching of skin lesions should be avoided.
• Shave Carefully
  Men who shave and who have acne can try electric and safety razors to see which is more comfortable. Men who use a safety razor should use a sharp blade and soften their beard thoroughly with soap and water before applying shaving cream. Nicking blemishes can be avoided by shaving lightly and only when necessary.
• Avoid Suntanning
  A suntan or sunburn that reddens the skin can make blemishes less visible and make the skin feel drier for a little while. But the benefits are only temporary. The sun can seriously damage skin, promote aging of skin, and cause skin cancer. Furthermore, many of the medications used to treat acne make a person more prone to sunburn.
• Choose Cosmetics Carefully
  People being treated for acne often need to change some of the cosmetics they use. All cosmetics, such as foundation, blush, eye shadow, and moisturizers, should be oil free. Patients may find it difficult to apply foundation evenly during the first few weeks of treatment because skin may be red or scaly, particularly with the use of topical tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide. Lip products that contain moisturizers may cause small, open and closed comedones to form. Hairstyling products that come in contact with the skin along the hairline can cause burning or stinging in people with acne. Products that are labeled as noncomedogenic (do not promote the formation of blemishes) should be used; in some people, however, even these products may cause acne.

Acne Types

There are many variations of acne, ranging in severity from mild to severely disfiguring. The regimen works well to combat moderate to light acne. Severe acne may require more aggressive treatment

Acne Vulgaris - mild/moderate

Acne Vulgaris is the most common form of acne which includes several types of pimples. These acne lesions include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts.

Mild to Moderate acne vulgaris consists of the following types of acne spots:

Whiteheads: Whiteheads result when a pore is completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing a white appearance on the surface. These types of acne lesions sometimes seem to be begging to be popped. Whiteheads are normally quicker in life cycle than blackheads.

Blackheads: Blackhead result when a pore is only partially blocked, allowing some of the trapped sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells to slowly drain to the surface. The black color is not caused by dirt. Rather, it is a reaction of the skin's own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air. A blackhead tends to be a stable structure, and can often take a long time to clear..

Papules: Papules are inflamed, red, tender bumps with no head. Do not squeeze a papule. It will do no good, and may exacerbate scarring

Pustules: A pustule is similar to a whitehead, but is inflamed, and appears as a red circle with a white or yellow center. Pustules are your garden variety zit

Acne Vulgaris - Severe

Severe acne vulgaris is characterized by nodules and cysts:

Nodules: As opposed to the lesions mentioned above, nodular acne consists of acne spots which are much larger, can be quite painful and can sometimes last for months. Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin's surface. Scarring is common. Absolutely do not attempt to squeeze such a lesion. You may cause severe trauma to the skin and the lesion may last for months longer than it normally would. Dermatologists often have ways of lessening swelling and preventing scarring.

Cysts: An acne cyst can appear similar to a nodule, but is pus-filled, and has been described as having a diameter of 5mm or more across. They can be painful. Again, scarring is common with cystic acne. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation which will last much longer than if you had left it alone. Dermatologists often have ways of lessening swelling and preventing scarring.

Acne Rosacea

Acne Rosacea can look similar to the aforementioned acne vulgaris, and the two types of acne are sometimes confused for one another.

Rosacea affects millions of people, most of whom are over the age of 30. It appears as a red rash which is normally confined to the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. The redness is often accompanied by bumps, pimples, and skin blemishes. Blood vessels may also become more visible on the skin. Blackheads are not a part of rosacea. It is more prevalent in women, but often more severe when found in men. Left untreated, it can cause swelling of the nose and the growth of excess tissue, a condition called rhinophyma. Treatment is often different for rosacea than for acne, and it is important that you consult a doctor can determine if what you are experiencing is acne vulgaris or rosacea.

Severe forms of acne

Severe forms of acne are rare, but they are a great hardship to the people who experience them, and can be disfiguring--and, like all forms of acne, can have psychological effects on the sufferer.

Acne Conglobata: This is the most severe form of acne vulgaris and is more common in males. It is characterized by numerous large lesions, which are sometimes interconnected, along with widespread blackheads. It can cause severe, irrevocable damage to the skin, and disfiguring scarring. It is found on the face, chest, back, buttocks, upper arms, and thighs. The age of onset for acne conglobata is usually between 18 and 30 years, and the condition can stay active for many years. As with all forms of acne, the cause of acne conglobata is unknown. Treatment usually includes isotretinoin (Accutane), and although acne conglobata is sometimes resistant to treatment, it can often be controlled through aggressive treatment over time.

Acne Fulminans: This is an abrupt onset of acne conglobata which normally afflicts young men. Symptoms of severe nodulocystic, often ulcerating acne are apparent. As with acne conglobata, extreme, disfiguring scarring is common. Acne fulminans is unique in that it also includes a fever and aching of the joints. Acne fulminans does not respond well to antibiotics. Isotretinoin (Accutane) and oral steroids are normally prescribed.

Gram-Negative Folliculitis: This condition is a bacterial infection characterized by pustules and cysts, possibly occurring as a complication resulting from a long term antibiotic treatment of acne vulgaris. It is a rare condition, and we do not know if it is more common in males or females at this time. Fortunately, isotretinoin (Accutane) is often effective in combating gram-negative folliculitis.

Pyoderma Faciale: This type of severe facial acne affects only females, usually between the ages of 20 to 40 years old, and is characterized by painful large nodules, pustules and sores which may leave scarring. It begins abruptly, and may occur on the skin of a woman who has never had acne before. It is confined to the face, and usually does not last longer than one year, but can wreak havoc in a very short time.

What is Acne & What Causes Acne

What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition that typically causes one or more of the following:

• blackheads (comedones)
• whiteheads
• red or yellow spots
• greasy skin
• scars

Acne typically affects the skin of the face, back, neck, chest and arms and the severity of the condition can vary.

Acne affects people of all skin colours. The processes that cause acne are exactly the same in people with black or brown skin but the impact is altered by the skin pigmentation.

Acne is very common and affects about 80 in 100 people aged 11-30 at some time.

The skin

The surface of the skin has lots of small sebaceous glands just below the surface. These glands make an oily substance called sebum that keeps the skin smooth and supple.

Tiny pores (holes in the skin) allow the sebum to come to the skin surface. Hairs also grow through these pores.

Illustration showing the structure of skin

What causes acne?

Acne is caused by the overactivity of the sebaceous glands that secrete oily substances onto the skin.

The sebaceous glands of people with acne are especially sensitive to normal blood levels of a hormone called testosterone, found naturally in both men and women.

Testosterone in people prone to acne triggers the sebaceous glands to produce an excess of sebum. At the same time, the dead skin cells lining the openings of the hair follicles (the tubes that hold the hair) are not shed properly and clog up the follicles.

These two effects combined cause a build-up of oil in the hair follicles. This causes blackheads and whiteheads to form.

For some people, their acne does not progress beyond this stage.

However in other people, the build-up of oil in the hair follicles creates an ideal environment for a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes to grow.

These bacteria normally live harmlessly on your skin but when this ideal environment is created, they grow. They feed off the sebum and produce substances that cause a response from your body's immune system. This inflames the skin and creates the redness associated with spots.

In more severe 'inflammatory acne', cysts develop beneath the skin's surface. These acne cysts can rupture, spreading the infection into nearby skin tissue. This can result in scarring.

Acne Myths

Myth #1: The more you wash your face, the fewer breakouts you'll have.

Fact: Although washing your face helps to remove dirt and oil from your pores, washing too much can lead to dryness and irritation, causing more breakouts. Also, avoid scrubbing your face, which can irritate the skin. As a general rule, wash your face twice a day with mild soap and water in a circular motion and gently pat dry when you're done.

Myth #2: Don't wear makeup if you want clear skin.

Fact: As long as you choose cosmetics that are nonacnegenic or noncomedogenic, they shouldn't cause breakouts. In fact, some concealers now contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which help to fight acne. You can also try tinted benzoyl peroxide creams that hide pimples while helping treat them.

If you've had moderate to severe acne, though, talk to your doctor or dermatologist about the best cosmetics to use — he or she may recommend avoiding cosmetics altogether or only using certain brands so you're acne isn't aggravated.

Myth #3: Chocolate and greasy foods cause acne.

Fact: Although eating too many sugary, high-fat foods is never a good idea, studies show that no specific food has been proven to cause acne. Every individual is different, though. Some people notice their breakouts are worse after eating certain foods — and these foods are different depending on the person. For example, some people may notice breakouts after eating chocolate; while others are fine with chocolate but notice they get breakouts after drinking too much coffee. If that's the case for you, it can help to cut back on that food and see if it makes a difference.

Myth #4: Popping pimples will help them go away faster.

Fact: Popping a pimple may make it seem less noticeable temporarily, but popping can cause it to stay around longer. By squeezing pimples and zits, you can actually push bacteria further into the skin; causing more swelling and redness — and sometimes causing a red or brown mark or scar to form. Sometimes marks can last for many months and true scars (dents and pits) will last forever.

And even if a product is labeled nonacnegenic or noncomedogenic, you should stop using it and talk to your doctor if you notice that it's irritating your skin or seems to cause breakouts.

Myth #5: Tanning clears up skin.

Fact: Although a tan may temporarily mask acne, the sun can make the skin dry and irritated, leading to more breakouts in the future. In fact, there's no link between sun exposure and acne prevention, but the sun's rays can cause premature aging and skin cancer. Always protect your skin by choosing a sunscreen of at least SPF (sun protection factor) 15 that says noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic on the label, which means it won't clog pores.

Myth #6: If you keep getting breakouts, it helps to use more acne medication until the breakouts stop.

Fact: Because acne medication contains drying agents like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, using too much medication may cause overdrying, leading to irritation and more blemishes.

If over-the-counter acne medication doesn't seem to work on your acne, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor or dermatologist. Also, if you're taking a prescription acne medication, make sure you follow your doctor's instructions — some medications may take up to 8 weeks to make a significant difference.