The best vitamins for combating acne and eczema

Acne or eczema are common skin conditions that many of us will suffer from some point in our lives. The severity can vary and sometimes it can inhibit our social life, daily activities and more.

In the US alone, up to 50 million people will be affected by acne annually, and even though the preconception is that this only affects younger people, this skin condition can occur during any stage of your life [i]. Research also shows that an estimated 31.6 million adults in the US have been affected by eczema [ii].

Even though these conditions are extremely common , there is a lot you can do to reduce the severity, alleviate the symptoms and even in some cases possibly prevent it from happening in the first place.

What Are the Most Common Skin Conditions?

Acne

NHS England states that 95% of people aged 11 to 30 in the UK will experience acne of some kind during their lifetime [iii]. Acne is commonly associated with spots, oily skin, and sometimes skin that is painful to touch. It normally occurs on the face but around half of the people that suffer from this condition experience acne on their back, with a further 15% of people suffering from this on their chest too [iii].

Eczema

Atopic eczema is a skin condition that normally occurs with children but can affect adults too. This is the most common form of eczema and usually involves a person's skin becoming cracked, dry, and itchy [iv].

Both of these skin conditions can be particularly uncomfortable, and although there is no cure for either, there are things that can be done to alleviate their symptoms.

Supplements to Aid Acne and Eczema

Silica

Silica is one natural supplement that may aid certain skin conditions according to research [x]. This powerful ingredient can help to improve the collagen levels in our bodies (which enables our skin to remain healthy). As we age our bodies produce less collagen and cause us to get more wrinkles [x].

Another study also highlights how there is growing interest in this ingredient due to its possible health benefits and therapeutic effects, including positively impacting the structural integrity of the skin [xi].

You can read more here.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A could be essential to improving the health of your skin, especially as it can support your body with a daily replacement of the skin cells, which have the job of enhancing your skins protective barrier from infections [vi].

This multipurpose vitamin has a variety of other studies to support the health benefits it can offer. One study highlighted when people with acne supplemented vitamin A there may be a slow improvement over a 3-4 month period and that new lesions could also be prevented from forming [v].

Vitamin E and Zinc

A trial looking at the effects of vitamin E and zinc on acne found that there was a reduction in the number of lesions compared to those in a placebo group. These positive effects were seen in as little as 2 weeks for some participants [xii].

Vitamin E may be more important for people suffering from acne too, with a study suggesting that vitamin E levels were found to be lower in people with acne compared to those without [xiii].

Looking at separate studies into zinc alone, this ingredient may be able to reduce inflammatory effects, has antibacterial properties and could reduce the amount of oil produced by the skin [vii].

Supplementing zinc into your diet could prove beneficial, especially as another study that reviewed the literature around zinc's effect on acne stated that this ingredient was "a promising alternative to other acne treatments" [viii].

Selenium

One of the other natural ingredients that could help with the symptoms of skin conditions such as acne is selenium.

Numerous studies into the effects of selenium and skin diseases have found that there may be a correlation. A systematic review of multiple studies found that selenium levels did show an association with skin disease severity; a higher level of selenium tended to indicate an increased level of protection against certain diseases [xiv].

Staying Hydrated

When suffering from eczema, dry skin is extremely common, so keeping your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water (especially whilst exercising) is recommended by the National Association of Eczema [ix]. They also go on to say that asides from drinking plenty of fluids, protecting your skin barrier and hydrating your skin can also be aided by moisturising.

How to Add These Supplements to Your Diet!

If you are suffering from eczema or acne then please consult your local GP. You can also supplement ingredients into your diet that may help to combat the symptoms and side effects.

You can add selenium, zinc, silica, vitamin A and vitamin E to your very own personalised gummy today at Nourished. Each of our delicious gummies packs 7-high-impact ingredients into a single stack. You can take our short consultation to get a personalised recommendation or create your own stack from our lab.