Vitamin A For Acne Treatment: Benefits, Uses, Dosages, Supplements, And Side Effects

Ongoing acne can negatively affect your self-esteem and lead to emotional turmoil. Don’t worry because you can combat acne with the help of vitamin A. It is a beneficial ingredient for many beauty issues. Vitamin A is an antioxidant, which can help fight free radicals, thus promoting better skin and overall health. It may also help eliminate inflammation, an underlying cause of acne vulgaris. Vitamin A is a vital nutrient found in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables and other nutrient-dense food sources. This article on Beautytalk will show you all the information of vitamin A for acne such as benefits, uses, dosages, side effects, etc. Eating foods rich in vitamin A is perfectly safe. However, taking high doses of vitamin A supplements may be dangerous, and thus you should ask your health care practitioner or doctor before self-medicating with it.

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Top 2 Effective Methods To Use Vitamin A For Acne Treatment: Benefits, Uses, Dosages, Supplements, And Side Effects

I. Benefits Of Vitamin A

A. Vitamin A And Skin Health

As a potent antioxidant, vitamin A can help combat free radicals. The free radicals can cause oxidative stress, which can change the environment in the sebaceous skin glands. As a result, this makes the glands more prone to acne-causing bacteria. This vitamin additionally reduces the production of pore-clogging oily or sebum in your skin, thereby preventing acne. Its capacity to lower the production of sebum makes vitamin A particularly useful for those who have oily and acne skin. Moreover, it is effective at promoting the growth of new skin cells and strengthening skin tissue.

B. Benefits Of Vitamin A For Acne

As you know, vitamin A is an antioxidant, which is helpful in inhibiting free radicals that can cause cell damage^{[1] [2]}. Besides, vitamin A may help to get rid of acne^{[3] [4]}.  Vitamin A may help reduce the actions of Propionibacterium acnes or P.acnes, a type of bacteria causing acne^[5]. According to a study, retinol, a form of vitamin A, may help combat and inhibit inflammatory acne lesions^[6]. Retinol may be beneficial for improving acne by smoothing skin, reducing inflammation, decreasing sebum production, protecting against environmental damage, and evening skin tone. Along with that, vitamin A may help prevent acne from getting worse^[7]. Retinoids are particularly useful for moderate to severe acne. Applying retinoids to your acne can help unclog the skin pores, which helps allow better absorption of other skin care ointments and products. Retinoids additionally prevent the buildup of dead skin cells that in turn, inhibit further outbreaks. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), retinoids are an essential component for treating acne vulgaris topically. In fact, retinoids are the form of vitamin A, which can help you fight acne. On other words, topical application of retinoids is the only useful way to treat acne^{[8] [9]}. Taking too much vitamin A can harm your health.

C. Other Benefits Of Vitamin A

Apart from treating acne, vitamin A is also highly effective at combating the aging skin and dryness on the skin. Therefore, it is best to include vitamin A in your skin care routine to lower dry skin and prevent pigmentation, wrinkles. If you apply vitamin A to your skin properly, it will be healthy and smooth gradually.

II. How Do You Use Vitamin A For Acne Treatment?

The two most efficient methods to use vitamin A for acne treatment are through medications and nutrition. There are supplements and foods you can add to your routine to stimulate your vitamin A levels inside the body. Another option is topical medications.

Read more: Top 15 Useful Ways To Get Rid Of Sebaceous Cysts. (This article was medically reviewed/fact checked by Perpetua Neo (DClinPsy, UCL; MPhil, Cambridge).

III. Food Sources Of Vitamin A

As mentioned earlier, vitamin A may help combat free radicals and inflammation in the skin, which may lead to acne. You can get enough of this vitamin through diet alone. Vitamin A rich foods include cantaloupe, apricots, mangoes, yellow and orange vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and carrots, green leafy vegetables, beef liver, and salmon. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says there is no particular diet proven to fight acne vulgaris. The only exceptions are avoiding dairy and sugar, which can aggravate breakouts in those who are already vulnerable to acne. Taking enough vitamin A can help enhance overall skin health, but it is not likely to deal with acne alone. Instead, you should pay attention to a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits for healthier skin.

IV. Vitamin A Supplements

Vitamin A supplements are potent in improving your overall immunity and your skin health too. However, consider using supplements only if you do not already take a multivitamin or already get enough vitamin A through diet. However, intakes of excessive vitamin A can cause adverse health effects such as liver damage. Plus, taking too much vitamin A during pregnancy can lead to birth defects.

Side effects of too much this vitamin in supplement form are nausea, dizziness, coma, vomiting, and headaches. Remember that these risks are only associated with supplemental forms of vitamin A. Excessive amounts of beta carotene present in vitamin A-rich vegetables and fruits won’t lead to life-threatening side effects.

V. Use A Topical Vitamin A Products

Although the potential antioxidant advantages of vitamin A, topical formulas exhibit the most promise for treating acne. These come in the form of serums and creams. According to a 2012 study, concentrations as low as 0, 25 % may provide advantages without side effects^[10].

When you first begin using topical vitamin A, it is important to start steadily. Beginning gradually can also decrease the risk of side effects, such as peeling and redness. Using retinoids can increase your skin’s sensitivity to light. Thus, make sure to wear sunscreen before stepping out to prevent sun damage.

VI. Vitamin A: Side Effects And Safety

When taken by mouth, vitamin A is likely safe for most people in amounts of less than 10,000 IU every day. When taken by mouth in high doses, it is possibly unsafe. Higher doses may increase the risk of developing osteoporosis and hip fracture, especially in older people. Besides, long-term use of large quantities of vitamin A may lead to serious side effects such as fatigue, irritability, anorexia, stomach discomfort, mental changes, nausea, mild fever, vomiting, excessive sweating, etc.

In addition to using vitamin A for acne treatment, following good skin care practices can also help combat acne-prone skin. Apart from using topical products and eating a nutritious diet, getting enough water, sleep, and exercise can also stimulate better skin health. Have you ever used topical retinoids or vitamin A for acne treatment? How did they help you? Did you notice any improvement in your skin? Leave your comments below. All content provided are for informational & educational purposes. We recommend you consult a healthcare professional to determine which method is appropriate for you.