Vitamins are essential for maintaining healthy skin. Here are some of the best vitamins for skin health, along with their positive and negative effects, ingredients, and materials:
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Vitamin A: Both the upper and lower layers of skin need vitamin A. It seems to prevent sun damage by interrupting the process that breaks down collagen. Since its an antioxidant, it may give your skin some protection against sunburn (although not as much as wearing sunscreen). It helps the oil glands around your hair follicles work and may also help cuts and scrapes heal, especially if youre taking steroids to reduce inflammation. Without enough vitamin A, your skin might get dry and itchy or bumpy.
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Vitamin C: This vitamin helps the twisted web of protein hold its shape. Its also a powerful antioxidant, protecting you from free radicals and possibly lowering your chance of skin cancer. Low levels of vitamin C can cause easy bruising and bleeding gums, as well as slower-healing sores. Vitamin C is found at high levels in the epidermis (outer layer of skin) as well as the dermis (inner layer of skin). Its cancer-fighting (antioxidant) properties, and its role in collagen production help keep your skin healthy. This is why vitamin C is one of the key ingredients found in many anti-aging skin care products.
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Vitamin D: Just 10–15 minutes of daily exposure to the sun helps manufacture vitamin D throughout the skin. Vitamin D is one of the best vitamins for your skin, along with vitamins C, E, and K. Making sure you get enough vitamins can keep your skin looking healthy and youthful. This could translate to a reduction in dark spots, redness, wrinkles, rough patches, and excessive dryness.
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Vitamin E: This antioxidant and anti-inflammatory can also absorb the energy from UV light, which damages skin and leads to wrinkles, sagging, and skin cancer. It works with vitamin C to strengthen cell walls.
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Vitamin K: This vitamin is essential for blood clotting, which helps the body heal bruises, wounds, and areas affected by surgery. It also helps reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.
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Zinc: The outer layer of your skin has five times more of this mineral than the layer underneath. Zinc helps your skin heal after an injury. Its needed to keep cell walls stable and for cells to divide and specialize as they grow.
Its important to note that while vitamins are essential for skin health, you might already be getting enough of these vitamins through your daily diet. A blood test can help determine if you have any vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin supplements are easy to come by these days, so consult with your dermatologist or doctor to start a regimen for your health. When choosing skin care products, look for those that contain these helpful vitamins as ingredients.
