Despite many over-the-counter treatments, home remedies and skin care products present for acne, scientists are still unveiling promising solutions for treating it. One such solution is Vitamin D.
If you have spent your summer mornings absorbing the sun rays, you would have witnessed improvements in your skin. Well, that is because Vitamin D present in sun rays reduces wrinkles, acne and makes your skin soft and supple.
But the question is what makes Vitamin D for acne so effective? Vitamin D nourishes the endocrine system. When you have healthy endocrine functionality you also have balanced hormones. These balanced hormones provide you a clearer skin.
Have you ever thought that it might be Vitamin D deficiency that’s causing you acne? If you haven’t, take notice. We have elaborated the vitamin D and acne linkage in the light of multiple research studies. Find it out!
Why Vitamin D for Acne?
Vitamin D holds some characteristics that make it suitable for treating acne. According to a research conducted by PLoS One Journal, the oral intake of Vitamin D by people with acne showed significant improvement in their acne.
Each of the vitamin D characteristic is described below along with some serious research and case studies.
Anti-microbial Property
Vitamin D is an anti-microbial peptide. It reduces the chances of bacterial infections and boosts immunity by the production of anti-microbial peptides.
So, if your acne is caused by bacteria colonization, Vitamin D can be a savior. A study conducted by Dermato Endocrinology proves that how Vitamin D possesses anti-microbial quality and how it treats various skin infections.
Anti-Inflammatory Property
When suffering from acne, inflammation is a sure thing. Vitamin D effectively addresses inflammatory symptoms of acne. It reduces redness and swelling caused by hard acne nodules.
In a 2014 study, published in Dermato Endocrinology Journal, patients who were suffering from nodulo cystic acne were at greater risks to develop more severe acne if they had low vitamin D levels.
It proves that it is important to have adequate amount of Vitamin D added to your nutrition. WebMD lists Vitamin D as a vitamin that helps in fighting inflammation.
Boosts Immune System
Vitamin D stimulates the immune system. It does so by allowing your skin to get rid of toxins which is one of the many reasons of acne. If you suffer from seasonal acne then you will notice significant improvement in your acne.
And you can relate better to this situation if you frequently break out in winters but your pimples disturb you less in summers. This is because of the sunshine vitamin.
Dr. John Cannell, Founder and Medical Director of the Vitamin D Council wrote:
Moreover, it has been proved in a study that when Vitamin D supplements are given in physiological doses, it improves acne gradually.
Improves Hormonal Health
Vitamin D is essential for a healthy endocrine system. It helps in maintaining estrogen and progesterone levels in females. Diseases such as the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome cause hormonal acne and Vitamin D effectively treats hormonal imbalance present due to these diseases. This is why Vitamin D is considered as one of the top 3 vitamins that balance hormones in women.
A study conducted in 2014 shows strong links between vitamin D and menopause symptoms. It concludes that Vitamin D is good for menopausal women who break out due to hormonal fluctuations. Hence, Vitamin D improves your hormone health.
Boosts Mood and Suppress Stress Levels
Stress makes you break out more seamlessly. Vitamin D reduces stress by lowering cortisol levels in your body. Cortisol is body’s main stress hormone that works with the brain to control your mood, therefore, curing your acne.
Vitamin D works as an anti-mood depressant that wards off depression. According to a study conducted by the Journal of Internal Medicine, people who took Vitamin D supplements noticed an improvement in their anxiety and depression symptoms.
Another research published on PubMed shows strong association of low levels of Vitamin D with depression. So, you should take Vitamin D supplements if you are suffering from anxiety and also take as much sunshine as you can. You will notice your blemishes vanish.
Vitamin D Supplements for Acne
When it comes to acne, taking Vitamin D from morning sunshine or sun rays is not enough. Many times it happens that our vitamin D requirements are more than our intake. This usually occurs when we do more physical activity or suffer from some health problem such as acne or hormonal imbalance.
This is the situation where taking an oral intake of vitamin D in the form of supplements becomes necessary. But before consuming any vitamin D supplement for acne you should consult a doctor. You need to be sure which supplement will work best for you according to your requirements and what will be the right dosage.
Following brief reviews of vitamin D supplements will help you in choosing a good vitamin D supplement for yourself.
NOW Vitamin D-3
This vitamin D supplement comes as a soft-gel capsule that is made from gelatin, glycerin and water. This is a general purpose vitamin D supplement and is not formulated to treat or prevent a specific disease.
Since, it is a dietary supplement you need to take 1 soft-geldaily along with a meal. In addition to this, it can also be used in combination with Calcium and Vitamin A supplements.
The main ingredients are Cholecalciferol (i.e. vitamin D) and Rice Bran Oil. The greatest advantage it holds is that it contains no extra ingredients and preservatives such as sugar, starch, gluten and yeast.
If you avoid sun exposure and fear burning from Ultraviolet rays then this supplement is a great substitute. Moreover, it helps in clearing out your acneas it boosts skin collagen. Each bottle has an adequate supply with quite affordable price.
However, this vitamin D supplement should be avoided during pregnancy and nursing. And it is for adults only. If you suffer from severe acne you might notice improvements but there is no guarantee that you will clear out.
Smoky Mountain Naturals DIM Supplement
DIM Supplement capsule for vitamin D is specifically formulated for balancing hormones in both men and women. One capsule should be taken daily along with food.
DIM (Di-indolyl Methane) is an aromatase inhibitor that’s present in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. It promotes estrogen metabolism that provides relief from the symptoms of menopause and PCOS.
Besides, it also treats cystic and hormonal acne, both of which are caused by hormonal fluctuations. It lets you lose stubborn body fat that is gained due to hormonal imbalance.
In men, it lowers the increased estrogen levels boosting their testosterone levels. Furthermore, it improves fitness and athleticism alongside keeping a healthy prostate.
Although, it is vegan, gluten-free and soy-free it might cause you headaches and dizziness during initial use. But this is normal and a proof that the supplements are working to keep your hormones stable. It can cause severe allergies in some rare cases that include rash, acne and hives.
Possible Side Effects of vitamin D
Vitamin D has no severe side effects when you take it from sun exposure only. But when you have been on Vitamin D supplements quite for some time, there are chances of you to get affected by some of the side effects.
Hypervitaminosis D
Hypervitminosis D is vitamin D toxicity that occurs when you have excess vitamin D amount in your body due to mega doses of vitamin D supplements. It further leads to hypercalcemia (calcium buildup in blood), nausea, vomiting and frequent urination. Taking 60000 international units (IU) of Vitamin D for several months causes toxicity.
Solution:
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for most adults is 600 IU of vitamin D per day. So whenever you are on supplements you should ensure this right dosage and seek further medical guidance.
Stomach Pain, Constipation & Diarrhea
Elevated calcium levels bring about digestive disorders such as food intolerances, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and diarrhea.
A case study published by PubMed shows where a boy developed stomach pain after taking improperly labelled vitamin D supplements.
Solution:
While taking any supplement, administer your doses and any effects that you face carefully. Consult a doctor to know what will be best in your situation.
Kidney Failure
Excessive vitamin D intake might result in kidney injury and failure. According to a case study, a person was hospitalized for kidney failure after taking vitamin D injection prescribed by the doctor.
Another report shows a research study where all 62 people involved with receiving vitamin D injections experienced kidney failure.
Solution:
Seek proper medical advice and test your vitamin D levels before taking supplements or injections.
When taking vitamin D supplement for acne make sure you take them for a short span of time. No matter what your vitamin D level was before taking the supplements you should discontinue once you have stable levels.
