When you think about taking care of your body, eating and exercising are among the top options. However, some people may not be getting all the vitamins that are necessary to keep your body healthy. As a matter of fact, this vitamin deficiency can significantly affect the skin.
Vitamin D
This vitamin is very important to your health and to your skin. If you are lacking Vitamin D, you may notice that you suffer from acne. When your skin doesn’t have enough of this vitamin, it can begin to overproduce oil and this overproduction is part of what causes acne.
The tricky part about Vitamin D is that you get most of it through sunlight. So if you are going to increase your Vitamin D exposure by going outside, be sure to wear enough sun protection. “I recommend that my patients get approximately 10-15 minutes of sun exposure at least twice a week to the face, arms, legs, or back without sunscreen, but no more than that” states Emily Johnston, certified Physician Assistant at Sanova Dermatology in Austin, Texas. Put simply, you don’t want to risk getting skin cancer in an effort to boost your Vitamin D levels.
Vitamin A
If you don’t have enough Vitamin A, you may find that your skin becomes dry and even scaly. A common sign of problem are the little bumps that might form on the back of your arms called Keratosis Pilaris. While this is a genetically linked condition, it could be exacerbated by a lack of Vitamin A, which reduces the function of your oil-producing sebaceous glands.
“Another reason Vitamin A is so important is because it promotes cell turnover. That’s why many anti-aging products contain this ingredient, also known as retinol,” explains Johnston. Foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, and even dried apricots can help to boost your Vitamin A levels.
These are just two example of how a lack of vitamins may have a negative impact on your skin. If you find that you are trying everything to improve the appearance of your skin and are not seeing improvement, it might be because your vitamin levels are out of range.
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To get your skin evaluated and speak with a professional on what to do to help your skin, please contact us.