Treating Acne with Vitamins

While not the most urgent of concerns today, for the teenager and even the young adult, acne can be a major concern. Increasingly, in a culture focused on looks and appearance, acne concerns plague a majority of us at one time or another. Acne is a major cause of low self esteem in many people and this can lead to future social issues. The highly profitable sales of acne products is a testament to the problem people have in fighting this affliction. However, before spending all your hard-earned cash on acne treatment products, there are a few other methods to help battle acne that should also be considered.

If you're considering the best way to treat acne, you need to know the fundamentals of acne treatment. even though the basic causes of acne is not well understood, we do know understand it is created by the pore collapsing in on itself and blocking the sebum (the oil) from draining. Acne’s contributing factors range from hormones, diet, genetics, vitamin deficiency, and stress. Often the cause can include a wide variety of these influences.

While we may not be able to pinpoint the predominant cause of acne, we can deal with the other factors that can cause acne. Within our abilities to an outbreak of acne, diet and vitamin deficiency are two important factors that should be looked into when combating acne. When taking steps to fight acne, a change of diet and increasing the intake of certain vitamins should be at the top of your list and should always be number one in your battle plan.

While many vitamins can be a factor in causing acne, the main ones you need to know about, include Vitamins A, B, C, E, Chromium, and Zinc. The fact is, most people are lacking in vitamins and minerals, due to poor dietary habits. It is actually conservatively estimated that only 10-20% of Americans get the recommended minimum of most vitamins and minerals. because of this, vitamin deficiencies are instrumental in many problems including acne.

You may be wondering, "How can vitamins possibly help?" Well, it is important to realize that your skin is the largest organ in the body. Although the outer layer may be dead cells, the skin is still a living, growing, replenishing organ that requires nutrients just like every other organ in the body. A lack of nutrients will cause many problems, including acne.

Eliminating vitamin deficiency, in conjunction with other acne prevention and cleansing techniques, will help to flush out the skin and help in the fight against acne. Many of the vitamins mentioned are antioxidants and will help to remove toxins and free radicals from the body, including the skin. Other vitamins have antibacterial effects and actually help to fight acne before it starts. Both of these are vitally important in acne.

It is also very important to note that any vitamin taken too excessively is toxic and can lead to many negative effects and is very dangerous. Remember, these aren't miracle cures. Fighting acne is not a quick process, it takes time, and taking too many vitamins not only won't clear up the acne any quicker but it also will can cause illness and other problems. Be patient and smart about any vitamins you decide to take.