vitamins good for skin

Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are not just for keeping us healthy on the inside, they are also good for keeping skin young and healthy and even repairing damage.

Here is our round up of the best vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for skin.

Vitamin A, otherwise known as retinoic acid

If you are just going to go for one vitamin for skin, make it this one. Retinoic acid is universally hailed by scientists, doctors and skincare experts.

Retinoic acid (or retinol) has been shown to treat fine lines and wrinkles, reduce pigmentation and age spots and make skin generally smoother.

It was thought that retinoic acid made skin more sensitive to the sun, but it is now thought it actually protects the skin from further sun damage.

Retinoic acid can be very strong and cause peeling and dryness. Start with a low strength to get skin used to it and work up to stronger if needed. We recommend ZO Skin Health and ZO Medical products with retinoic acid. Book a free skin consultation to find out more.

Vitamins C and E and selenium

Vitamins C and E and selenium have been shown to protect skin against sun damage and skin cancer, and it is thought they may even revere some discolouration and wrinkling. All these three are powerful antioxidants and speed up the skin’s natural repair systems as well as working to prevent further damage.

Taking these vitamins in food and supplement form work well for skin but some studies suggest that topical vitamin C and E work even better.

Coenzyme Q10 for Your Skin

Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant found in the body. It helps protect cells from free radicals and helps them to grow. As we get older our levels of coenzyme Q10 drop, and it is believed this could contribute to skin ageing. Supplements of coenzyme Q10 may help, and recent studies have found that applying coenzyme Q10 to the skin may have a minimising effect on the appearance of wrinkles.

Flavonoids

Flavonoids – found in green tea and chocolate, could help improve your skin. Research suggests flavonoids are strong antioxidants and can help protect skin from inflammation and even cancer.

One study found that women who drank hot chocolate with a high flavonoid concentration had smoother skin than those who drank the same drink but with a lower flavonoid concentration.

A different study found women treated with green tea extract were better protected against the effects of sun exposure on the skin.

B vitamins

The B vitamins are essential all cells, including skin cells. You should eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin B, such as chicken and eggs. If you are not getting enough B vitamins you could get dry, itchy skin. Research is showing that topical applications of vitamin B may be beneficial for the skin. One study in Japan on mice found B6 protected against sun damage and reduced wrinkles.

Which creams or serums should I buy?

Many skincare preparations contain vitamins and antioxidants that are good for the skin. However, it is difficult to know if they are strong enough or if the delivery systems they use are stable enough for them to actually do you any good.

It is best to consult a dermatologist or aesthetic skincare expert before purchasing products. We offer free skincare consultations if you would like to find out more.