Vitamin A, just like other vitamins, is among the indispensable elements of our body. It supports eye and reproductive health as well as immunity, helping to protect our body against diseases. But in this article you will mention a very different benefit of vitamin A. Yes you guessed it right, to its amazing functions on skin health! Vitamin A has tremendous effects for the skin from reducing the appearance of wrinkles to removing pimples. Let’s take a look at the benefits of vitamin A for the skin and the resources you can meet your vitamin A needs.
What is vitamin A?
It will be more useful to closely study vitamin A before moving on to the topic of the benefits of vitamin A for the skin. Vitamin A; it is an important vitamin that supports skin, eye and reproductive health as well as immune function. Vitamin A, which is stored in the liver and is soluble in fat, is found in 2 ways in nutrients. The first of these is preformed vitamin A and is also known as retinol. It is found mostly in meat, fish, poultry and dairy products. The other is provitamin A, also known as carotenoids. This type, which gives food its dark color, is often found in plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables.
What are the benefits of vitamin A for the skin?
Now, back to our main topic. We can list the proven benefits of vitamin A for the skin as follows:
1. It can reduce the appearance of wrinkles
Here research shows that topical retinoids can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles by stimulating collagen production. It is also known that retinoids can repair damaged elastin fibers and improve sagging by promoting the formation of new blood vessels.
2. It can prevent hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is dark spots formed by the collection under the skin as a result of excess production of the color pigment called melanin. Sunspot, age spots and acne scars are the best examples of hyperpigmentation.
Carotenoids protect the skin from environmental factors such as pollution and UV rays, which can affect skin health and appearance. Retinoids, on the other hand, promote healing old age and sunspots by triggering cell regeneration. They also help to have an equal skin tone.
3. It can help to remove acne
The American Society of Dermatology recommends topical retinoids for the treatment of acne in both adolescents and adults. Because retinoids help exfoliate and regenerate the skin to prevent pimples, removing dirt, oil and dead skin cells from the pores. However, it supports the production of collagen and elastin, which can help reduce the appearance of pores and acne scars.
4. It can be used to treat psoriasis
Topical retinoids both prevent the formation of puffy skin spots and reduce the formation of cytokines and interleukins that cause inflammation. For this reason, most of the drugs used to treat psoriasis contain vitamin A.
How is the need for vitamin A met?
Many people easily meet their vitamin A needs from food. In its deficiency, you can meet the vitamin A you need through supplements or prescription retinoids. However, you should consult your doctor before using supplements or medications.
Foods containing vitamin A
Retinoids are found mostly in animal foods:
SalmonCattle liver,Fish,Shrimp,Egg,Milk and dairy products.
Carotenoids are commonly found in plant-based foods:
Carrot,Tomato,Sweet potatoes, the,Fiber green vegetables,Fruits such as mango, apricot and plum.Vitamin A supplements
We can get enough of the vitamin A we need from foods as long as we eat a balanced diet. However, if vitamin A deficiency is involved, the doctor may benefit from the following supplements:
Multivitamins containing vitamin A,Beta carotene (Provitamin A),Retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate (Preformed vitamin A),A combination of provitamin A and preformed vitamin A.Prescription retinoids
Prescription retinoids are often preferred in treatments by dermatologists for cleaning clogged pores, removing acne, promoting cell regeneration in the skin, and reducing wrinkle appearance. But its effects are only long enough when it is used. They may also not work for everyone. Moreover, in some patients, they can cause undesirable consequences such as burning, stinging, swelling and irritation. Therefore, before trying it, it is best to consult a dermatologist for a personalized treatment that is suitable for the skin.
What you need to know to use vitamin A safely
Using oral or topical vitamin A for healthy skin is not suitable for everyone. Especially those with rose disease, eczema and allergic diseases should definitely not use topical vitamin A without consulting their doctor. In addition, topical vitamins A in acne treatments caused by hormonal reasons may not work at all. When topical vitamin A is used uncontrollably, eczema flares can cause side effects such as increased sensitivity to UV light, skin dryness, itching and redness.
The side effects of oral vitamins A are much more serious. Such drugs must be used under the supervision of a doctor. Otherwise, they can cause significant side effects such as headaches, blurred vision, nausea, liver damage and birth defects.
On the other hand, it should be remembered that vitamin A can interact with various supplements and medications. For example, acitretin used to treat psoriasis, bexarotene used to treat skin effects of T-cell lymphomas and orlistat to help with weight loss can be extremely risky. It should also not be used in pregnancy as it can lead to birth defects.
Tips for a healthy skin
It is of course important to consume enough vitamin A for healthy skin, but it is not enough on its own. However, you can protect your skin health by paying attention to the following steps:
Try to sleep 7 – 9 hours every night.Create a diet rich in antioxidants.Apply sunscreen cream every day. Do not forget to apply the cream on average 20 minutes before going out in the sun.Avoid excessive sun exposure.Do not smoke. If you are using it, try quitting or reducing it.Wash your face every morning and evening.Find out the most appropriate care routine for your skin by talking to your dermatologist.Make sure that the contents of each product you use are clean.
