Womens Health

Natural Skin Care: Benefits of Nutrients

Skin care products have long boasted the natural skin care benefits of certain vitamins and minerals, but did you know that incorporating these same nutrients into a healthy diet can actually enhance your natural skin care routine? According to beauty experts, nutrition is all the rage in the latest organic skin care, adding to the long list of benefits associated with a healthy and balanced diet.

Skin Care and Nutrition

According to beauty experts, including the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), certain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients can help nourish the skin to maintain a healthy appearance and treat a variety of skin conditions. Nutrients that are particularly helpful when it comes to skin care include the following:

  • Vitamin C and Vitamin E: these vitamins have been shown to minimize the effects of sun exposure on the skin. Vitamin C and E help to reduce DNA damage within skin cells and eliminate free radicals, which can cause wrinkles and other signs of aging. This makes vitamin C and E nutrients particularly effective for anti aging skin care.
  • Vitamin A: low levels of vitamin A are associated with dry and flaky skin. This is because vitamin A is responsible for maintaining and repairing skin tissue. In order to maintain a smooth and healthy complexion, it is important to make sure that vitamin A levels don’t drop.
  • Vitamin B Complex (Biotin): the most important B vitamin when it comes to natural skin care is biotin, the nutrient the forms the foundation of skin, hair and nails. A biotin deficiency can lead to itchy or scaly skin (dermatitis) or even hair loss. Niacin, another B vitamin, is also used for skin care, largely due to its ability to retain skin moisture and soothe irritation. Niacin may also help reduce inflammation.
  • Vitamin K: vitamin K has been used to reduce bruising that appears on the skin following certain plastic surgery procedures. However, when combine with vitamin A, vitamin K may help reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.
  • Minerals: The three minerals considered most beneficial when it comes to skin care are selenium, copper and zinc. Selenium is primarily associated with a reduced risk of skin cancer in turn promoting general skin health. Copper – especially when combined with vitamin C and zinc – promotes elasticity that supports the skin’s structure. Zinc is believed to reduce acne for a clear complexion.

Lastly, anti-oxidants have recently received much hype for their ability to maintain healthy skin. Alpha-Lipoic Acid, DMAE, Hyaluronic Acid, and Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are among some of the anti oxidants praised for their skin care benefits.

Getting Your Vitamins

Nutrients can be taken in supplement form or applied directly to the skin using certain skin care products. However, incorporating these vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants into a healthy diet is an essential part of natural skin care. Here’s how you can get your essential skin care vitamins:

  • Vitamin C: vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, and leafy greens. When looking for topical skin care product with vitamin C, look for one containing L-ascorbic acid as this will penetrate the skin.
  • Vitamin E: vitamin E can be difficult for some people to obtain from a diet and a supplement may be used. Foods containing vitamin E include vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, olives, spinach, and asparagus. Topical skin care products containing vitamin E can soothe dry and rough skin.
  • Vitamin A: vitamin A can be found in many fruits and vegetables. Retinols and Retin A skin care products are derived from vitamin A.
  • Vitamin B: biotin can be found in foods such as bananas, eggs, oatmeal, and rice and is also naturally produced by the body. A variety of skin care products have incorporated niacin to help retain skin moisture and give a youthful appearance.
  • Vitamin K: vitamin K is not significantly effective when it comes to skin care when derived from your diet. However, skin care products containing vitamin K (often in combination with vitamin A, C, and E) are available.

When it comes to skin care minerals, selenium can be found in whole-grain cereals, seafood, garlic, and eggs. Zinc can be found in foods such as oysters, lean meat, and poultry.

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