Vitamin A: Supports skin cell turnover, promotes collagen production, and enhances wound healing, reducing the appearance of scars.
Vitamin A also stimulates increased collagen deposition leading to improved scar tissue formation. It also plays a key role in the inflammatory stage as vitamin A tends to suppress fibroblasts in cell culture and stimulate steroid-treated macrophages to initiate reparative behavior in tissue.
Vitamin A helps skin repair itself so that dead skin cells turn over less (a.k.a. slows down cell turnover), often leading to less clogged pores. There are also secondary effects, such as reduced inflammation and reduced androgens in the skin, which can also contribute to clogged pores.
Prescription creams and pills containing retinoids, a synthetic form of vitamin A, are used to help clear up severe acne and psoriasis. They have also shown promise for treating other skin disorders, warts, and premature aging from the sun.
Stronger concentrations of retinol may help fade the appearance of some acne scars, but in general, retinoids are used to treat active acne to help prevent scarring or reduce its severity. These stronger retinoids include tretinoin, isotretinoin and adapalene.
However, some people may start to see an initial improvement in their skin even earlier - In fact, 84% of people saw a visible improvement in the texture of their skin after just 4 weeks*. We'd recommend using the product for a minimum of 12 weeks to see a visible improvement in the appearance of your post-acne marks.
They're often thick and raised and are the result of too much collagen being made in response to an injury, as opposed to not enough. Vitamin C has only been shown to be successful at helping reduce the appearance of hypertrophic scars because of its ability to regulate collagen production.
It was conclusively proven in 1996 that Vitamin A as a topical skin ingredient is capable of reprogramming cellular function – WOW! This is why everyone (almost) should be using it. Not only to help you age more gracefully and have clear skin, but more importantly, so your skin is healthier as you age.
Having an average of 1.5mg a day or less of vitamin A from diet and supplements combined is unlikely to cause any harm.
Studies have shown the vitamin A is the single most effective method of restoring the skin's natural collagen and elastin fibers. These fibers are responsible for keeping the skin taut, firm, and wrinkle-free.
As with most acne treatments, vitamin A takes time to work and you should allow for twelve weeks of use before determining whether or not the product has worked for you. It is also advised that you continue to use vitamin A (if it has proven effective) even after your acne symptoms have improved.
Prolonged and excessive vitamin A intake can result in significant organ damage, including the liver, bones, central nervous system, and skin. Liver fibrosis or cirrhosis may be irreversible. Bone abnormalities, such as reduced bone density or fractures, may persist even after discontinuing vitamin A intake.
Accutane is a naturally occurring derivative of vitamin A and is detectable in the bloodstream of all people. Vitamin A in large doses has the same effects as Accutane, both good and bad, but quickly becomes harmful since it builds up in the tissue. (Important: Don't take any vitamin A while on Accutane).
Anecdotal reports claim that vitamin E speeds wound healing and improves the cosmetic outcome of burns and other wounds. Many lay people use vitamin E on a regular basis to improve the outcome of scars and several physicians recommend topical vitamin E after skin surgery or resurfacing.
In wounded tissue, vitamin A stimulates epidermal turnover, increases the rate of re-epithelialization, and restores epithelial structure. Retinoids have the unique ability to reverse the inhibitory effects of anti-inflammatory steroids on wound healing.
If you take too much preformed vitamin A while pregnant, it can cause birth defects in your baby, including abnormal eyes, skull, lungs, and heart. If you are or might be pregnant or breastfeeding, you should not take high-dose supplements of preformed vitamin A.
Applying non-prescription vitamin A (retinol) serum to the skin improves skin smoothness and wrinkles in females with sun-damaged skin. It might work as well as the prescription products that are approved by the FDA for treating skin wrinkles, such as tretinoin (Renova).
The most commonly reported symptoms were headaches, dry skin, and fatigue. There were no significant differences between groups in the frequency of symptoms categorized as ≥2.
Prevents clogged pores: Topical vitamin A derivatives help keep pores unclogged and have been found to be beneficial against comedonal acne. Decreased inflammation: Topical vitamin A derivatives may reduce inflammation.
The skin goes red, inflamed, and peeling because retinol has chemically burned away the upper layer of skin, the new exposed skin has not had enough time to build up its natural protection film to UV light and pollutants that a good UV moisturising oil can help with and reduce the exposure to skin cancer risk, ...
Vitamin D
Additionally, vitamin D helps regulate the production of sebum, the skin's natural oil, which can help reduce the appearance of acne. Adequate vitamin D levels may reduce the risk of certain skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Four studies showed that taking vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, a diet without certain vegetables (Solanaceae), and eating less omega-6 fatty acids might help improve scars.
Vitamin A can help with acne by reducing inflammation, cell damage, and redness. Topical or oral retinoids can be useful, depending on the severity of the symptoms and how long they have persisted. Anyone looking to use retinoid products for acne should talk to a doctor or dermatologist first.