How much vitamin A should I take for skin?

Author: Miss Wilhelmine Hoeger Jr.  |  Last update: Wednesday, October 29, 2025

The recommended daily amount of vitamin A is 900 micrograms (mcg) for adult men and 700 mcg for adult women.

Does taking vitamin A orally help skin?

The present study suggested that a Vitamin A oral supplementation provided an additional effect in improving skin appearance in subjects with mild to moderate skin aging treated with a retinol-based topical product, supporting the value of this “In&Out” strategy.

Is 1000 mg of vitamin A too much?

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for men is 900 MCG REA, or 3,000 international units (IU). For women the RDA is 700 mcg RAE, or 2,330 (IU). For all adults, the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) — the most vitamin A one can take without experiencing negative health effects — is 3,000 mcg RAE, or 10,000 IU.

Can I take vitamin A 5000 IU daily?

When taken by mouth: Vitamin A is likely safe when taken in amounts less than 10,000 units (3,000 mcg) daily. Vitamin A is available in two forms: pre-formed vitamin A (retinol or retinyl ester) and provitamin A (carotenoids). The maximum daily dose relates to only pre-formed vitamin A.

How much vitamin A per day is ok?

The total vitamin A content of a food is usually expressed as micrograms (µg) of retinol equivalents (RE). The amount of vitamin A adults aged 19 to 64 need is: 700 µg a day for men. 600 µg a day for women.

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What is the best vitamin A for skin?

Our top picks for the best vitamin A serums of 2024
  • Best for Sensitive Skin. Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream. Read more.
  • Best Overall. Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum. Read more.
  • Best for Precise Dosing. RoC Retinol Correxion. Read more.

What are the side effects of vitamin A on the skin?

Additional cutaneous effects include dry skin, pruritus, peeling of the palms and soles, and fissuring of the fingertips. Higher doses of vitamin A may lead to telogen effluvium. Severe cases may manifest with bone pain and increased intracranial pressure.

What does vitamin A do for your skin?

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.

What are four signs of vitamin A toxicity?

Although symptoms of vitamin A toxicity may vary, headache and rash usually develop during acute or chronic toxicity. Acute toxicity causes increased intracranial pressure. Drowsiness, irritability, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting are common. Sometimes the skin subsequently peels.

Can I use vitamin A instead of retinol?

Retinol is actually just another word for vitamin A. It is an extremely effective cell-communicating ingredient, meaning the substance can literally attach itself to almost every skin cell and it 'tells' the cells that they should behave like healthy, younger skin cells. Retinol is an antioxidant.

Is vitamin A hard on the liver?

Taking high doses of vitamin A supplements can cause liver damage. Combining high doses of vitamin A supplements with other drugs that can damage the liver could increase the risk of liver disease. Orlistat (Alli, Xenical). This weight-loss drug can decrease the absorption of food sources of vitamin A.

How much vitamin A to take for acne?

Dietary Intake Recommendations

The recommended daily intake of vitamin A for women is 700 micrograms, and for men, it's 900 micrograms. Most people can get this amount from the foods they eat. As noted, MINDBODYSKIN offers a daily dose of 6,110 micrograms of vitamin A—the sweet spot for treating acne.

Can too much vitamin A cause hair loss?

Consuming too much vitamin A over a long period of time can cause coarse hair, partial loss of hair (including the eyebrows), cracked lips, and dry, rough skin. Chronic consumption of large doses of vitamin A can cause liver damage.

Does taking vitamin A tighten skin?

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.

What is the best vitamin to take orally for skin?

Vitamins C and E, and selenium are antioxidants that may help protect skin from sun damage. Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is key for cell growth, and often used as a topical antiaging treatment. Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10, acts as an antioxidant, which helps protect cells from damage.

How do you know if your vitamin A is low?

Symptoms
  • Difficulty seeing in the dark or night blindness (Nyctalopia).
  • Dry corneas or the whites of the eyes (Xerophthalmia)
  • Bitot spots in the whites of the eye.
  • Sores in the corneas (Corneal ulcers)
  • Cloudy corneas (Keratomalacia) If left untreated, these symptoms can lead to blindness.

Is it okay to take vitamin A every day?

Can vitamin A be harmful? Yes, high intakes of some forms of vitamin A can be harmful. Getting too much preformed vitamin A (usually from supplements or certain medicines) can cause severe headache, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, muscle aches, and problems with coordination.

Which two vitamins pose the greatest risk of toxicity?

Fat-soluble vitamins (like A, D, E, and K) don't get flushed out in the urine, so they're the most likely to cause vitamin toxicity. Vitamins A and E may pose the greatest risk of toxicity, since they are so commonly taken and readily available.

How much vitamin A is absorbed through the skin?

The amount absorbed into the receptor fluid beneath the skin at 24 h was 0.3% of the applied dose for the gel vehicle and 1.3% for the emulsion. Substantial amounts of the retinol penetrating the skin were still found in the various layers of the skin at the end of the 24-h studies.

How long does it take for vitamin A to help skin?

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.

What is the best supplement for skin?

Multivitamin. There is evidence that vitamin A, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, biotin, and the minerals chromium, iron, selenium, and zinc play important roles in maintaining skin heath. Additional supplementation may be helpful for specific skin conditions.

Does vitamin A help hair growth?

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for our bodies, and it plays an important role in the health of our scalp and hair. It can make hair softer and shinier, promote hair growth, and boost scalp health. Incorporate vitamin A-rich foods into your diet, use it topically in hair products, or take it as a supplement.

What to avoid when taking vitamin A?

Some products that may interact with this vitamin are: acitretin, alitretinoin, bexarotene, cholestyramine, isotretinoin, tretinoin, other products that contain vitamin A (such as multivitamins), warfarin. Avoid taking vitamin A at the same time as you take neomycin, orlistat, and mineral oil.

What vitamin deficiency causes sagging skin?

What vitamin deficiency causes sagging skin? A deficiency in Vitamin C can accelerate skin ageing, resulting in premature skin sagging and wrinkling. This is because Vitamin C enhances the production of the protein collagen, which is vital to providing the firmness and vibrancy that counteracts skin sagging.

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