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Vitamins to Prevent Dry Skin

Age, weather and diet all contribute to the texture and moisture level of your skin, but seriously dry skin can require more than an expensive cream. To fight chronic dryness from the inside out, make sure you're getting enough of the following vitamins, all of which are vital for a healthy, soft epidermis.

  1. Vitamin A

    • Vitamin A is essential for skin cell formation and repair. In fact, most anti-aging creams contain retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A, to rejuvenate damaged skin. Dry, sunburned skin will benefit greatly from a little extra vitamin A. You can use it in a cream, take a supplement, or find it in foods such as carrots, egg yolks, spinach, liver and squash.

    Vitamin B

    • Vitamin B actually is a family of nutrients known as the B complex vitamins. They work together to keep your skin healthy, hydrated and toned. Since it's hard to diagnose specific B-vitamin deficiencies (B-12 and B-6 deficiencies have similar symptoms, for example), your best bet is to take a B complex supplement that contains all of the vitamins, or add a little extra of the following foods to your diet: avocados, oats, bananas, liver, tuna, lentils or Brazil nuts.

    Vitamin C

    • Vitamin C is vital for collagen production, which is the component of your skin that gives it elasticity and strength. Dry skin, on the other hand, is the opposite of elasticity---tight and scaly. Not only does vitamin C combat dryness, it's a hugely important antioxidant: it fights free radicals and keeps your skin looking youthful.

    Vitamin E

    • Vitamin E also is an antioxidant. It works to maintain your skin's natural oil balance and protects it from damaging, drying sunlight. Vitamin E can be applied topically to the skin as an oil, and you can find it in drugstores and health food stores. Try adding the oil to your lotions and facial treatments to increase their effectiveness.

    Essential Fatty Acids

    • Omega-3 and omega-6 are two essential fatty acids that play a role in everything from blood pressure to intestinal linings. Not surprisingly, they're also important for healthy skin. By controlling your skin's oil production, they determine how soft or dry your skin will be. Dry skin can be greatly improved by taking omega-3 supplements (most people have enough omega-6 in their diets). Find it in fish oil, ground flaxseed and cold-water fish.

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