Vitamins Needed for Good Skin

Proper nutrition, including all the essential vitamins and minerals, is needed for good skin. This may not be big news. But thanks to modern research, we're always gaining a better understanding of how specific vitamins contribute to skin health from the inside out. What is news, is that some topical vitamin preparations can also improve skin from the outside in.

Vitamin C

• Dietary vitamin C is essential for skin growth and repair and for the formation of collagen, the protein that makes skin firm and resilient. Topical preparations containing vitamin C may help protect your skin from sun damage by reducing free radicals, according to research conducted at Duke University in 2002.

Vitamin E

• A daily 400 mg vitamin E supplement taken orally may also mitigate the effects of free radicals in the skin, helping repair sun damage and reduce wrinkles.

Vitamin A

• Adequate vitamin A is essential for skin health, and too little vitamin A will cause dry, flaky skin. Topical vitamin A has been shown to reduce wrinkles, uneven skin pigment and acne.

B Vitamins

• The B vitamins, especially biotin, are important for healthy skin, hair and nails, and deficiency of B vitamins may cause dry, scaly skin. Topical products containing the B vitamin, niacin, may increase skin hydration, improving texture and tone, according to a 2002 study published by the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Vitamin K

• Research conducted at the University of Miami School of Medicine in 2002 suggests that Vitamin K, applied topically, may reduce dark under eye circles, especially when combined with vitamin C.