Vitamins are absolutely essential for the normal functioning of the body. The skin is one organ which is by far the most affected by the incorrect dosage of vitamins. There are millions of chemical reactions happening in the body which have harmful free radicals as by products. These show their effect on the skin directly. The vitamins act as anti oxidants which neutralize these and therefore help protect the overall health and vitality of the skin. If the vitamins are not adequately provided to the skin cells they may start to malfunction and may eventually die. Premature death of the skin cells may lead to appearance of wrinkles way before the right age and thus cause pre-aging of the skin.
Here is guide to the different types of vitamins which are absolutely essential for the skin and how to take them:
VITAMIN A
Vitamin A has many skin correcting features. This kind is meant to be incorporated in the body externally only. There are many sources in our normal daily diet that complete the requirement of vitamin A in the body. One must also be careful not to take it in an overdose i.e. more than 5000 medical units in a day as this will do more harm than good.
Retinoic acid is a product derived from Vitamin A only and is a vital constituent of many anti aging creams in the market. This ingredient has the special property of reducing the wrinkles and also opens up the pores in the skin, apart from being an effective cure for acne and other skin diseases.
VITAMIN B2
The daily limit of the dosage is around 100-300 mg. This is to be taken internally and is found to be abundant in sources such as milk, liver, green leafy vegetables, cheese and eggs. Riboflavin is another name for this kind of vitamin.
VITAMIN C
This is a wonder vitamin. It has many beneficial functions in the body one of which is maintaining a healthy skin. It is one of the best anti oxidants for neutralizing the effect of free radicals. Also this is essential for uninterrupted production of collagen, a protein which is fundamental for keeping the elasticity of the skin intact. The limit to the intake of this wonder vitamin is 500-2000 mg and is usually found in large quantities in citrus fruits and yellow vegetables.
VITAMIN E
This micro nutrient has been proved to be very effective against the harmful effects of the sun’s rays on the skin. It also helps to mitigate the effects of acne rashes. In addition to this, Vitamin E also has anti-aging qualities as it considerably reduces wrinkles. This kind can be taken both internally and externally. 150 mg is the limit to the dosage.
