How Do Vitamins Impact Skin?

Experiencing bad skin is a very common occurrence in individuals of all ages and skin types. Medically known as xerosis, dry skin is a condition in which skin looks rough, itchy, and/or scaly with cracks.

It can occur on many different parts of the body, including arms, legs, and hands. Bad skin can stem from a large variety of causes and can cause a large range of symptoms. 

Fortunately, there are plenty of treatment options available to keep our skin replenished, smooth, and looking healthier than ever.

 

What Causes Bad Skin?

While causes vary, the most common ones that lead to bad skin include:

• Particularly hot or cold weather
• Low moisture in the air
• Very hot water in baths or showers
• Irritating soaps or other bathing products
• More serious skin conditions, such as dermatitis or psoriasis

 

Additionally, some professions that require individuals to work with their hands often are more prone to having dry skin, especially around their hands.

 

What Are the Symptoms of Bad Skin?

Those of us who suffer from bad skin will often experience the same types of symptoms, consisting of:

• Yellow and cracked skin
• Flaky skin that falls off
• Dry skin that looks red and rough
• Itchy skin
• Painful skin that stings upon touch
• Wrinkled skin
• Skin that peels off

Each of these symptoms derives from specific issues in the skin. 

For instance, skin that looks dry and rough is suffering from dehydration. On the other hand, yellow and cracked skin is skin that has dried out and shrunk. Knowing the look of the skin can help with treatment.

Which of Us Are More At Risk for Developing Bad Skin?

Like with most other medical conditions, there are individuals who are more prone to developing dry skin than others. Any of the following factors can be the cause of the probability of dry skin:

• Genetics: If our parents or other relatives are prone to dry skin, chances are we will be as well
• Age: Older individuals are much more likely to develop dry skin as the body develops less moisture with age
• Those who work outside: Individuals whose job involves outside often develop dry skin due to intense sunlight
• Those who undergo chemotherapy: Cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy will commonly experience dry skin as a result of treatment
• Smokers: Smoking causes the skin to age more rapidly than those who do not smoke, causing the skin to lose moisture at an early age

Those of us who are not prone to getting dry skin often have an easier time treating it compared to those who are due to the lessened possibility of the condition coming back.

 

Does Bad Skin Lead to More Serious Health Conditions?

Most of the time, bad skin is harmless and can often be treated without the need for further medical treatment. Conversely, if it is not treated quickly, dry skin can lead to the listed medical issues:

• Bacterial infections: Dry skin that is deeply cracked can lead to having open wounds. If these wounds are not treated, bacteria can enter the skin and cause a more severe infection.
• Eczema: Those who find themselves often suffering from dry skin may develop eczema, a more severe form of dry skin that will lead to deeper redness and more intense itchiness.

 

It is important to note that the likelihood of these mentioned medical issues decreases if treatment of dry skin is done in a timely manner, making it imperative to take care of the condition as fast as possible.

How Can We Treat Bad Skin?

 

Fortunately, there is an abundance of ways in which we can treat our skin. Some treatment options are more effective than others, though treatment success will depend from person to person.

One of the most well-known ways to treat skin is to use lotions, ointments or other related creams in order to smooth the skin. 

While this treatment is usually quite effective, some creams may actually irritate the skin and cause more issues. This is because some creams use certain chemicals or other ingredients that may affect those with sensitive skin. The most common ones include synthetic dyes or colors, parabens, or alcohols.

Another common treatment that many individuals undergo is making use of vitamins. Vitamins are not only an excellent way to heal skin, but they also act as a great preventative measure for keeping skin youthful. The vitamin options are wide and varied, giving us plenty of options to explore.

 

What Are the Benefits of Vitamins for Skin?

 

• A decrease in wrinkles, redness, and dry or sun spots
• Hydrated skin that retains moisture
• Smooth-looking, natural skin

Plus, not only do vitamins have benefits to our skin, but they also keep our bodies healthier, feeling more energized, and even make us happier overall.

 

What are the Best Vitamins for Skin?

Deciding which vitamins are best for our skins depends on our own lifestyles and preferences. Those of us who spend more time outside will benefit more from vitamin D, while those who find ourselves inside more may benefit from other vitamin options. These remain some of the more popular vitamin options:

 

Vitamin D for Skin

Vitamin D is one of the more misunderstood vitamins, especially when it comes to its function with the skin. Oftentimes, we hear that too much sunlight, where we receive vitamin D, can be bad for our skin, leading to extremely dry skin, dark spots, wrinkles, and even cancer. At the same time, vitamin D is essential to keeping our skin healthy and producing healthy cells. The key when it comes to getting vitamin D is receiving it in moderation.

It is recommended that we get about 10 – 15 minutes of sunlight a day, which can be easily done by going for a walk outside. As such, this can easily become a daily routine. The sunlight works to produce vitamin D, which is a fat-soluble vitamin that will in turn create healthy skin cells that aid in the prevention of unhealthy pathogens.

Those who want to avoid sunlight can also find vitamin D in food, such as fish like salmon, tuna and herring. Again, eating these foods in moderation will greatly assist in getting the correct amount of vitamin D.

Vitamin C for Skin

The skin already contains a large amount of vitamin C, which is used to provide antioxidants that fight against cancer. Additionally, vitamin C has a role in collagen production which helps keep skin elastic and healthy-looking. Vitamin C is found in both the outer and inner layers of the skin, making it available for many uses.

Getting more vitamin C can only benefit the body. To do so, we can eat many kinds of healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables. Additionally, we can also take vitamin C supplements as found in pharmacies or recommended by our doctor.

 

Vitamin A for Skin

Vitamin A is the key vitamin for promoting the healing of various parts of the body. Similar to vitamin D, vitamin A works to produce new, healthy and functioning cells that normalize oil production in the skin, promote collagen production and keep moisture active in the skin to give it a younger, fresher look.

Like with other vitamins, vitamin A can be found in a variety of foods. These include eggs, milk, orange fruits like oranges, and green veggies like spinach or broccoli. For those of us who love desserts, we can also find vitamin A in some sweets like ice cream and pumpkin pie.

 

Vitamin E for Skin

Like Vitamin C, vitamin E is an antioxidant that has many uses, including promoting moisturizing of the skin, making it one of the best vitamins for the skin. Specifically, it reduces UV damage that may be done to your skin by being in sunlight for extended periods of time. More broadly, vitamin E helps support the entire body’s immune system, fighting against potential disease.

Vitamin E is found in foods such as nuts and seeds and vegetable oils like sunflower and safflower oil. Vitamin E is also commonly found as a supplement in most pharmacies.

 

Vitamin K for Skin

Lastly, vitamin K is another top choice when it comes to benefiting the skin. This vitamin is most associated with its aid in minimizing blood clotting. Blood clots can lead to excessive bleeding if our bodies happen to suffer from a wound. Therefore, vitamin K ensures our blood flow is nice and clear, in turn protecting our heart as well. For skin, vitamin K helps heal cuts, bruises, or other injuries quickly and efficiently, keeping your skin both healthy feeling, and looking. It can also tackle redness, itchiness, and overall skin discomfort, making it the purely optimal choice for those of us who have a particularly bad case of dry skin.

Like most other vitamins, vitamin K can be found in healthy foods like fruits and veggies. Fish, cereal, eggs, and liver are also plentiful in vitamin K, meaning your options are wide open.

 

Vitamins for Optimal Skin Health 

Vitamins are such an enormous part of skin care because they are proven to work again and again. It is why it is common for us to see vitamins on labels for skin lotions and creams, as well as in supplemental bottles at the local pharmacy. 

Doctors often recommend vitamins for a variety of medical issues and ailments, and skincare is one of the top ones. Fortunately, vitamins are very easy to get as well, making them one of the better options when it comes to solving dry skin. They act as a simple way to incorporate skincare into part of your everyday routine.

 

Final Thoughts

While having bad skin is common, it is also very preventable. Doing such things as using cooler water while taking a shower, avoiding long periods out in the sun, cleaning skin carefully when washing hands, and drinking plenty of water will help in the prevention of bad skin. If bad skin does arise, there are plenty of ways for us to treat it, including the use of vitamins.