Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 7-29-22

Health
When trying to be healthier, one of the first moves should be to cut out overly processed food that doesn’t offer nutritional value and replace it with vita- min-rich veggies, fruits, and other goodies. In addition to making a big impact on your gut, the type of nutrients you digest also play a factor in your outer appearance.
When you lack certain sup- plements and vitamins, your body and face will show it, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Papri Sarkar.
“Vitamins are organic com- pounds that are necessary for normal growth and nutrition that our bodies can’t make them-
selves. If you don’t ingest or ab- sorb them accordingly, you’ll be deficient and might be faced with unpleasant symptoms like brittle nails and even hair loss.”
With the recent boom of beauty supplements, researchers have touted the benefits as alle- viating inflammation, fighting stubborn acne breakouts and even minimizing those wrinkles and fine lines.
However, popping a pill and expecting instant results isn’t the right mindset to adopt. After all, as with regular vitamins that tar- get various internal rhythms within our bodies, supplements are meant to nourish our skin from the inside out. With a little
research and solid advice from trusted dermatologists, here’s an essential guide to the right vita- min set you should be taking this summer:
Acne: Vitamin A, Zinc and Probiotics
If you’re a lifelong acne suf- ferer, you know how frustrating it is to wake up to an oversized zit. Dr. Sarkar says vitamin A should be your new go-to sup- plement since it has been known to get rid of acne. She suggests starting with your diet by adding in vitamin A-rich foods, includ- ing butter, red meat, and eggs.
If your acne is on the severe side, Dr. Sarkar says that zinc can be another powerful player in clearing out your pores. “Zinc is an important part of wound healing and often acne lesions are inflamed and have openings in the skin barrier, so it’s possi- ble that an anti-inflammatory or wound-healing effect is respon- sible for the benefit,” she ex- plains.
Proceed with caution, since too much zinc and vitamin A can cause nausea, vomiting, and headaches, so start with small doses.
Another option? Probiotics. Esthetician, makeup artist and global educator for jane iredale, Hannah Hatcher, explains that when the bacteria within our tummy is imbalanced it al- lows bacteria to thrive. This causes inflammation, sprouting acne. Probiotics help with this, especially those formulated for those who eat dairy and those who don’t. Taking one a day could help everything run smoothly—including your pores.
Dryness: Vitamin D and Omega Fatty Acids
While the condition of your skin and its softness will vary by season, cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Sejal Shah says that if dry- ness persists, you need to up your vitamin D intake.
Along with promoting healthy bone growth, “this vita-
min can [also] improve hydra- tion since lower vitamin D levels have been associated with lower skin moisture and eczema,” she explains.
She also adds, “Vitamin D likely improves dryness by im- proving the skin barrier func- tion.” Another option is to eat more foods rich in this mineral— like fatty fish, milk, and cheese— or use a moisturizer or serum formulated with this all-star vi- tamin.
Fatty acids are another great addition. Why? Our lipid bilayer (membranes that protect our cells) is made up of fatty acids, among other components. When we are dry or dehydrated, these fatty acids evaporate more quickly, leaving behind flaky dry skin.
Dark Spots or Hyperpigmentation: Antioxidants
Dark spots don’t follow any rhyme or reason for sprouting, and frankly, they can happen at any age. How do they happen? Hatcher explains that most of the time they’re due to free radi- cal damage.
“Free radicals are unstable molecules in our environment, meaning they have an uneven amount of electrons surrounding them,” she continues. Because antioxidants lend an electron to this unstable molecule, creating balance, they help to prevent free radical damage and hyperpig- mentation.
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