So many of you DM-ed me on Instagram to share with me about your skin issues after I published my previous post sharing about my skin story. Thank you for taking the time to read and for leaving me comments. I love talking to each and every one of you and as I mentioned previously, it was a long process of trial and error for me, so I hope that by sharing my experience, it can help some of you.
For today’s post, I will share about the vitamins and supplements that I take for my skin and also some of the foods that I avoid.
VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
For the longest time, I focused solely on skincare products to try and help my skin. It didn’t quite work out for me – my skin would seem to improve and then worsen a few days later. About a year ago, I decided to look into what I was putting into my body to try and improve my skin and overall health. I was falling sick a lot then. After all, they say that ‘you are what you eat’. I researched online and these were the recommended vitamins to take for acne skin: Vitamins A, E and Zinc. According to studies, people with acne have shown to have deficiencies in these departments.
I’m currently taking Vitamin E, Zinc and a few other supplements that I believe have all been beneficial to help improve my skin and overall health. I don’t fall sick as often now. Here’s the list:
- Vitamin C
- Evening Primrose Oil: to balance hormone levels, just in case my skin issues are caused by a hormonal imbalance
- Fish Oil: this has other benefits for health on top of skin benefits
- Liver Detox: I was thinking that my liver might need some help in eliminating toxins from my body
- Acidophilus: this is a supplement to improve gut health. A poor gut health is usually the root cause of many problems including skin issues like pimples, eczema, etc. I’ve noticed that my forehead tends to breakout with small bumps if I stop taking acidophilus. I’ve also recommended acidophilus to friends who have pimples on their forehead and it seems to help them too. If you look at this face chart below, it helps explain this more clearly.
- Kordel’s Skin Clear: I take this 2x a day
- Squalene by Fancl: While this supplement is not specifically for acne, it helps hydrate the skin
- Smooth Clear AC by Fancl: A supplement for adult acne
I know what some of you might be thinking – that’s ALOT of supplements. Haha. Yes, it is but I split them up and take about 2-3 each time at different times of the day. I also alternate some supplements like Liver Detox and Fish Oil.
Side note: I searched everywhere in-stores and online but haven’t been able to find Vitamin A supplements. Please let me know if you know where I can get them from!
Here’s a face chart to see what your acne is trying to tell you about your health.
DIET
I’ve noticed that my skin also tends to breakout when I eat a lot of sugary foods and high-glycemic foods. According to science, refined carbohydrates are processed and absorbed into the bloodstream quickly, which causes insulin – a blood sugar-lowering hormone to spike and this leads to a burst of inflammation that goes through your entire body. Steep insulin spikes increase the production of skin oils and contribute to the clogging of follicles, which can worsen skin complexion.
I love eating and this is sad news for me but I try and avoid eating too many cookies, cakes and carbs such as bread, oats. I was eating overnight oats everyday at one point and my skin was terrible. Other common foods to avoid are fried foods, chips (unfortunately for me, I LOVE potato chips!!!) and all the other obvious snacks that are bad for you.
I could never give up on the other carbs like rice, noodles and pasta. I love them too much! I suppose the general rule of thumb would be to eat in moderation and to drink a lot of water!
Finally, the last point to note would be that it takes time for results to show when you’re taking vitamins, supplements and changing your diet. Do hang in there and be patient!
-xoxo-
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