Supplements for Skin Health: For a nourished, glowing and happy skin - NL-089

There is much more to a healthy skin than just maintaining a healthy skincare regimen. Overall healthy skin with a glowing and youthful appearance is a combination of following a healthy diet, healthy lifestyle, and regular skincare routine. Unfortunately, today’s diet is lacking in micronutrients that are an absolute must for maintaining your skin health and appearance. In addition, factors such as smoking, lack of sleep, consumption of processed foods, and excessive sun exposure lead to oxidative damage that expedite both intrinsic and extrinsic ageing. For example, sugary foods wreak havoc on skin health, making it age faster than usual. Similarly, smoking directly damages your skin health as it breaks-down collagen, causes dehydration, accelerates oxidative damage and contributes to poor skin tone and premature signs of ageing. 

As such, your skin needs that extra support to improve its intrinsic ability to heal and repair itself, improve immunity and be healthy inside and out.  Taking the correct supplements can help you reduce the signs of fatigue and premature ageing – such as fine lines, wrinkles and sagging and also help manage skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Let’s look at some of the best supplements for skin health that will give your skin a youthful, radiant appearance.

Supplements for Skin Health

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from oxidative damage that causes premature ageing inside out. Vitamin C, as an essential component in collagen synthesis, also helps improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In addition, vitamin C improves your skin’s immunity and helps in healthy wound healing. 

Vitamin D3: Studies show that vitamin D deficiency can lead to various skin issues such as dry skin, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. Vitamin D3 supplements improve your skin’s immunity, reduce inflammation in the skin and help improve symptoms in various inflammatory skin conditions. 

Glutathione: Also called the "master antioxidant", glutathione has a formidable ability to reduce oxidative damage that causes premature ageing in the skin with signs such as dullness, fine lines, uneven skin tone and sagging. Glutathione supplements brighten the skin, reduce signs of hyperpigmentation and help you achieve an even skin tone. Glutathione is a key player in liver detoxification, and helps remove toxins from the body. This is another mechanism through which it supports skin health and helps you achieve healthy, clear skin. 

Turmeric: Curcumin, one of the most important bioactive compounds in turmeric, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Taking turmeric supplements can help reduce skin inflammation and improve skin tone. Turmeric supports the body’s ability to detoxify and flush out toxins that can mess up your skin health in more ways than one. It improves blood circulation, reduces skin dullness and makes your skin clear and blemish-free.  

Sacha Inchi: An excellent source of plant-based omega 3 fatty acids, Sacha Inchi is a powerhouse of nutrients and antioxidants (such as vitamin A and alpha tocopherol, a form of vitamin E) that makes it a very healthy supplement for your skin and hair health. The high content of healthy fats, amino acids, and vitamin E in sacha inchi helps nourish, moisturise and replenish your skin. In addition, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from UV damage, reducing the risk of premature wrinkles and other signs of ageing. 

There are other supplements such as resveratrol, biotin and trace minerals such as zinc, iron, copper and selenium that contribute to your overall skin health and appearance. Skin supplements when taken along with a healthy, wholesome and well-balanced diet provide vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that protect your skin from oxidative damage and inflammation, and endow you with a rejuvenated and youthful looking skin.

References:  

Umar et al. Vitamin D and the Pathophysiology of Inflammatory Skin Diseases. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2018.