Acne and Vitamin A
Vitamin A has proven to be an effective acne-fighter when used in both oral medications, such as Accutane, and topical treatments like Retinoids, both of which are vitamin A derivatives. Why is it that vitamin A derivatives are key in the fight against acne and not natural vitamin A? Pure vitamin A is beneficial in maintaining optimal skin health for normal skin, but when an irregularity, such as acne, comes into play very large doses of vitamin A must be used, which can make it toxic. The vitamin A derivative used in Accutane is water soluble and can be safely administered in high doses. While eating a diet rich in vitamin A, such as carrots, sweet potatoes and kale, will help the overall health of your skin it is not effective at treating your acne.