Did you know that some of the best known nutrients for healthy skin are the vitamins A and E? Research has shown that low levels in the bloodstream are associated with acne. Yet, supplements containing those vitamins are not always beneficial. Wonder why?
Good dietary sources of the vitamins A and E include fruits, vegetables, some whole grains and some kinds of vegetable oil. While some teenagers are health conscious and eat a variety of those foods, many prefer junk food.
Junk food, particular things like potato chips, cupcakes and white bread, contribute to inflammation, which is one of the root causes of acne. Those foods also cause wrinkles, because they contribute to the formation of Advanced Glycation End-products, commonly referred to as AGEs, an apt name, because they contribute to cellular aging throughout the body.
Suppose a person with acne took a supplement containing the vitamins A and E, but did not change their dietary habits. The vitamins A and E do not have anti-inflammatory activity, only antioxidant activity. So, taking the nutrients for healthy skin would not counteract the negative effects of junk food in the diet.
In addition, most of the Vitamin E supplements in the US contain synthetic vitamin E, derived from petrochemicals (petroleum byproducts). It