What are Vitamin A Benefits for Skin?

What are Vitamin A Benefits for Skin? - welzo

                     Topical retinoids have been extensively used to treat acne and premature aging.

In an age where flawless skin is much sought after, one cannot miss the wonders that vitamin A can do for your skin. A favourite among cosmetologists and skin specialists, vitamin A has been a great solution for several skin problems and skin conditions, including that troublesome acne that pops up on your face out of nowhere.

What is vitamin A?

There are four fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K) that have a wide range of benefits in the human body. Vitamin A is one of the four fat-soluble vitamins that the body can store and use when required. It is an essential nutrient, implying its need to be obtained from your daily diet as the body cannot form it on its own. In the human body, vitamin A is attached to a protein and is stored in the liver before being utilized by various cells and tissues of the body.

Read more: 9 signs of vitamin A deficiency.

Benefits of Vitamin A for Skin Health

The wide range of benefits of vitamin A for the largest organ of the body makes it all the more an important vitamin for your health and vitality. Known for its benefits in making your skin youthful skin as well as improving your skin tone, you may be surprised at how vitamin A can solve a number of your skin-related problems. Some of the many benefits of retinol for the skin include the following:

Acne

Oral along with topical vitamin A has been useful in relieving clogged pores and moderate acne.

Vitamin A has shown consistent results when it comes to treating acne. Its anti-inflammatory and exfoliating properties help clear away dead skin cells, as well as clogged and infected pores, thus helping in the treatment of moderate to severe acne to a great extent. Apart from a diet rich in vitamin A, your doctor may prescribe vitamin A supplements along with topical therapies in the form of creams that contain vitamin A, such as retinoic acid or tretinoins.

Skin vitamin- topical retinoids

One must be cautious about using retinoic acid medications and topical retinoid creams as they need to be taken in the correct dosage under the supervision of your primary care physician. Also, certain forms of vitamin A medication (isotretinoin-containing drugs) have been known to cause birth defects or miscarriage and should therefore be avoided during pregnancy.

Psoriasis

Some recent studies have shown vitamin A to be useful in alleviating the effects of psoriasis on the skin. It has often been prescribed along with corticosteroids in the treatment of psoriasis.

Wrinkles and Aging

Vitamin A supplements and topical retinoids have also proven to be beneficial in reducing age-related changes on the skin. It causes increased collagen formation along with the formation of new blood vessels, that help to rejuvenate your skin.

Sun protection

Quite a few sunscreens have vitamin A as an ingredient in them. Although the use of sunscreens that contain vitamin A has been controversial for their risk of cancer, creams that contain vitamin A may be used to reduce the effects of harmful UV radiation on sun-damaged skin, like skin irritation and early skin ageing on your skin.

Other Skin Problems

Retinol has also been useful in treating other skin problems like warts, tumours, and certain skin cancers.

Read more: Vitamin A, benefits, signs and symptoms of a deficiency.

Sources of Vitamin A

Beta carotene and other retinoids may be obtained from yellow or orange-colored raw fruits and vegetables.Vitamin A is also known by the term retinol, which is the active form of the vitamin. Vitamin A is available in two different forms in animals and plants.

Plant-based sources of vitamin A are available in the form of carotenoids like lycopene, while animal sources of vitamin A are available as preformed retinoids like retinol.

Some of the natural sources of vitamin A include:

  • Leafy green vegetables like spinach

  • Fruits and vegetables which are reddish-orange to yellow are often rich sources of vitamin A.

  • Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, and sweet potatoes

  • Fruits like mangoes, papayas, pumpkins, tomatoes, and cantaloupes

  • Grains like corn from yellow maize

  • Eggs, curd, cottage cheese, and other different varieties of cheese are great sources of vitamin A.

  • Meat sources of retinol include liver and beef.

  • Fish sources like salmon and cod liver oil.

Other roles of vitamin A in the body

Eyes, Nose and Oral Cavity

Vitamin A plays a key role in maintaining healthy tissues in various organs of the body. From maintaining proper vision in dim lighting to keeping the mucosa of the nose and the mouth robust and resilient, it is essential for the smooth functioning, growth, and development of a wide range of organs of the body.

Skin Cells and Tissue Health

That being said, the largest organ of the body, the human skin, requires adequate amounts of vitamin A to keep it supple and infection free. The skin being your body's first line of defence against microorganisms, vitamin A thereby helps to protect your body from infections too.

It is also responsible for the tissue that lines the respiratory and gastrointestinal as well as the urinary bladder.

Reproductive Health

Because of its role in reproduction, retinol is also considered to be an important prenatal vitamin.

Read more: Does pregnancy affect vitamin A?

Blood test

Although rarely occurring, if you have symptoms of vitamin A deficiency, such as night blindness or skin disorders, your doctor may advise you to first take a vitamin A blood test to measure vitamin A levels.

Learn more about vitamin deficiency on our Nutrition Hub!

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