Vitamins for Acne: Do They Work? 4 Best Ones and Alternatives

• Some vitamins can calm inflammation, inhibit bacterial growth and provide antioxidant protection to help treat and prevent acne breakouts
• Vitamins A, C, D and E can all be beneficial in treating acne  
• For most vitamins, the best results are achieved through topical application, but some can be combined with oral supplementation for greater benefits 
• Alternative supplements such as zinc, selenium and omega-fatty acids can promote clear skin by protecting against inflammation and infection

Decades of research have been invested in acne treatments to establish a long list of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription oral and topical solutions that can treat and manage this chronic skin condition. Vitamins for acne are another therapeutic segment that is worth exploring as studies demonstrate they can reduce redness and inflammation, promote healing and support the growth of healthy new cells.  

Can Vitamin Supplements Improve Acne?

Vitamins play a key role in maintaining skin health in multiple ways. They can guard against external threats, provide antioxidant activity to scavenge free radicals and calm inflammation. All these benefits can help heal current acne breakouts and reduce the risk of future breakouts.   

A vitamin excess or deficiency can wreak havoc on the skin. Altered levels of vitamin B12, for example, can have a detrimental effect on skin and cause several dermatologic conditions including atopic dermatitis and acne.

Taking the wrong vitamins or too-high doses of vitamin B6 and B12 supplements can have an opposite effect and cause acne breakouts. 

Vitamins have been studied in patients with acne to determine if there is a causal effect between vitamin deficiencies and level of acne.

In one study of vitamins A and E and patients with acne versus a healthy control group, patients with acne had significantly lower vitamin E concentrations than those in the control group; there was also a strong relationship between decrease in vitamin A levels and an increase in the severity of acne. 

These studies demonstrate that a vitamin deficiency is present with acne; therefore increasing these levels should have a positive effect on acne symptoms. As well, there is evidence that combining certain vitamins can provide enhanced efficacy compared with individual compounds.

Vitamins vs. minerals 

Vitamins and minerals are compounds that are essential to human health as they ensure the proper functioning of our bodies. 

Both are called micronutrients as the body only needs tiny amounts of them. Where they differ is that vitamins are organic and can be broken down by heat, air, light or acid; minerals are inorganic elements that come from soil and water and do not break down in the body. 

There are 13 essential vitamins that are required for the body to perform optimally. Most vitamins and minerals must be derived from food as they are not produced by the body; the exceptions are vitamin D which is naturally produced by the body from sunlight, as well as niacin, vitamin k and biotin.  

Vitamins A, C, D and E have all demonstrated efficacy in acne improvement through different mechanisms of action: by regulating hormones, reducing inflammation and providing antioxidant protection.

Minerals work to keep your bones, muscles, heart and brain functioning properly; they also produce enzymes and hormones. 

Minerals fall within two categories: macrominerals and trace minerals. The former is needed in larger amounts, the latter in very small amounts. Trace minerals such as zinc and selenium can help to alleviate symptoms of acne by targeting inflammation. 

Best Vitamins for Acne

Several vitamins have been studied and identified as effective treatments against acne. These vitamins can be incorporated into an effective skin care regimen to support healthy skin and reduce the risk of acne breakouts. 

Vitamin A 

Vitamin A refers to a group of fat-soluble substances that includes retinol, retinyl palmitate and beta-carotene.

While oral supplements do offer benefits, topical vitamin A has been shown to be the most effective in healing acne.

Vitamin A has several important functions in the body such as maintaining vision and supporting a healthy immune system. Looking specifically at the skin, vitamin A can hydrate and protect, encourage skin cell turnover, and speed up healing of damaged cells. 

Vitamin A’s antioxidant properties protect skin cells from the harmful effects of free radicals. As an anti-inflammatory, it can calm swelling and redness; studies have shown that a vitamin A deficiency can induce inflammation and aggravate existing inflammatory conditions such as acne. 

Prescription-strength retinoids, or weaker OTC retinol are derived from vitamin A. These compounds are highly effective against acne as they speed up skin cell turnover, even skin tone, alleviate inflammation, regulate oil production, and protect the skin from environmental irritants. 

Retinol is available in both OTC creams and gels, as well as prescription topicals such as tretinoin. 

Isotretinoin (Accutane) is a vitamin A derivative that is taken orally. It is reserved for severe acne and for difficult to treat cases, and is a controversial treatment as  it carries a long list of serious adverse side effects. 

A recent review of published studies of oral vitamin A in acne treatment found 8/9 studies noted improvement in acne in patients. Doses ranged from 36,000 I/U to 500,000 I/U daily, with 100,000 I/U daily being the most common. Researchers concluded that vitamin A showed potential to replace isotretinoin.

However, because vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, it builds up in the body over time and can lead to toxicity in the body; before embarking on oral supplementation of vitamin A it is advised to discuss the dose with your dermatologist.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, or l-ascorbic acid, is the most plentiful and powerful antioxidant in human skin. It also works synergistically with vitamin E in protecting skin against oxidative damage.

This vitamin has antioxidative, photoprotective and antiaging effects on skin; it can also address redness and lighten hyperpigmentation, dark marks that often accompany healing acne blemishes. It can also improve the appearance of acne scars, and smooth and strengthen skin by increasing collagen production.

Lastly, it has antibacterial properties to target the redness and swelling of active outbreaks. 

Topical application of vitamin C via serums, lotions and creams is far superior to oral supplementation as only a small fraction of vitamin C will be biologically available and effective for skin. 

Vitamin D

In addition to vitamin deficiencies, acne can be caused by hormonal imbalances. While vitamin D is commonly referred to as a vitamin, it is actually a hormone. Once the body absorbs vitamin D after sun exposure, it is then synthesized by the body and converted by the liver and kidneys into an active hormone.

A vitamin D deficiency can therefore be hormone-related and be one of the main causes of acne. 

Vitamin D plays an important role in the immune system and influences many skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and acne. One study examining the role of this vitamin and acne concluded that a vitamin D deficiency is more frequent in patients with acne.

This conclusion was supported in another study that found people with nodulocystic acne had lower levels of vitamin D compared with subjects in the control group.

Combining vitamins A and D have been demonstrated to reduce Cutibacterium acnes-induced inflammation, making these vitamins an effective acne treatment. 

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is well-known as a potent antioxidant but studies have also shown it also possesses anti-inflammatory properties, making it a good choice for acne treatment. However, vitamin E is rarely used on its own as it has poor skin penetration and is considered to be chemically unstable.

In one study, vitamin E combined with lactoferrin and zinc supplements significantly reduced acne lesions in people with mild-to-moderate acne. As well, combining vitamins A and E has also been demonstrated to improve acne symptoms. 

This vitamin can also nourish, moisturize and soften skin; this is an important benefit for people with acne as acne treatments tend to try and irritate skin. 

You can use the oil from vitamin A and E capsules or purchase skin care products containing these vitamins. You can also take oral supplements to bolster results but not as a replacement for topical application, as this method  produces the best results.  

Vitamins for Acne Scars

Creams, lotions, gels, and serums containing vitamins A  and C can help reduce the appearance of mild-to-moderate hypertrophic (raised) scars. For faster results use both, but not at the same time; apply a vitamin C product in the morning and vitamin A in the evening. 

Topical retinoids (vitamin A) have been shown to be effective against acne scars as well as pigmentation after 24 weeks of treatment and can also improve overall skin texture.  

In addition to being an effective acne treatment, tretinoin can help reduce the appearance of acne scars. In one study, researchers found a flattening of acne scars was observed in 79% of patients. 

Tretinoin is not available OTC; you must obtain a prescription from your dermatologist.  

Vitamin C reduces inflammation and aids in promoting collagen production to help smooth the skin’s surface; it can also reduce the appearance of acne scars by lightening hyperpigmented skin. 

Alternatives

Alternatives to vitamin supplements, such as selenium and zinc, can also be used to effectively  alleviate inflammation and address acne breakouts. 

Eicosapentaenoic acid

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid, is found in seafood and fish. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory, which can help tamp down the inflammation associated with acne.

In one study of patients with mild-to-moderate acne, 10-week oral supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid significantly decreased inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions.

You can purchase fish oil supplements in capsules; another benefit is that this acid can help hydrate dry skin.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that is found in certain foods and available in skin care products and as a supplement. This vitamin has potent anti-inflammatory properties to treat redness and swelling of active lesions and has been shown to produce a significant reduction in acne when taken orally or applied topically. 

Studies also support niacinamide’s ability to significantly reduce sebum (oil) levels on skin which contributes to comedonal (blackheads and whiteheads) acne as well as inflammatory acne. Excess oil is a key cause of acne development as it leads to clogged pores and pimples. 

Selenium

Selenium is a trace mineral that is found in foods such as fish and seafood, grains, nuts and eggs. This mineral has antioxidant properties and plays a key role in supporting the proper functioning of the body’s thyroid hormone metabolism.  

This mineral also neutralizes free radicals, and guards against UV damage and inflammation. UV damage dries the skin, prompts overproduction of sebum and damages the skin barrier; these negative effects can all worsen acne symptoms.    

A selenium deficiency can lead to inflammation-related conditions like acne, as this mineral helps produce an enzyme that fights against inflammation. Low levels of selenium have been found in studies of patients with acne, and one study demonstrated that combining selenium and vitamin E for 12 weeks led to improvements. 

While selenium can be used solely as a topical treatment, for oral supplementation, it is best combined with vitamin E as they can work in synergy to achieve greater skin protection. 

Zinc

Zinc is a trace mineral that has been used successfully for decades as a topical and oral acne treatment. This mineral also helps to block harmful bacteria, protect the body from illness, maintain internal homeostasis and boost the immune system.

As an acne treatment, It has been demonstrated to regulate sebum production, and reduce inflammation and C. acnes counts. 

Takeaway

Vitamins A, C, D and E can provide multiple benefits in treating and reducing acne breakouts:  they can alleviate swelling and redness, reduce inflammation, scavenge free radicals, minimize the appearance of scars and lighten hyperpigmented spots.  

Alternative supplements such as EPA, niacinamide, selenium and zinc are powerful anti-inflammatories that can help treat acne by targeting the inflammation that causes breakouts. Niacinamide can reduce sebum production and selenium guards against UV damage. 

Studies have shown that for treating the skin, topical application of vitamins works best and sometimes pairing vitamins produces the best results. 

If you’re unsure which vitamins are best for your skin health and type, ask your dermatologist. They’ll be able to help you determine which ones would most likely bring you the best benefits to treat your acne.