Vitamin A… for Acne
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is used in systemic treatments in drugs such as Accutane; it is also used in topical treatments using vitamin A derivatives such as Retin A or vitamin A acid. Why was the discovery of the efficacy of vitamin A dervitives such a breakthrough? Because it is a perfect example of the far-reaching powers of nutritional supplements, when they are properly applied.
My three-tiered approach to health can be used to illustrate this because vitamin A and (many other important supplements) have dietary components, a nutrtional supplement component, and a topical component – and they all work synergisttically when correctly intergrated into a program.
Vitamin A, which is found in many foods, controls the development of epithelial cells, which are a component of skin that lines all the mucosal membranes in the body. Vitamin A is important in the process of keratinization, in which the epidermis migrates and matures into the stratum corneum. And yet is the derivatives of vitamin A that are important in treating acne, and not the natural form of vitamin A.
Why is natural vitamin A not considered therapeutic? The answer lies in the fact that natural vitamin A is responsible for maintaining the normal maturation of the skin. However, to treat abnormal processes such as acne, large doses must be given, which then results in vitamin A toxicity. Vitamin A acid – also known as Retin-A, tretinoin, or retinoic acid – is a derivative form of Retin-A that is active in skin. Water -soluble derivatives of vitamin A, such as Accutane, may therefore be given systemically in very high doses without the toxicity resulting from large doses of natural vitamin A. However, Accutane has significant side effects (please refer to their website for additional information side effects) making it imperative that anyone undergoing a course of Accutane be under a physician’s care.
As an active researcher, I welcome your comments and suggestions.
I heard that Accutane was actually taken off the shelf, is this true?
Also, what do you suggest is the best form of Vitamin A for supplement form and how many IU’s are needed per day to see results after time?
Thanks
Does topical retinyl palmitate improve the skin? Thanks, doctor! Appreciate all the great info and your fantastic work!
Thanks for this info on Vitamin A! I am always looking for new information on health and well-being, and have found many of your little blogs very insightful, and am actually learning a few new things, which is always a plus!
Thank You Dr. Perricone for this guide on acne!
Dear Dr. Perricone,
My daughter is 22 & experiencing acne once again after years of struggling with this disease. She experienced remission after undergoing Accutane treatments (3 different times) and then while on Yazmine she also experienced good skin. But after getting off the Yazmine, her skin erupted again. Where to turn. She has been taking nutritional products to detox her liver which seemed to give some relief, but not altogether. What would you recommend at this Point? I might add that she is very prudent in taking good care of her skin topically & has used Murad, Pro-Active & now the Exposed Skin care system of products. She eats a good diet, rich in fruits & veggies, no soft drinks or caffeine & drinks lots of water.
What else can we do?
Please help!!
[...] taking supplements, it is important to note that the derivatives of vitamin A, not the natural form, are important in treating acne. Natural vitamin A is responsible for [...]