Supplements are a shady area of skincare, there are a lot on the market but only a handful that have been proven to work. Today we’re talking skincare supplements for people with acne and the two that I have personally seen work for others. Scientifically backed too!

First up, Zinc. Zinc supplements fight acne in two ways; by regulating hormones and helping to create healthy skin through collagen synthesis and regulating oil control. Personally I have seen it calm inflammation and promote healing, that means that in conjunction with a good skincare routine it should keep your skin looking clearer and less red too. Look for Chelated Zinc supplements if you can, they’re absorbed better.

Next, Vitamin D3. Thanks to sunscreen, the winter and lives increasingly spent indoors; a lot of people tend to have some form of Vitamin D deficiency without knowing it – more than you’d think! Now a deficiency in Vitamin D won’t cause acne but it stops the skin from performing at it’s best. Vitamin D increases collagen production in the skin and helps your kidneys to perform properly. Both of these together help the skin to heal and regulate itself which has been proven to help control acne.

Now I maintain that the best way to get any sort of vitamin in your body is by eating good food. Need Zinc? Eat some oysters, pumpkin seeds, peanuts and lamb. Vitamin D3? Spend 10 to 15 minutes in the sun without any sunscreen. However, in order to get the full effect of both of these – supplements are neccesary.

You won’t get the necessary amount of either of these vitamins by taking a regular multivitamin every day. There’s no way to suggest how much you should take without knowing your previous medical history  – go see your doctor with this information and ask them about Zinc and Vitamin D3 supplements. Chances are they’re giving these to at least one other patient already so they’ll be able to help. Personally, I like the Solgar supplements pictured above – again, ask your doc about them!

Try ‘em out and tell me how you get on! Have you tried an acne supplement that works? Let me know in the comments.