Written by Dr. Sanjana V.B Bhms,dbrm,cdn

Founder & medical director of siahmsr wellness.in

All rights reserved with siahmsr digital healthcare[siahmsr wellness]

Reviewed by SIAHMSR medical team.

Beauty vitamins

     Vitamins have vital role in maintaining skin health and beauty. The skin is composed of two layers, the epidermal outer layer which provides the barrier function, and the inner dermal layer which provides strength and elasticity and gives nutritional support to the epidermis.

    Skin health is achieved through numerous processes happening within the body and nutrients like vitamin A, C, D and E play important role in it. Epidermis or outer layer of skin lacks blood vessels ,that can provide nutrients to cells. Nutrients reach epidermis after diffusion from the blood vessels that supply dermis, the inner layer of skin.

 Nutritional status is vital for maintaining normal functioning of the skin during collagen production and keratinocyte [skin cells] differentiation processes. Vitamins  are very important for various functions and structural integrity of skin.

 Vitamins function as antioxidants against oxidative stress to your skin from UV rays of sun and other free radicals. Your skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C, which supports skin integrity, stimulating collagen synthesis and works as antioxidant protecting your skin against UV-induced damage.  

Barrier function of skin and role of nutrition

    Skin is protecting your body against ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and various other harmful effects of chemical and mechanical stress.Skin also protects from microbial infection. Nutrition is one of the main factors required for the maintenance of overall skin health. Nutritional deficiencies may alter the structural integrity and biological function of skin, resulting in an abnormal skin barrier.

   The  stratum corneum,outermost layer of epidermis functions as an effective aqueous barrier and prevents the passage of many substances. Only a few uncharged and fat-soluble molecules can pass through the surface layer of epidermis. Therefore nutrients delivered via topical application would not easily penetrate into the lower layers of the dermis . The dermis should get nutrients through bloodstream from the food you consume.

Skin ageing and nutrition

   Skin ageing happens from intrinsic or internal factors [such as genes] of your body and extrinsic or environmental factors such as sun induced damage, chemical exposure, stress etc. Nutrients have great role in delaying, preventing and managing skin ageing process.

Intrinsic aging is a slow process and, changes do not become evident until advanced age, if no extrinsic causes like UV rays cause damage to skin.

    Skin ageing from intrinsic causes is characterized by reduction in the thickness of the dermal layer of your skin, along with fewer fibroblasts and mast cells. Collagen production and blood vessel formation for skin oxygenation and nutrition are also reduced.

Specifically, during intrinsic aging there is gradual degradation of elastin and collagen ,which  have given tightness and elasticity to your skin in  your younger age.

Dryness of skin is very common in ageing people, chiefly due to a loss of glycosaminoglycans and the reduced ability to maintain moisture levels

The age-related changes are more prominent on dermis than the epidermis. However, the ageing epidermis shows a deteriorating barrier function and also reduced repairing potential, antioxidant potential, immune function. Melanin production may also be impaired in aged skin.

    Intrinsic aging is an unavoidable phenomenon as it is determined by genetic background and other factors. However the added effect of extrinsic factors on intrinsic ageing can be modified by reducing exposure to environmental risk factors such as smoking, chronic exposure to sunlight, which cause premature skin aging. Poor nutrition is yet another intrinsic skin ageing accelerating factor.Using treatments to potentially reverse skin damage, including topical or systemic treatments that help regenerate the elastic fiber system and collagen. A high intake of fruit and vegetables is recommended

     Dryness  of skin in old age due to alterations in the keratinisation process and lipid content of the stratum corneum. Intrinsically aged skin is dry and less elastic than more youthful skin while extrinsically aged skin may appear with deep, coarse wrinkles, mottled hyperpigmentation and a marked loss of elasticity and recoil.

    Extrinsic ageing happens from sun damage, smoking and poor nutrition. Chronic exposure to U V rays of sun induced damage is called photo ageing.  Another ageing accelerating cause is smoking.Acute exposure of skin to UV radiation can cause sunburn, resulting in a large inflammatory response causing redness, swelling and heat.

Chronic long-term exposure to UV radiation causes premature aging of the skin, with marked disruption to skin structure, and may lead to the development of skin cancer or photoaging.

 The prominent features are wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and significant changes in skin elasticity that cause skin sagging, with the skin also becoming sallow and rougher with age.

Both the epidermal and dermal layers of skin are susceptible to chronic UV exposure; however, the most detrimental impact is on dermis. Changes include a significant loss of collagen fibrils within the dermis, but also specific loss of collagen anchoring fibrils at the dermal–epidermal junction.

   Preventing exposure to UV radiation is the best means of protecting the skin from the detrimental effects of photoaging. However, avoidance is not always possible and sunscreen lotions above SPF30 may help to protect the skin. However, sunscreens are not free of side effects .It may expose the skin to chemicals that may cause other problems such as disruption of the skin barrier function or induction of inflammation.

You may have to protect your skin with antioxidant vitamins from inside ; include vitamin and mineral rich foods in your diet. Vitamin C and vitamin E, with the combination being particularly effective.

A few study results indicate the need for complete oxidant scavenging by antioxidant helps to remove oxidative damage from acute sun exposure.Nutrition  or intake of nutrients may be more effective than topical application.

Reversal of photoaging of skin due to previous chronic sun damage is much more problematic. Although there are a number of studies that claim a significant benefit from an antioxidant supplement or topical cream. The  interpretation of these results are confounding as the agents used are mostly cocktail of compounds and moisturizing agents might be present in the creams which also give positive effects to skin. So an accurate and distinctive interpretation is  not possible regarding effects of antioxidants alone.

Normal skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C. It is transported into cells from the blood vessels present in the dermal layer.

Several studies have shown that vitamin C levels are lower in both epidermis (69% and 61%) and dermis (63% and 70%) of photoaged and naturally aged skin.

The concentration of alpha-tocopherol or vitamin E also are lower in the epidermis of photoaged (56% of young skin level) and aged (61%) skin but not in dermis.

 Glutathione concentrations were also lower in ageing skin. All these results indicate the dire need of inclusion of vitamin rich food in your diet or use of supplements as directed by a healthcare provider.

Essential vitamins for your skin

Vitamin A

This is a vitamin with  anti-wrinkle and  anti-aging effects. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble substances and belongs to the category of retinoids. Retinoids are a class of compounds derived from vitamin A or showing structural and/or functional similarities to vitamin A.

Retinol in the form of retinyl palmitate, retinal and β-carotene is most commonly used in cosmetics.Retinol creams are used widely for reducing wrinkles on skin and for other anti aging effects.

 Vitamin A is fat-soluble and its derivative retinol penetrates into the stratum corneum of epidermis and, to a small extent, into the dermis of skin also. It can promote keratinocytes proliferation, strengthen the protective function of the epidermis, restrain trans epidermal water loss. It also prevents collagen degradation and inhibits metalloproteinases activity of your skin. Retinol helps to reduce wrinkles and fine lines on your skin and make your skin more elastic.

Vitamin A derivative retinol is used as serums, lotions and creams for treating acne vulgaris and other types of acne as well as in the treatment of diseases such as ichthyosis and psoriasis.

Retinol creams are also used for reducing dark spots, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, although it may take many months for a visible change to happen to the spots.

Read more vitamin A 

 VITAMIN C

    Vitamin C is also essential for skin health. Vitamin C intake may improve skin hydration, stimulate collagen production, and protect against wrinkle development and premature aging due to sun induced damage [photo ageing].Topical application  as well as internal supplements or intake of vitamin C from natural sources  are essential to manage ageing skin. Although many face creams contain vitamins known as antioxidants, very few are actually effective in preventing or reversing skin damage.

     Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize and remove oxidative stress induced by environmental pollutants and ultraviolet radiation. This activity appears to be of particular importance in the epidermis, where vitamin C is concentrated in the skin. Vitamin C is particularly effective at reducing oxidative damage to the skin when it is used in conjunction with vitamin E. Vitamin C is a regenerator of oxidized vitamin E, thereby effectively recycling vitamin E . In the skin, collagen formation is carried out mostly by the fibroblasts in the dermis, resulting in the generation of the basement membrane and dermal collagen matrix.

Vitamin C helps in collagen formation and antioxidant protection.

   Lessening of wrinkle depth following vitamin C supplementation has been reported by many studies. Vitamin C increased collagen formation by fibroblasts in cell cultures also.

Improved skin tightness has been noticed in individuals with higher fruit and vegetable intake mostly due to vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals present in it.

Read more vitamin C                                                                                                     

 Vitamin D

Skin fat helps to produce vitamin D on exposure to ultra violet rays of sun. Vitamin D is essential for many body functions.

7-dehydrocholesterol in the epidermis is converted to vitamin D by ultraviolet rays of sun. 7-dehydrocholesterol in the plasma membranes of both epidermal basal and suprabasal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts is converted to previtamin D3. Cutaneously synthesized vitamin D3 is released from the plasma membrane and enters the systemic circulation bound to vitamin D-binding protein

 Vitamin D supports bone health, proper functioning of neurons.

Optimal concentration of vitamin D has been suggested to be necessary to delay the aging phenomena, including hair loss.

Treatment of vitiligo with vitamin D analogs alone or in combination with ultraviolet light or corticosteroids is ordered by health care providers to enhance re pigmentation.  

Vitamin E 

Vitamin E is an important fat-soluble antioxidant, and one of the main ingredients in many cosmetic products. It protects the skin from various harmful effects of UV rays of the sun acting as a free-radical scavenger.

α-tocopherol (α-Toc) is the most abundant vitamin E derivative in human tissues. The stability of topical vitamin E may be increased by the use of vitamin E conjugates, which are esters of tocopherol, resistant to oxidation but can still penetrate skin layers.

  Improving skin vitamin C and vitamin E levels can improve resistance to UV exposure. Decreased signs of aging with higher fruit and vegetable intake.

Vitamin E plays vital roles in immune function and the regulation of inflammation. Ageing population needs more vitamin E than younger adults to maintain health.

Free radicals, particularly reactive oxygen species have the ability to alter the production of collagen and glycosaminoglycans in skin. Antiaging creams may help to some extent to prevent this oxidative damage to skin as these creams contain 0.5%–1% of vitamin E which is an effective antioxidant. 

 Vitamin E has some role in diminishing skin allergy or atopy. The vitamin consumption decreases serum levels of Ig E [immunoglobulin E] in atopic or skin allergy patients.

    Vitamin E is used mostly as a topical agent for pigmentation or melasma, particularly in women. But it has shown only minimal effectiveness in the treatment of pigmentation or melasma. It has been shown to cause depigmentation or fading of dark brown melasma discoloration by interference with lipid peroxidation of melanocyte membranes, increasing glutathione content within cells, and inhibiting tyrosinase enzyme.

Vitamin E is available as creams, oil, lotions and gel in the market as beauty enhancing products.

 Read more vitamin E

    All these beauty vitamins are available for intake from their natural sources as fruits, vegetables,  meat ,fish, legumes and nuts mostly. They are available as supplement tablets also. However, take supplements only under the directions and guidance from your health care provider.

References

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