Acne is a common skin condition. Approximately eight in ten preteens and teens have acne. Acne also affects many adults. According to Kids Health, acne plagues 17 million people in the United States. Acne is caused when follicles or pores are blocked. Oil blocks pores, allowing bacteria to grow and acne to form.
Connection Between Acne and Vitamin B5
According to Dr. Lit-Hung Leung, writing in a 1997 issue of the "Journal of Orthromolecular Medicine," Coenzyme-A is one of the most vital co-enzymes in the human body. It plays a significant role in metabolizing skin oil. Dr. Hit-Hung Leung goes on to say that a deficiency in Coenzyme-A is the cause of acne in individuals. Coenzyme-A is made from adenosine triphosphate, cysteine and pantothenic acid. Pantothenic Acid, or B5, is the only element that is provided by diet. This leads to his conclusion that acne is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B5.
How Vitamin B5 Helps Acne
When there is a deficiency in vitamin B5, the body reacts by producing more oil, which leads to acne. Vitamin B5 remedies this deficiency and decreases the excess oil that is produced by the body.
Time Frame
When vitamin B5 is added to the diet, the decrease in oil secretion usually appears within a couple of days. After two weeks the old acne begins to disappear. Acne is usually gone within two months after starting to take vitamin B5.
Effects
The amount of vitamin B5 needed to reduce acne varies. Dr. Lit-Hung Leung prescribed 5 to 10 g of the vitamin to his patients. They were required to take this amount daily. It did reduce acne in his patients; however, it has been known to also increase stomach discomfort in patients. According to Dr. Jeffrey Dach, in his article "Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B5 for Acne," it would be helpful to reduce the amount of B5 taken by individuals. One way to reduce the amount of B5 is to take L-Carnitine with vitamin B5. Another side effect is dry skin, since the increase in B5 decreases the amount of oil produced by the skin.
Benefits
Vitamin B5 helps clear acne in both teens and adults. It not only clears acne on the face but on the body as well. It reduces the skin's production of oil and reduces pore size. According to Acne.org, the supplement is recommended by 76 percent of the visitors who use it.
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