Certain vitamins can help your hair and nails grow as well as help your skin. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that vitamins A, B3, C and E all support healthy hair, nails and skin. These vitamins have other important roles as well. Always consult your health care provider before beginning any supplements.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps protect your skin from sun damage and wrinkles, and it helps your skin heal faster from wounds. While there is still not enough sufficient evidence to back the claims that dietary vitamin A helps protect your skin from photoaging, dermatologist Jenny Kim with the American Academy of Dermatology, notes that the photoprotective agents of carotenoids should not be completely discounted. The academy is hoping that more studies will be performed in the near future to promote the use of dietary vitamin A for wrinkle protection and sun damage. Rentiods, unlike carotenoids, are derived from vitamin A and blended with over-the-counter and prescription medications to help combat wrinkles and provide ultraviolet protection from the sun.
Vitamin B3
The entire group of B vitamins helps promote healthy skin, hair and nails, but one of the B vitamins in particular is especially important---B3. Dr.Kim with the American Academy of Dermatology stresses the importance of receiving an adequate amount of vitamin B3 and notes that receiving insufficient amounts of the vitamin may negatively impact the health of your skin overall. Dr. Kim also notes that vitamin B3 helps rejuvenate collagen and can help treat skin conditions ranging from acne to photoaging.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is important for your skin because it helps destroy free radicals and promotes the production of elastin and collagen. Vitamin C may also help reverse the damage caused by photoaging due to the antioxidant properties found in vitamin C, but more scientific proof is needed before this claim can be proven. Vitamin C can also help repair and maintain teeth, cartilage and bones.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E also works as an antioxidant and helps protect cell membranes, which plays a vital role in skin aging. There is not enough scientific proof to support that vitamin E improves skin wrinkling, texture and discoloration; although it is widely used in many skin preparations -- both prescription and over-the-counter products. The University of Maryland Medical Center also promotes the use of vitamin E in skin care products to improve skin texture and wrinkles.
