Supplements for a clear complexion - skincare

‘Popping a supplement to improve your skin is gaining more credibility among dermatologists,’ says Dr Neil Walker, a consultant dermatologist at the Stratum Clinic, Oxford, and Lister Hospital, London. For acne and eczema: Try fish oils. ‘Omega 3 fish oil supplements can be beneficial in patients with acne, because they reduce inflammation and help unblock blackheads and whiteheads,’ says Dr Walker. ‘I have seen some dramatic improvements in patients who take fish oil capsules, but they don’t work for everyone. A fish oil supplement can also be useful for patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis, a common scaling rash associated with surface yeasts, as it reduces inflammation.’ Take one to two (500mg) capsules daily. For psoriasis: Try Vitamin D3. Research conducted by the University of Verona and published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2011 found that vitamin D deficiency is very common in psoriasis sufferers, affecting 80 per cent of patients in winter and 50 per cent in summer. ‘We know that creams made with vitamin D derivatives can work very well on psoriasis,’ says Dr Walker. ‘What scientists don’t understand yet are the precise mechanisms involved, and whether taking vitamin supplements will have the same effect as creams containing vitamin D.’ Take 2000 international units (iu) daily in the winter, 1000iu in the summer. Try Super Strength Vitamin D3, £10.95 for 240 tablets from healthspan.co.uk. For sun protection: Try lycopene. Extracted from tomatoes, lycopene is thought to suppress free radicals — molecules that are believed to be responsible for cell damage and ageing in the skin caused by the sun. ‘I take this for a week prior to and during holidays in the sun, and recommend all my patients do the same,’ says Dr Nick Lowe, a dermatologist and former senior lecturer at University College London. Take two to three lycopene capsules daily. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2761187/What-s-spoiling-skin-From-eczema-acne-cold-sores-cancer-read-expert-guide-causes-best-treatments.html#ixzz3FJDLfzZo