Banish Those Pimples With the Best Acne Supplements
Buying Guide: Acne Supplements
Acne is a persistent skin condition that you can get at any point in life. You can reduce its appearance by adopting proper hygiene, improving your diet, and taking a few supplements. But be careful when choosing supplements, because some of these can actually worsen your acne. Use the following buyer’s guide to help you pick up the right acne supplement for your skin condition.
What To Look For in an Acne Supplement
Clear skin is a result of good hygiene and a proper diet. Unfortunately, the foods we consume these days cannot provide all the nutrients that we need for healthy skin. That’s why you have to rely on dietary supplements to achieve healthy, clear skin. Here is what you should look for in an acne supplement:
Ingredients
Not every supplement advertises itself as effective for reducing acne. You have to look at its ingredient composition to make sure it has the right nutrients for your skin. Be warned that certain nutrients can worsen your acne, so be very careful in this regard. The following are the nutrients that can help resolve acne:
- Vitamin A
When it comes to treating acne, vitamin A is the first nutrient you should be reaching for. Vitamin A derivatives, also known as retinoids, are reputed for clearing acne by regulating skin cell turnover, in turn preventing clogged pores.
It also stimulates collagen production that helps reduce acne scars as well. Retinoid acid penetrates the cell membrane at a molecular level and binds with nuclear receptors to increase cell growth. Additionally, vitamin A decreases skin inflammation and protects it against environmental damage.
- Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3 is also a must in an acne supplement. One form of vitamin B3, niacin or nicotinamide, can also prove to be useful in treating acne with its inflammatory properties. It also inhibits oil production, reducing oiliness and shine on your skin.
- Zinc
Research shows that zinc can help reduce oil production in your skin. With lower oil production, you have a smaller chance of bacterial growth and less appearance of acne. By lowering the production of oil, zinc also helps keep your pores open, further preventing acne. Also, there is some evidence that proves that lower levels of zinc can also aggravate acne.
- Vitamin D
Besides promoting calcium absorption, vitamin D also helps boost your immune system. Like vitamin A, vitamin D also blocks the harmful impacts of bacteria from damaging your skin and triggering acne.
- Vitamin E
Vitamin E is best known for its anti-inflammatory properties, but it’s also an effective antioxidant that helps boost your skin’s health. It is a fat-soluble nutrient that quickly absorbs into your body and quickly heals acne by reducing inflammation and redness.
Certifications
Unfortunately, the production of supplements is not governed by any regulatory body. That’s why it is important to buy only products that contain high-quality ingredients and are approved by certifications.
Look for seals of approval such as NSF gluten-free, non-GMO project verified, certified vegan, and certified glyphosate residue-free. Some supplements are also certified by third-party testing facilities such as ConsumerLabs and Labdoor. Their approval means the bottle of supplement only contains the ingredients that are mentioned on the label.
Common Myths Surrounding Acne
Some common myths surrounding acne include:
- Only teens get acne: No, you can get acne at any age.
- Acne is caused by dirt: Acne can be caused by many reasons, including hormonal issues and bacteria.
- Popping acne can make it go away: Wrong! This can actually make acne worse.
Reviewing the Top Acne Supplement of 2023
SMNutrition DIM Acne Supplement – Best Overall
Our first pick is a dietary supplement that helps reduce acne by restoring the hormonal imbalance in your body. The SMNutrition DIM Acne Supplement is rich in diindolylmethane (DIM) which is an aromatase inhibitor. It helps your body metabolize excess estrogen that can cause acne to pop up on your skin. Plus, it’s an alternative medicine that can restore hormonal imbalance without involving other hormones. Diindolylmethane is naturally present in vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli. And, since not everybody is a fan of eating these cruciferous vegetables, this supplement provides the goodness without you having to actually eat them. Overall this acne supplement is our top pick because of its refined formula and multiple certifications.
Pros
- Beneficial for both men and women
- Helps restore hormonal imbalance
- Completely vegan
Cons
- Can cause headaches
Puritan’s Pride Acne Supplement – Budget Pick
This next pick offers immense value for the amount of money you are paying. The Puritan’s Pride Zinc for Acne Supplement comes in two variations — a bottle of 100 tablets and a bottle of 250 tablets. Each of these tablets is rich in zinc along with other acne-ridding nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin B6. Additionally, this pick is suitable for resolving both cystic and non-cystic acne, all while helping you achieve clear and brighter skin. These acne supplements are very easy to consume due to their small size, and they’re also unflavored to further assist ingestion.
Pros
- Easy to ingest
- Small and unflavored
- Very affordable
Cons
- Can make you feel nauseous
ZitSticka Acne Supplement – Detoxifying Formula
This excellent supplement made it to our list because of its detoxifying formula. Rich in fish oil, the ZitSticka Acne Vitamin helps detoxify your skin to make it clear and acne-free. It contains the goodness of omega-3, probiotics, zinc, niacin, vitamin B6, and many more beneficial ingredients. Further, this acne supplement helps your skin by blocking inflammatory molecules, lowering sebum production, reducing redness, and producing collagen amongst other things. Simply put, it helps root out the cause of acne so you don’t get any more.
Pros
- 100% drug-free formula
- No gross taste
- Simple to take
Cons
- A bit expensive
Himalaya Acne Supplement – For Skin Cleansing and Purification
If your skin is breaking out because of clogged pores, this next pick will help you cleanse them from within. The Himalaya Organic Neem contains the goodness of natural neem. It is rich in detoxifying compounds that address several skin conditions, including acne. These caplets are 100% organic neem with no binders or fillers. Additionally, this acne supplement is made using powdered neem stem, neem leaf extract, and supercritical CO2 (carbon dioxide) extract. Most importantly, these pills are non-GMO compliant and USDA-certified organic, along with being free of additives, gluten, soy, dairy, corn, and wheat.
Pros
- USDA-certified organic
- Made using non-GMO practices
- Rich in the goodness of neem
Cons
- May have fewer pills than advertised
The Delgado Protocol for Health Acne Supplement – Top Vitamin E Supplement
The Delgado Protocol for Health DHT Block boasts a vitamin E-enriched formula. Vitamin E is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that helps reduce acne-related redness and swelling on your skin. Besides vitamin E, these caplets also contain over 10 different vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for your skin and hair.
This acne supplement boasts a proprietary blend of natural ingredients including turmeric root powder, parsley leaf extract, rosemary leaf extract, sesame seed powder, and celery extract, amongst others. Even better, they are 100% natural and free of fillers or additives. Plus, the supplement also comes with a 100% refund policy, so you can buy it confidently.
Pros
- Contains natural ingredients
- Helps your skin and hair
- Comes with a money-back guarantee
Cons
- May alter the color of your urine
Acne Tame Acne Supplement – Top Vitamin A Supplement
The next pick promises to resolve not just acne, it also claims to reduce spots on your skin. The Acne Tame Acne Supplement is a vitamin-enriched supplement bursting with the goodness of vitamin A, vitamin B3, and vitamin B5. Combined, these nutrients reduce inflammation and redness, regulate oil and sebum production, and improve cell turnover.
The supplement comes in a pack of 60 tablets and only have to take one per day, so a single container carries a supply of two months. It is also possible to break a tablet in half as the starting dose; then, you can increase the dosage as your body adjusts to its effects.
Pros
- Clears your skin from within
- Controls excessive sebum production
- Meets GMP certifications
Cons
- Pills are big
People Also Asked
A: Yes, when used properly, acne supplements are worth it. Research studies show that zinc is very helpful in clearing acne, especially when taken in combination with vitamin A. They can help your skin stay stable, inflammation-free, and ready to accept the benefits of other skincare products.
A: Yes, the right combination of multivitamins can help reduce acne. Look for supplements that contain zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin D as they can help reduce and prevent acne. These nutrients are also naturally present in many foods, including dairy, fish, meat, and vegetables.
A: Certain supplements that contain vitamin B6, whey protein, vitamin B12, testosterone, iodine, and branched-chain amino acids as their main ingredients can worsen existing acne or cause new acne to pop up. If your skin is breaking out after taking a supplement, stopping its use usually clears up your skin in a few weeks.
A: If you have vitamin B deficiency in your body, it can wreak havoc on your skin. You'll get acne, dry and flaky skin, rashes, wrinkles, and cracked lips. It also makes your skin more sensitive to skincare products, sunlight, and other potential triggers — your skin may even become red and irritated upon exposure to these.
A: You can tell if your acne is hormonal or bacterial by looking at its severity and how it reacts to treatment. Acne that is caused by hormonal imbalances is not painful but requires systematic medication to resolve the issue. Bacterial acne may be more painful and usually goes away with tropical treatments.
A: You may be getting cheek acne due to various reasons, including hormonal changes, excessive use of makeup, using contaminated facial tools, dirty pillowcases, touching your cheeks, or bacteria spread by your phone. Fortunately, you can reduce the severity and prevent its spread with proper hygiene.
