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I once asked a hairdresser about vitamins for healthy skin and hair. She said to take a good multi-vitamin. I have since learned what that means. Multi-vitamin and mineral supplements are among the best-selling natural products according to the Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a part of the National Institutes of Health. Fish oil, Echinacea, St John’s wort and black cohosh are some of the other popular products. After doing a lot of my own research, I found out that there is a great deal of difference between one health supplement and another, not merely in terms of the ingredients. For example, independent studies have shown that some brands of fish oil contain high levels of contaminants like PCBs, which are known carcinogens. The biggest problem concerning multi-vitamins is that the manufacturers are not required to reveal the source of the nutrients. There are naturally occurring nutrients and there are synthetics created using petrochemicals. According to one study, the vast majority of the vitamin E sold today is synthetically produced in the laboratory using petrochemicals. E is one of the important basic vitamins for healthy skin. Vitamin A and C are just as important. Companies use the synthetic version of vitamin E, because it is less expensive than the naturally occurring form. The fruit and vegetable sources for vitamin A and C are so numerous that you can be pretty sure you are getting the naturally occurring form no matter what brand you buy. Cost has a lot to do with availability. Low blood levels of “E” and “A” are associated with acne and eczema. A synthetic form of “A” has been used to treat acne and wrinkles. It is a prescription drug called tretinoin when taken orally to treat acne, called Retin-A when used topically to treat wrinkles. When companies investigate new drugs, they typically try to identify the mode of action or why it works. The mode of action of tretinoin and Retin-A are listed as unknown. C is one of the essential vitamins for healthy skin. It is needed as a cofactor to produce strong collagen. In the most severe deficiencies, gums start to bleed and joints become deformed. Minor lifelong deficiencies could play a role in sagging, wrinkles and other visible signs of aging. Vitamin E creams have been used historically to prevent age spots and reduce wrinkles. Whether or not the synthetic form provides the same benefit as the natural form is unknown. It is known that the synthetic form is not as effective as a preservative. Preservatives are basically antioxidants. Since synthetic vitamin E is not an effective preservative, we can assume the antioxidant capacity is less. While the mainstream medical community may not understand why Retin-A and tretinoin work, most researchers believe it is due to their antioxidant activity. Free radical damage is one of the main causes of the visible signs of aging. Antioxidant-type vitamins for healthy skin can help prevent that damage and possibly reverse it. It all depends on the quality of the supplement you take or the antioxidant cream you use. Gordon Hall is fervent about enabling you and everyone to live a healthy lifestyle, and is an ardent reviewer of Anti aging Skin Care and Cosmetic products: Visit his web site now at Healthy-Natural-Skin-Site.com to discover which Anti aging skin care products Gordon recommends after far ranging and extensive research.
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