Always take your vitamins, right? This is what we have been told since we were little. But if you are acne-prone, unfortunately, taking the wrong supplements for acne may actually make your acne worse. While dietary supplements and oral vitamins can be beneficial for overall skin health, they can sometimes backfire for those dealing with acne.
Have you ever experienced breakouts or inflammation while taking certain vitamins, such as supplemental vitamin C, vitamin D, or vitamin E? Perhaps your oil glands are overstimulated, leading to excess sebum production, and causing hormonal acne to worsen. If you’ve experienced this, it’s time to take a closer look inside your medicine cabinet.
Acne therapy should not be counteracted by treating acne with the wrong products. Supplement-induced acne typically happens fairly suddenly due to the reaction of the body, and luckily, it resolves quickly once you stop the supplement.
If the supplements are resumed, however, acne flare-ups tend to recur. In most cases, these flare-ups are a result of supplements that may induce inflammation in multiple regions of the body.
Here are a few of the main culprits that can cause breakouts...
- B vitamins (e.g., B6/B12): Vitamin B can be an essential oral vitamin, but it may sometimes exacerbate acne.
- Biotin: Known for hair and nail support, this supplement can trigger acne vulgaris flare-ups.
- Iodine: Often found in sea vegetables and supplements, iodine may lead to increased acne severity by inflaming sebaceous glands.
- Whey or Dairy Products: These are common triggers for cystic or hormonal acne.
- Seaweed, Kelp, Spirulina, Chlorella: These are filled with beneficial vitamins, but can be harsh on sensitive skin, causing breakouts.
- Pre-workout Supplements: They may contribute to blocked pores, especially ones high in B vitamins or creatine.
- Certain Birth Control: An imbalance in hormones can contribute to hormonal acne flare-ups.
- CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid): Used for fat loss but can trigger acne.
- Testosterone precursors: These can lead to hormonal imbalances and worsening acne.
- Creatine and Steroids: Common in gym supplements, known to cause acne vulgaris and skin inflammation.
- HGH (Human Growth Hormone): Known to cause cystic acne or worsen treating acne vulgaris.
- Branch-chained amino acids: Found in recovery supplements; can clog pores and contribute to acne.
- Corticosteroids: These can have anti-inflammatory properties, but may also aggravate the skin, leading to flare-ups.
- Lithium and Lamotrigine: Commonly prescribed medications that have been linked to treating inflammatory skin conditions, but may contribute to severe acne.
If you are using any of these supplements and experiencing breakouts or worsening acne, it is recommended you stop using them and see if your flare-ups subside. We always suggest consulting with your doctor first before any changes, especially due to bio-individual factors that influence how our bodies react to different conditions.
There are countless alternatives for certain supplements that won’t jeopardize your skin health. Opt for a gentler supplement or topical acne treatment, and look for substitutes that won’t promote excess oil production. If you are experiencing flare-ups due to prescription drugs, speak to your doctor about safer options to prevent severe or moderate acne flare-ups.
Thank you for reading!
This article of the Skinsider Scoop was graciously written by Hailey Viterbo, L.E. and owner of Blendid Skincare, a Scottsdale-based skincare clinic, and edited by the Clean Skin Club team. If you're interested in more from Hailey, please shoot us an email, and follow her Instagram - @blendidskincare