Supplements are excellent aids to help bridge any gaps in your nutrition. Getting a balanced diet is always the best first step toward having better health and younger-looking skin, but let’s face it: it isn’t always a piece of cake to incorporate foods with omega-3 fatty acids or other important vitamins and minerals. It can feel at times difficult enough to remember to eat a healthy breakfast and drink enough water.
You should always ask your doctor before taking new supplements. But if you’ve gotten the green light, Dermatologist Dr. Jushya Bhatia Satin recommends three “great” supplements that may be able to help your skin look its best while reducing wrinkles.
Try these three supplements for significant skincare gains.
1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
The omega-3 fatty acids found in supplements like fish oil fight inflammation and can improve your skin barrier. This is important because a healthy skin barrier protects your skin against environmental stressors and improves its ability retain moisture. Of course, the more moisturized your skin is, the smoother and healthier it looks and feels. You can get omega-3 fatty acids from foods like fatty fish (salmon, sardines), chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, and hemp seeds.
2. Zinc
Dr. Bhatia Satin calls zinc a “vital antioxidant” that fights infections and can curb acne (it regulates sebum production to keep pores from getting clogged). Zinc is also essential for collagen synthesis and has anti-inflammatory properties to assist in treating conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
3. Resveratrol and Vitamin C
An “anti-aging favorite,” Dr. Bhatia Satin says resveratrol fights oxidants in your skin. Here’s what that means: it protects against damaging UV rays, helps stimulate collagen production, and fights inflammation that can lead to skin conditions. Resveratrol can also help regenerate skin cells for new, healthy skin. Although it is present in red wine, you would have to drink a great deal of it to get the benefits of resveratrol — it’s safer to take a supplement if your doctor approves of this.
Another supplement not to sleep on is vitamin C. This antioxidant is easier than some others to get from foods like citrus fruits and leafy greens, but if you worry you’re lacking in it, it’s worth talking to your medical practitioner about supplements. Not only is vitamin C important for a healthy immune system, but it’s crucial for collagen synthesis — and the more healthy collagen your body produces, the more healthy your skin will look and feel.
