Prenatal Vitamins are the custom combination of essential nutrients needed by a pregnant body. This supplement is essential in maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Although some may blame prenatal vitamins as the common convict of acne during pregnancy.
However, this idea is entirely based on myth, which does not have any scientific evidence to support it. As over 40% of pregnant women experience acne. This outbreak is in its full bloom, especially in its first trimester. And it has also been observed that pregnant women get acne whether they take Prenatal Vitamins or not. So can it be the cause of taking prenatal vitamins?
An insight into prenatal vitamins will give us an obvious idea of whether or not prenatal vitamins are a convict at the onset of Acne.
What are Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal Vitamins are actually the regular multivitamins women take regularly but in a higher concentration. Like the concentration of Folic Acid in regular women, multivitamins are 400 micrograms, but in Prenatal Vitamins, this quantity extends to 800 mcg. So prenatal vitamins are actually your regular multivitamins but as the pregnant body is double in need of nutrients, therefore the amount of prenatal vitamins is double.
These vitamins are custom according to the changing requirements of the pregnant body and fetal and placental development. These vitamins are also stage-specific. However, all prenatal vitamins contain a different combination of micronutrients that are aimed at ensuring a healthy pregnancy and the health of the pregnant woman and fetus. Also, their customization depends on the role each supplement play in the development of fetal growth and its stability at each stage of pregnancy.
Now the question is whether or not these prenatal vitamins are the cause of triggering acne.
So in order to have a clearer perspective, let’s have a closer look into the vitamins that are a part of prenatal vitamins and their effects on the skin.
The first and most essential vitamin is Folic Acid.
- Folic Acid
It is responsible for increasing hydration in the skin by maintaining skin barrier function. This improves moisture retention and eases skin dryness. Folic acid is responsible for doing so by maintaining adequate collagen production.
- Iron,
an important vitamin in prenatal vitamins does not affect the skin at all.
- Vitamin D:
Researches say that vitamin D has powerful anti-inflammatory properties; therefore, rather its lack may trigger acne.
- Vitamin C:
Vitamin C is a completely safe vitamin to use during pregnancy. Even it works as a powerhouse to help enhance the glow of your skin. It is also quite helpful in protecting your skin from environmental damage. Vitamin C is the most powerful vitamin to help your skin retain its health, and it exfoliates your skin and
- Vitamin A:
It helps in healing acne and breakouts. Vitamin A even speeds up the process of healing those painful peaky breakouts. It is also helpful in supporting the skin’s immune system and it promotes natural moisturising. This means it helps to hydrate the skin effectively, giving it a radiant glow. It is also helpful in assisting to promote and maintain a healthy dermis and epidermis; the top two layers of your skin.
- Vitamin E:
This vitamin is famous for its miraculous benefits on the skin. This vitamin is crucial for healthy skin and eyes. Even it is used to treat birthmarks.
- Zinc:
Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, zinc may help clear acne, causing bacteria from the skin and reducing oil production, which is the second most common cause of acne in general.
- Iodine:
Iodine is a common mineral found in multivitamin supplements and although it is essential for healthy thyroid functioning. However, in excess, it is excreted through the follicles and can be highly irritating to the pores of acne-prone individuals. In addition, there have been some recent findings that have linked biotin with increased breakouts, and we often find this in prenatal vitamins.
- B Vitamins:
This vitamin is crucial for keeping your skin radiant and glowing. However, too much vitamin B12 may promote acne, according to a new study.
This study states that skin bacteria, which is one of the common causes of acne, start to pump out inflammatory molecules in the presence of excessive B Vitamins.
In addition, there have been some recent findings that have linked biotin with increased breakouts.
Some recent studies show that Biotin may help improve acne conditions. It is also effective on the causes of acne breakout, which causes blackheads and whiteheads. It is also helpful in controlling the flaking and irritation that occurs when you take retinoids for acne.
So in order to clear the collision of claims, I am quoting a most recent study which states:-
That access to Biotin in your body can lead to the overproduction of skin cells. It also causes a shortage of Vitamin B5 and these factors work in drying out the skin. But still, there are no more solid claims to support the statement that Biotin leads to acne.
What Can and Can’t Be the Cause of Your Acne
Provided that some vitamins do have an excessive amount of biotin supplementation that may cause more harm than benefit. As excess of anything is not good, similarly excess of vitamins that are unnecessary or not required by your body can be harmful. Thus, it is important to know what you are taking and what your body needs you to take.
Fortunately, many of the tried and tested acne-reducing supplements are found in a good Prenatal vitamins. Hence, this claim that prenatal supplements can trigger acne is actually based on myths.
Moreover, instead of holding a single thing responsible, try to balance your diet and hormones. Because Acne is said to be triggered by four basic convicts and these include Hormonal Changes, Oil, Bacteria and Diet.
