For hundreds of years, women used different creams, foods full of vitamins and nutrients, and potions to improve and keep their own beauty. Modern women often use “beauty vitamins”, in other words, supplements which aim to improve the condition of the skin, nails, and hair. But do these vitamins really work?
What Is the Problem of Dietary Supplements for Beauty?
Dermatologist Patricia Farris from the Tulane University agrees that people around the world have long understood that it’s important to be healthy from the inside for looking beautiful. "European countries are just beginning to follow this principle, but Asian people have long known that correct nutrition is one of the most effective ways to fight aging" - comments the dermatologist.
According to a specialist at the Cambridge Health Alliance, Pieter Cohen, who conducted research on the efficiency of food supplements, the effect of dietary supplements is ambiguous. Even if some studies related to the efficiency of vitamin supplements were conducted, and it has been proven that a certain component is really effective, but it doesn’t mean that it will work during consumption of it in a pill form.
Vitamins Which Work
For many years, scientists have been confident in vitamins C and E. A study, which was carried out in 2016, showed that women aged 40 to 70 years, who consumed supplements with particular antioxidants, including vitamin C and zinc, noticed improved skin texture, reduced appearance of age spots and removed redness.
Collagen hydrolysate is also effective. In addition, collagen hydrolysate is better absorbed by the body, unlike typical collagen. According to a study published in the Nutrition Business Journal, hydrolyzed collagen is really more effective in returning skin its elasticity and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Another study was conducted in 2017 and the results showed that collagen peptides can strengthen brittle nails.
Vitamins That You Don’t Need
Pieter Cohen says that the main problem of research related to “beauty vitamins” is that they are not extensive enough to be clear. In addition, despite real positive results in cases of some of the vitamins, cosmetic additives will not be effective for everyone. This is because a deficiency of one of the vitamins can affect the condition of our skin and hair, but most of us do not have any deficiency.
Vitamin D supplements may lead to hair growth but only in the case if labs show that you have vitamin D deficiency and really need hair loss treatment. And biotin (vitamin B7), which is extremely popular among women who want to have beautiful hair and nails, is not effective.
Remember that you should be serious in choosing food supplements. One study published by Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that those women who consume dietary supplement which contains selenium, experienced hair loss, brittle nails, abnormal fatigue, and nausea.
So if you have skin or nail problems, consult a dermatologist, and if you have hair problems, it’s best to visit a trichologist. And if you really need “beauty vitamins”, a specialist can prescribe them.