December 02, 2021

The Best Supplements for Acne-Prone Skin 2021

Acne can be so frustrating, babe we totally know the struggle!

Everyone deals with it in one way or another, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult to deal with. In many cases, acne can strike a severe blow to your confidence.

There are many people out there who suffer from feeling seriously down about the blemishes on their skin. We get it, trust us (seriously, our founders Jayla and Chrissy suffered from cystic acne for years).

Once you make it past your teenage years, you’re probably wondering why you’re even still getting acne. It seems like such a juvenile issue, given the fact it can happen during puberty. Well, you grew up and grew out of teen acne; now, welcome to adult acne. Thought you’d get away with clear skin once you reached your 20s? Think again.

Approximately 12-20% of women experience adult acne, compared to only three percent of men. Considering we’re the ones who have extensive skincare routines, and they’re the ones who can basically wash their faces with shampoo and still look good, it doesn’t really seem fair, does it?

It’s not, but unfortunately, acne is a reality most women will face throughout their lives. You can have acne for a wide variety of reasons, but women experience a greater fluctuation in hormones than men do. This is one of the main reasons why more women experience adult acne.

Ok, enough with the Debbie Downer stuff. Let’s talk about the positives: making your acne disappear and revealing glowing and clear skin! It won’t happen overnight, but with certain supplements, you’ll be on track to having the skin of your dreams in no time.

Collagen

If you’re not taking a collagen supplement, you’re missing out. Collagen is a protein that’s found within our bodies. In fact, it’s the most abundant protein in the human body. It’s formed through chains of amino acids.

Collagen is a key player in our skin, keeping it firm, smooth, and youthful-looking.

While there is still more concrete evidence that is needed to support a direct relationship between collagen and clearing up acne, collagen can help with other health-related issues, according to Penn Medicine.

Addressing these other issues can work to help clear up your acne indirectly. For example, people often have acne because their skin is dry, producing excess sebum. The more oil and sebum you produce, the more acne you’ll have.

That’s where collagen comes in. Collagen is proven to help to hydrate the skin and repair damage caused by dehydration and dryness. Therefore, by hydrating your skin and normalizing its oil production, your skin will be well hydrated. As a result, your acne could clear up.

Ready to try a collagen supplement? Our Kalumi BEAUTYfood bars are the perfect solution. Each bar contains eight grams of marine collagen and delicious, good-for-you ingredients such as cocoa butter, MCT oil, sweet potato (for a vitamin A boost, which is also great for your skin), and either almond butter or cashew butter, depending on which flavor you choose.

Vitamin A

It seems like vitamin C and vitamin D are always getting the hype for being the vitamins we need to take most. However, it might be worthwhile to try out a vitamin A supplement or increase your intake through the food you eat when it comes to skin and acne.

Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant that plays a role in your overall skin health, meaning it directly impacts acne.

Antioxidants work to defend your skin and body against free radicals, which can damage your cells. Compromised skin and weak cells are more likely to result in skin issues such as acne because cell turnover doesn’t occur fast enough.

You may have also heard of vitamin A in a different form: retinol. The topical form of vitamin A is retinol, which we all know is one of the holy grails of skincare. Retinol is the most scientifically backed skincare product available.

It works to speed up cell turnover collagen production. However, it can take a toll on your skin, with many people experiencing redness and dryness. It also takes a long time to see accurate results.

So while skincare is certainly needed to maintain healthy skin, make sure you’re also including foods rich in vitamin A. You can also find it in our Kalumi BEAUTYfood bars (sweet potatoes are high in vitamin A) if you don’t want to deal with taking pills.

Turmeric

Is there anything turmeric can’t do? Turmeric is known as a superfood, and for a good reason.

This supplement has some of the greatest calming and soothing properties out of any available supplement. Acne results from congestion within the skin, and it’s known as a swelling skin issue. Given turmeric’s calming and soothing abilities, there’s some evidence that suggests it can greatly impact your skin health.

You can find turmeric in capsule form in various dosage amounts. Simply follow the dosage amount on the bottle and start there. You can work with a dietician or doctor to increase your dosage or find the dosage that’s right for your body. Turmeric has various other health benefits, so even if it doesn’t help with your acne, it might help you with different issues in your body.

Good Skin Starts With What We Put in Our Bodies

Now you have the full scoop on supplements for acne-prone skin. While proper skin care and seeing your dermatologist are certainly important, you have control over what you put into your body to help it look and feel its best. As long as you do your research and make sure a supplement is ok for your body, it’s worth trying to see if it helps.

Acne can be a real struggle, and we totally feel for you. It can be so heartbreaking to wake up and see new pimples on your face. The good news is, there is hope. There are always new things you can do and try to help improve your skin. It takes a lot of trial and error, but eventually, you’ll find a routine that works for you.

Start by trying some of the supplements we discussed in this article. You never know what might help! Collagen can be a game-changer for your skin, especially when it’s a clean source like the one Kalumi uses (we use wild-caught, sustainably sourced marine collagen).

And remember, at the end of the day, you are beautiful no matter what’s going on with your skin. Stay confident, and don’t give up -- you’ll be glowing soon enough!