Are Retinol Supplements Effective?
Our bodies use the nutrients we eat to create our cells and generate life-sustaining energy. This means vitamins are crucial for all our bodily functions, including our skin and scalp’s ability to retain their shape, conserve moisture and create hair fibers in the follicles.
Retinol is a form of vitamin A, an essential nutrient for skin and scalp function. Our bodies require retinol in our system to effectively build healthy skin from the inside out.
We receive vitamin A from the foods we eat, however, that isn’t always enough. Retinol supplements are an effective way to buoy our reserves and promote optimal skin and scalp health.
What Is Retinol?
As a form of vitamin A, retinol has a unique role in supporting the health of multiple systems in your body, from immunity and reproduction to eye and skin health. Additionally, this compound has antioxidant properties to help prevent skin damage caused by unstable free radicals.
Retinol is a fat-soluble substance, which means your body stores it for future use rather than flushing excess from your system. To get retinol from your diet, you need to eat animal products like organ meats, fish, cheese and egg yolks.
Other forms of vitamin A can be obtained from plant-based sources like carrots, sweet potatoes, leafy greens and squash. Your liver will then turn these nutrients into retinol and either store it or deploy it to be used by cells throughout your body.
How Does Retinol Work on Skin?
Retinol is included in many topical skincare formulations because of its proven ability to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. When taken as a supplement, it can have a similar positive impact on your skin’s health.
As your skin cells age or become damaged, they need to be replaced by the newer cells growing up from beneath the surface. Retinol plays a significant role in this process of skin healing and regeneration, supporting the growth and reproduction of new skin cells.
If this cell turnover process is interrupted, you may experience dry, dull skin. Dead skin cells can also build up on your scalp, leading to blocked follicles and flaking. Retinol supplements speed up cell turnover, promoting exfoliation to reveal fresher and softer skin.
Is Supplementary Retinol Safe?
Retinol supplements are safe and effective for most people when taken in proper doses. Adult women should get an average of 700 micrograms (mcg) of all forms of Vitamin A per day, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Since extra retinol is not evacuated from your system, it is also crucial that you don't take in substantially more than you need. The current upper limit for adults is to take in no more than 3,000 mcg of Vitamin A in a day. Too much will result in an excess supply of retinol in your liver, potentially leading to problems like:
- Liver damage
- Hair loss
- Dry skin
- Cracked lips
- Vision changes
- Bone pain
Retinol or other vitamin A supplements can also interact with other medications you may be taking. For these reasons, you should always talk to your doctor before beginning a new vitamin supplement.
Boost Your Nutrient Intake with Retinol Supplements
As we age, our bodies absorb and use nutrients less efficiently than we used to. An effective multivitamin like Better Not Younger’s Significant Other Hair, Skin & Nails Supplement + Retinol Boost may be able to help restore adequate nutrient balance in menopause and beyond.
Two of our retinol supplement gummies taken daily contain all the ingredients your body needs for glowing skin, stronger nails and thicker hair, including:
- Retinol (in the form of retinyl acetate): 1,200 mcg
- Biotin: 5,000 mcg
- Vitamin B12: 8 mcg
- Vitamin C: 60 mg
- Vitamin D3: 10 mcg
- Vitamin E: 18 mg
- Pantothenic acid: 10 mg
- Zinc: 5 mg
Turn to Better Not Younger for a Healthier Skin and Scalp
If you are not getting enough vitamin A from the foods you eat, try retinol supplements as an effective way to improve the condition of your skin and scalp. Maintaining a healthy scalp can help you reduce hair loss now and may even increase your hair growth over time.
Better Not Younger has the hair and scalp care solutions you need to manage your age-related hair-care challenges. Visit our shop page and read more about vitamins and hair care in The Better Blog to learn more!
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