Did you know that there are certain foods and vitamins that can help improve your skin and actually help heal scars faster? With Americans spending billions of dollars a year on beauty creams, serums, scrubs and masks, you can save money by just eating healthier. Here are some great skin-healthy foods.
Kale
Kale, a member of the cabbage family, is very nutrient dense, high in fiber and low in calories. When you eat kale, you get a lot of:
- vitamins A, B-6, C, and K
- calcium
- manganese
- copper
- magnesium
- potassium
The above have been known to reduce hyperpigmentation, which helps even out your skin tone. And Vitamin C in particular helps with collagen formation and works to repair acne scars faster due to the high cell turnover rate.
Sweet Potatoes
Retinol helps fight acne and keep wrinkles at bay. Beta-carotene, present in sweet potatoes, gets converted into vitamin A, which helps with discoloration, inflammation, and clogged pores caused by free radicals.
Lemons
Fresh lemon juice is a natural astringent, helping to prevent sagging skin and blemishes. But don’t just apply straight lemon juice to your face, as it’s much too acidic. Get a serum with lemon in it, or squeeze a real lemon into your glass of water or on a salad. Leave the peel on, as it has protective and anti-carcinogenic effects.
Lemon will:
- Increase collagen production
- Block free radicals
- Lighten acne scars
Pumpkin
Pumpkins are chock full of fruit enzymes, zinc, and alpha-hydroxy acids, which help to soften your skin and restore its pH balance.
Berries
Strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries have lots of vitamin C and antioxidants, which will prevent blotchy skin and dark spots.
Vitamin C
This antioxidant is great for collagen production, and it prevents inflammation at wound sites.
Vitamin B Complex
This vitamin will speed up wound healing, while boosting protein synthesis and the number of repair cells at your scar site. You can get Vitamin B5, for example, by eating wheat bran, wheat germ, oats barley, nuts, eggs, and poultry.
Vitamin A
Get Vitamin A from fresh, whole fruits and vegetables to promote tissue synthesis and boost infection resistance. Be sure to eat red, yellow, and orange vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, squash, and bell peppers.
Zinc
Zinc is great for would healing, reducing healing time after surgery. It can also reduce inflammation as well as bacterial growth. Get zinc from vitamins or from vegetables, pumpkin seeds, and spinach.
Essential Fatty Acids
Eat foods that contain omega-6 or omega-3 essential fatty acids such as seeds, nuts, eggs, and fatty fish such as salmon. These fats will help your cells lock in more moisture and enhance the wound healing process.
Water
Staying properly hydrated is key for any wound or scar healing. You don’t have to drink your water straight all the time. You can also have soups and teas, which are great for hydration.
To help all this along, it’s recommended you use Scarfade silicone gel directly on your scar. This will augment the effects of healthy eating and ensure quicker fading of your wound.