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Avoid winter acne breakouts by taking vitamin D supplements for just 2 cents a day
Does your acne get worse in winter? Well, youre not alone. One reason for this may be that youre missing out on a fundamental vitamin, because of the weather.
For some of us, spending quality time outdoors while the Sun is out just isnt feasible during winter. Luckily, dietary supplements are cheaper and more accessible than ever. Weve been warned that drinking extra water to cure acne actually makes it worse. Meanwhile, the dangerous sunburning beauty trend has been roundly debunked. Now its time for some truth, in this case, from NHS GP Dr Neel Patel.�
Taking one cheap vitamin supplement could prevent acne breakouts during winter
Not getting enough vitamin D has been linked with acne, says Dr Patel. He completed his medical training in London and works within the UKs national health system as a general practitioner.
He cites a 2016 study that found people with a vitamin D deficiency were more than twice as likely to have acne. �
When the days are long and the skies are relatively clear, i.e. between, say, April and September, most of us can make enough vitamin D through absorbing sunlight through our skin and eating a balanced diet, Dr Patel says.
But in the fall and winter months, many of us scrape by on just enough of the vitamin or not even that.
If you notice your acne gets worse in winter, its worth considering a vitamin D supplement to help you get the 10mg daily recommendation, he says.
Fortunately, vitamin D supplements are cheap as chips (as they say in England) and available from most grocery stores (supermarkets) and drugstores (pharmacies).
3 more tips for preventing acne in cold weather
Dr Patel is part of Lloyds Pharmacys Online Doctor network, which has a Winter Acne guide. It includes three further tips for safeguarding against acne breakouts during the winter months.
Manage stress levels
First, it notes that the stress hormone, cortisol, stimulates the production of testosterone and DHT, which are both known to cause acne.
Prioritising self-care may help to restore the health of your skin,” it reads. “Different people find different stress-busting techniques work for them. You could see improvement from a daily walk outside or from trying breathing exercises for stress anxiety. �
Dont drink too much alcohol
This is a sensible rule to live by anyway, but during winter, festivities can involve more drinking than usual and unfortunately, this can impact your skin.
Partly, this is due to the way alcohol interacts with hormone levels and the immune system, but it also has to do with its drying effect on the skin, which can trigger the overproduction of oil which results in breakouts.
Eat well
The festive season often comes with foods rich in sugar, carbohydrates, and dairy, all of which can trigger acne breakouts by causing rising levels of testosterone and DHT.
While its normal to enjoy a slightly different routine towards the end of the year, try to maintain a healthy lifestyle as much as possible. Unfortunately, if you eat too many sugary treats, ultra-processed snacks, and dairy products, its likely youll notice the results on your skin. �
So, to summarise, for healthy winter skin, Dr Patel recommends the following:
- Eat foods rich in vitamin D and/or take a vitamin D supplement.
- Manage stress levels by being kind to yourself.
- Dont drink too much alcohol, and drink plenty of water.
- Avoid foods that are high in sugar, carbohydrates, and dairy.
Dr Neel Patel completed his medical training at St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London Medical School. He went on to complete his GP training in Berkshire. He joined Online Doctor in 2020 and also works as a GP within the NHS in Hertfordshire.
