Can Selenium Help Get Rid Of Acne?

What Is Selenium?

Selenium is a grayish element that can be found in nature. It is a semimetal mineral that is considered to be “rare.” But despite its scarce availability, it’s used in various industries due to its unique properties.

Selenium’s main job in the body is to protect cells from damage. This means that it helps keep cells from getting hurt by harmful substances called “free radicals.” These are unstable molecules that can cause oxidative stress, which has been linked to the development of a number of chronic diseases.

Selenium & Acne

So, what does selenium have to do with acne that keeps getting worse? Does it help get rid of spots and restore the natural balance of the skin? The answer is a resounding “yes.” Thanks to its antioxidant properties, it can help treat this skin condition quite well.

Selenium for hormonal acne

As has already been said, hormonal changes can cause zits. When there are too many thyroid hormones, as in hyperthyroidism, this can be said. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, such as intolerance to heat, tremors, heart palpitations, and weight loss.

When it comes to the skin, an overactive thyroid may cause it to make more oil. Experts are still not sure what causes this to happen. Endocrinologist Jason Baker says that this is because of how the hormones affect the glands that make sebum.

And, of course, the more oil there is, the more likely it is that acne will show up. This is why people with hyperthyroidism often have pimples. Selenium may help control hyperthyroidism because it is an antioxidant and a key part of how thyroid hormones are broken down. Selenium can help control the changes in thyroid hormones, and it may also help reduce the acne that comes with the disease.

Selenium for inflammatory acne

A lot of people think that acne doesn’t cause inflammation until the very end. But Tanghetti says that’s not true. His research shows that inflammation starts early on in acne and stays there the whole time.

Selenium may be a good supplement if you have acne. Selenium is an antioxidant, so it may help control the things in the body that cause inflammation.

Selenium is an antioxidant that can help reduce inflammation and may also help boost the immune system. This might stop the growth of a microbe that causes acne, called Propionibacterium acnes.

P. acnes is usually a part of the microbiome of the skin. But P. acnes can grow out of control when the immune system is weak. The growth of these bacteria can cause inflammatory acne and a lot of other skin problems.

As a result, selenium, an antioxidant that can help control inflammation and boost the immune system, may help reduce how bad acne is.

Selenium for fungal acne

Fungal acne is a type of acne that happens when there is too much yeast on the skin. This condition is also called pityrosporum folliculitis or malassezia folliculitis.

This condition can be hard to treat because the symptoms are so similar to those of other kinds of acne, like hormonal acne. But the fungal type of acne tends to show up on your upper back, shoulders, and chest, which are not usually places where hormonal acne shows up.

One antifungal agent that can be used to treat acne that is caused by fungi is selenium sulfide. This substance can stop yeast from growing on the skin and is often found in shampoos for dandruff. You can also use the Neutrogena Body Clear acne wash with pink grapefruit to treat acne caused by fungi.

Selenium for mood problems and acne

Millions of people all over the world have mood disorders. Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million Americans, and depression affects more than 16 million. In addition to affecting the mind, these mood problems can cause changes in hormones that can cause acne.

In their study, Golchai et al. found that there was such a link. The results show that 68% of the people who were worried had acne. On the other hand, depression co-occurred at a lower rate of 25.6%.

So how does selenium help acne caused by stress or depression? Well, a study by Benton and Cook found that selenium may help make people feel better. In that study, 50 people were given 100 micrograms of selenium every day for five weeks. The results showed that most of the people who took selenium felt less anxious.

Selenium may be able to help with anxiety, depression, and acne because it can make you feel better.

Scientific research

Selenium is a mineral that our bodies need, so there have been a lot of studies looking at how it might be linked to many conditions and diseases. Let’s look at what was found about acne.

In the 1990s, a study found that people with acne vulgaris had lower levels of selenium in their blood and plasma.

In another study from 1984, the effects of using selenium for acne and vitamin E to treat people with acne vulgaris were looked at. For 6 to 12 weeks, the researchers gave each patient 0.2 mg of selenium and 10 mg of tocopheryl succinate twice a day. The results were good, and almost all of the patients’ acne went away. Patients with pustular acne and low GSH-Px activity got the best results.

In 2012, 56 people with papulopustular acne lesions took part in a study to find out what role selenium plays in acne. A dermatologist looked at each patient and put them into groups based on how bad their condition was. Then, for eight weeks, they were given selenium. The results of the study showed that using selenium helped patients with acne vulgaris, as shown by the improvement in their skin and the biochemical findings.

How to Get More Selenium

Selenium is good for the body in many ways, so people who want clearer, healthier skin must take supplements. Selenium is good for you because it can be found in both organic and inorganic forms, which are both good sources. The best food sources of selenium are Brazil nuts, seafood, and organ meats. Cereals, grains, lean meats, and dairy products are also good sources.

An OTC acne supplement is another good way to get selenium besides food. It comes in different kinds, like sodium selenite, selenate, and selenomethionine. But the body can absorb 90% of selenomethionine and only 50% of selenite. This makes selenomethionine the better choice.

Whether you get your selenium from food or supplements, you must get at least 55 micrograms, which is the recommended daily allowance (RDA). This is true for both men and women older than 14 years old. The RDA is 60 micrograms for pregnant women and 70 micrograms for women who are breastfeeding.

With that in mind, it’s important to remember that the most you should take in a day is 400 micrograms. When there is too much of this, it can cause symptoms like arsenic poisoning.

In Conclusion

If you think you might not have enough selenium, talk to your doctor. Always get your selenium levels checked and talk to your doctor about taking selenium as a supplement based on the results. And, hey, taking selenium for acne could be the answer to your problem.

Still not sure? We’re not going on and on about selenium for no reason. Look at the research we found. They show that people with acne vulgaris usually don’t have enough selenium in their blood.

Last but not least, let’s say again how important it is to talk to your doctor before doing anything. Overdosing on selenium can cause serious problems, but the right amount seems to help acne because it is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.