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[BLESSINGS]

can somebody enlighten me? my doctor is prescribing a topical retinoid for my acne which i have been experiencing since 4 years. She said a retinoid is a substance related to vitamin A. If i am not mistaken, if the drug is related to vitamin A, shouldn’t vitamin A dietary supplements be helpful in getting rid of acne?

[PinoyNurse]

according to some research and medical studies, Dietary vitamin A is essential to good health, especially for vision repair. It has healthful effects too in our skin. But you see, large doses of vitamin A for the treatment of acne is not recommended on grounds of safety. The retinoids and retinoid-like substances used as topical treatments for acne are prepared especially for their potent effect on the shedding of cell lining in the sebaceous follicle. Their use should be monitored by a dermatologist.

Dietary vitamin A has multiple health effects in the human body. Vitamin A is essential for good vision. Extreme vitamin A deficiency can result in blindness, usually accompanied by dry, scaly skin. Vitamin A overdose that far exceeds the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 5,000 IU can have effects nearly as catastrophic. Extreme vitamin A overdose can cause the skin to blister and peel—an effect first seen in early North Pole explorers who nearly died after eating polar bear liver that has an extraordinarily high vitamin A content.

Topical retinoids are usually prescribed as a treatment for moderate to severe acne. Side effects are chiefly dermatologic, including redness, scaling and dryness of the skin, itching and burning. These side effects can usually be managed by adjustment of the amount and timing of retinoid applied to the skin. Dose adjustment must be discussed with the dermatologist who prescribed the treatment.