Skin Supplements | ALLURE Nov 2006 | page 174 | by Brooke Le Poer Trench

Skin Supplements

For years, experts laughed at the idea that vitamins and other capsules could improve the skin. But surprising new studies are proving that popping pills may actually lead to a clearer, younger complexion. 

In Alice in Wonderland, The Matrix, and every road-trip movie in between,  swallowing potions and pills is the path to enlightenment. But in real life, it seems more and more women are washing down capsules to clear blemishes, smooth wrinkles, and even repair sun damage. And it turns out that doing so may be an enlightened decision.
Until recently, many dermatologists believed that a healthy diet could enhance skin, but they doubted whether oral vitamins and minerals designed for complexion problems could actually reach their target. Now, many are changing their minds as the clinical and anecdotal evidence mounts. "Increasingl, we're seeing that prescribing certain supplements for specific issues, when combined with a balanced diet and the right topical treatments, improves the results patients see in their skin," says Mary P. Lupo, clinical professor of dermatology at the Tulane University School of Medicine. "And some nutrients can be taken orally as preventive measures against signs of aging, too."
The real challenge now for anyone interested in treating her skin from the inside out is sorting the hype (drink tea: look younger!) from the facts. "My patients hear about the latest ingredient to show results and buy anything that contains it, assuming that because an ingredient is present, it will be active," says Richard Fitzpatrick, associate clinical professor of dermatology at University of California-San Diego. But benefitting from supplements is not always so simple. We asked researchers to go down the rabbit hole.

Variety Packs

Companies that used to sell just moisturizers are now offering vitamins to help skin from the inside out. We asked doctors to size them up. - Ellen Miller 

Santica Beauty Recipes Anti-Wrinkle Dietary Supplement. "This company has done some compelling studies showing that women who have taken this supplement saw a significant improvement in skin wrinkling. I plan on trying it myself," Lupo says.