The Basics of using Vitamin D for your acne and oily skin

Disclaimer: Please consult your doctor before taking supplements or medications. All information below is for educational purposes only and not to be taken as medical advice.

Will Vitamin D cure my acne?
Maybe. Maybe not. Not all acne is caused by vitamin D deficiency but it’s definitely worth a try. Vitamin D is inexpensive and good for your health. There are currently only a few sources of medical literature supporting Vitamin D as a treatment for acne, but many individuals have reported Vitamin D to be a complete cure for their acne and oily skin.

How much Vitamin D should I take?
The Vitamin D Council (a nonprofit organization in California, United States, working to educate the public on vitamin D, sun exposure and health) recommends a daily dose of 5000 IU of Vitamin D3, with an upper daily limit of 10 000 IU. This is higher than what most doctors recommend, which can be a source of frustration for patients who are looking to use higher doses of vitamin D for health benefits. Patients may be told by their doctors that 5000IU of D3 per day is too much even when they are seeing therapeutic results from taking this amount. Vitamin D daily intake recommendations are constantly being debated with the Vitamin D council pushing for higher limits.

Can I overdose on Vitamin D?
Yes, you can overdose on Vitamin D by taking too many supplements. Your body has it’s own mechanism to limit vitamin D levels through sun exposure, but that mechanism is bypassed when you take supplements.

The following information about Vitamin D toxicity is taken from the Vitamin D Council website:

Possible symptoms of toxicity include:
feeling sick or being sick
poor appetite or loss of appetite
feeling very thirsty
passing urine often
constipation or diarrhea
abdominal pain
muscle weakness or pain
feeling confused
feeling tired

Very high levels of 25(OH)D can develop if you: Take more than 10,000 IU/day (but not equal to) everyday for 3 months or more. However, vitamin D toxicity is more likely to develop if you take 40,000 IU/day everyday for 3 months or more. Take more than 300,000 IU in a 24 hour period. For more information on Vitamin D toxicity, read the resource provided by the Vitamin D Council.

Other ways to prevent vitamin D overdose are to get your vitamin D source from than sun instead of from supplements, because your skin prevents you from overdosing on vitamin D from the sun. You can also get Vitamin D blood work done to make sure your levels are within safe limits.

What if Vitamin D3 is not curing my acne?
This could be for one these reasons:

• Vitamin D deficiency is not the cause (or only cause) of your acne.
• Vitamin D deficiency is the cause of your acne but you are not taking enough Vitamin D daily. (Be careful not to overdose)
• Vitamin D deficiency is the cause of your acne but you have not taken it for a long enough period.
• Vitamin D deficiency is the cause of your acne but you are not reacting well to the supplement. Your body may be having a negative reaction to the supplements or you may not be absorbing the vitamins if you have a digestive disease. If you are allergic to wool or fish, you may have a bad reaction to Vitamin D3 pills.
• The supplements you are taking are expired or have lost their potency.

Should I take other supplements when taking Vitamin D3?
Yes, it is recommended that you take Vitamin K2 supplements while taking Vitamin D3. Together the Vitamin K2 works with the Vitamin D3 to move calcium into your bones. Without Vitamin K2, the Vitamin D3 may mobilize the calcium into your arteries where it gets deposited, instead of into your bones. This can cause serious health problems. For more information on Vitamin K2 and how much to take, the Mercola website is a good resource.

You should also take Magnesium and Calcium as taking higher levels of Vitamin D can use up these minerals in your body.