Many vitamins and minerals are needed for your skin to be healthy, look good, and function properly. Vitamin A is one of these essential vitamins for your skin.
There are many commercial products claiming to reverse skin aging. Many of these items target skin issues such as age lines and wrinkles, dry skin, aging spots, acne, and sun-damaged photoaging. These expensive commercial products often contain retinol, a concentrated form of vitamin A.
But you can treat and prevent many common skin conditions right at home without spending a fortune. Take advantage of the benefits that vitamin A offers your skin and overall health and you may be able to prevent many common skin issues associated with vitamin A deficiencies, right from your own refrigerator or shower.
What is vitamin A?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and an antioxidant with many benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health:
"Vitamin A is involved in immune function, vision, reproduction, and cellular communication. Vitamin A is critical for vision.... Vitamin A also supports cell growth and differentiation, playing a critical role in the normal formation and maintenance of the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs."
There are two types of vitamin A available from the human diet. Retinoids are considered preformed vitamin A and come from animal products such as goat milk (and other dairy), fish, and meat.
In contrast, carotenoids are preformed vitamin A. They come from plant pigments and must be converted by the body into a usable form. Beta-carotene is the most important preformed vitamin A and is found in foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and dark leafy greens.
In addition to getting Vitamin A through food, you can also absorb it through your skin.
Your skin has 3 layers - the epidermis (outer layer of skin), the dermis (middle layer of skin), and the hypodermis (bottom layer of skin). The outer two layers are both retinoid responsive. The cells found in those skin layers contain receptors and proteins that help absorb vitamin A into the body.
When vitamin A comes into the body from eating or from absorption through the skin, it is then turned into retinol in the liver and either stored there or distributed by the lymphatic system throughout the body.
Since vitamin A is a necessary micronutrient for good health that our bodies cannot make on their own, it is essential that we get our vitamin A either topically or from the foods we eat.
The benefits of Vitamin A.
Goat milk naturally contains Vitamin A. If you have a source of healthy, fresh goat milk, adding it to your diet is a great way to meet your Vitamin A needs. But if you don't have access to goat milk to drink, your skin can also absorb Vitamin A when you're using goat milk soap.
Vitamin A is known for treating acne. In fact, retinoids (a term used for vitamin A and its compounds) are a common go-to treatment used by many dermatologists to treat acne. Physicians commonly use retinol, a concentrated form of vitamin A, because it has been shown to clear pre-existing acne and prevents new acne from forming. Washing with Goat Milk Stuff soaps will assist in preventing and treating acne.
"Hello, Jonas family! I just want to let you know how much I LOVE your soap! I have tried two other goats' milk soap companies and yours is BY FAR the best! The others did not last long at all and didn't lather. I just wanted to let you know your hard work is really helping people. I am 55 years old and have had cystic acne all my life. I have tried everything, even prescription acne medication and skin peels. Your Purity Soap is the only thing that has cleared it up without drying my skin out. Thank you!" - Laura
Vitamin A promotes the production of healthy skin cells. Vitamin A has been shown to stimulate fibroblasts which are cells necessary for tissue development. According to Cell Applications:
"Fibroblasts, the most common mammalian connective tissue cells, form fibrous supporting structures consisting of collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules.... With their ability to liberate growth factors, lay down fibroelastic matrices, and proliferate at sites of inflammation, fibroblasts play critical roles in wound healing, tissue repair, and remodeling."
Sufficient vitamin A is necessary to keep your skin healthy so it can not only do its job, but it can look good while doing it.
Vitamin A prevents and repairs sun damage. Photoaging is the damage done by sun exposure. It comes in the form of wrinkles, hyperpigmentation such as freckles and dark spots, and fine lines. The good news is that vitamin A is shown to drastically improve fine lines, wrinkles and many other signs of sun-damaged skin. Topical vitamin A (retinoids) induce many microscopic changes in the skin and stimulates the growth of collagen. Collagen is a structural protein that has been shown to help with photoaged skin.
Vitamin A plays a role in skin healing. A deficiency in vitamin A can cause your immune system to be impaired. It can delay wound healing because vitamin A helps to produce new skin cells. All our goat milk soaps, as well as our goat milk cheese, have a high vitamin A content.
Vitamin A prevents follicular hyperkeratosis. If you are deficient in vitamin A your skin can form too much keratin. This condition causes hyperkeratosis, a thickening of the outer skin’s layer. Follicular hyperkeratosis also referred to as Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a condition caused by excess keratin in the hair follicles, resulting in bumps that are rough and often cone-shaped. The vitamin A in goat milk soap can help with this issue.
"Love the purity bar soap. I have very sensitive skin and the detergents and preservatives used in other soaps irritate my skin. My son has keratosis pilaris and the purity soap keeps his skin free of bumps and cleared up teen acne. Last but not least, it soothes my husband's rosacea. It's the only soap my whole family uses. Love the fresh, clean scent and lather too!" - Teri
Vitamin A supports your eye health. In addition to all the benefits for your skin, vitamin A is crucial for the health of your eyes. It is a key component of Rhodopsin, a protein that helps you see in low light. It is also essential in the renewal of cells. It keeps the cornea, the outside covering of your eye, clear. When combined with antioxidants, vitamin A is also believed to prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
There are many health benefits to not just consuming enough vitamin A through your diet, but also with using vitamin A containing products on your skin. Most commercial soaps available are made with water. Since goat milk naturally is a great source of vitamin A (and many other healthy ingredients), your skin will benefit by using a natural goat milk soap.
Let us know how goat milk soap has made a difference for you!
Disclaimer: We are not doctors, and none of the above information is designed to treat or cure any disease. Contact your doctor for any questions regarding your health.