vitamin A is a micronutrient essential for the health of people . Among its benefits for the body, its importance in vision stands out, strengthens the immune system and interacts in reproduction. But it is also one of the most important vitamins for the skin .

In the vitamin world it is always associated with vitamin C as the main beneficial vitamin for the skin and there is no reason. This vitamin helps fight free radicals thanks to its antioxidant power and increases the body's capacity for collagen production.

However, vitamin A is also one of those essential micronutrients for the skin. Having adequate levels of this vitamin has a positive effect on the dermis due to its antioxidant power, better wound healing, has an anti-inflammatory effect and regulates cell growth.

Antioxidant function of vitamin A

Having levels of vitamin A in summer is essential, since due to its antioxidant power it helps to fight against free radicals that can generate pollution or exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun; which cause premature aging and skin blemishes.

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In addition, having optimal levels of vitamin A in the body also provides better wound healing. That is, it causes a correct regeneration of the skin after a cut or blow.

Anti-inflammatory power

Sometimes the skin can become inflamed and generate red areas with irregular texture and rashes. Although, vitamin A acts against this process by acting as a kind of regulator in skin inflammation.

On the other hand, this vitamin is essential for the skin's own cells to grow and reproduce. In addition, like vitamin C, although to a lesser extent, it also helps the body to produce collagen.

Ideal levels of vitamin A

The vitamin A is obtained mainly through food . Luckily there is a wide variety of products that provide this micronutrient to the body, from fruits and vegetables, to dairy products, meat and fish.

Some of the best foods with vitamin A are beef liver, carrots, salmon, broccoli, melon or apricots. Normally, following a varied and balanced diet, it is difficult to present deficient levels of this vitamin in the body.

In this sense, since the National Institute of Health of the United States establish a guide with the dose necessary vitamin A to consume depending on factors such as age and sex:

400 mcg RAE

500 mcg RAE

300 mcg RAE

400 mcg RAE

Children from 9 to 13 year old

600 mcg RAE

to 18 year old

900 mcg RAE

to 18 year old

700 mcg RAE

Adult men

900 mcg RAE

700 mcg RAE

Pregnant adolescents

750 mcg RAE

770 mcg RAE

Stage of life Recommended amount
From birth to 6 months of age
Babies from 7 to 12 months of age
Adult women
Pregnant women
Lactating adolescents one,200 mcg RAE
Breastfeeding women one,300 mcg RAE

Thus, having optimal levels of this micronutrient contributes to improving the health of our skin, in addition to being a key micronutrient for other aspects such as vision or the immune system.

Although it is not a vitamin very recurrent among 'celebrities' or typical of appearing in the media, we are facing an essential micronutrient for health, such as vitamin D , C or B 12.