Vitamin B5 worth trying for persistent acne

Acne occurs to some degree in nearly every teenager and for most people it tends to diminish and then disappear after a few years, but it can persist or reoccur in some individuals. It is usually caused by a blockage of follicles by naturally occurring oils and dead skin cells. Management includes applying products to the affected area such as antiseptics, antibiotics or anti-inflammatory compounds.

There is emerging evidence that one of the B vitamins, vitamin B5, also known as Pantothenic Acid, could be a useful treatment. B vitamins are water soluble and therefore not stored in the body and need to be taken on a regular basis. It has long been known that B vitamins are essential in order to have healthy hair and skin.

A small study published just a few months ago found that after 8 weeks of taking an oral supplement which contained Pantothenic Acid and other B vitamins, the average number of lesions reduced significantly from 20 to 11 and there was also a good improvement in the study participants quality of life.

Another study of 100 Chinese people involved taking 10g of Pantothenic Acid a day orally and applying Pantothenic Acid cream 4-6 times a day. Most of those with mild or moderate symptoms experienced a complete remission within 8 weeks.

Pantothenic Acid is safe at recommended doses and so it is worth trying for people with persistent acne that has not responded well to other treatments.