When your skin needs nurturing from the outside in, Bellagena has a full menu of med spa skincare treatments and procedures to clean, exfoliate, infuse, polish, heal, soothe, and shine.
But when it comes to providing your skin with the cellular fuel it needs to operate at peak performance, from the inside out, that’s almost entirely on you and your diet.
We can’t put these nutrients in your system, but we can tell you what you need and why. Dr. Pamela Chapman, a practicing Bradenton doctor and Bellagena’s medical supervisor, here tells us about her top five skin supplements. If you’re looking for skincare solutions to practice on your own time, here’s where to start.
Build your glow from within with these powerful nutrition additions.
Vitamin C for Skin Strength and Resilience
Yes, the super-C vitamin works for your skin, too. Vitamin C’s famous immune-boosting power comes from its antioxidant and free-radical-fighting qualities—cellular strengthening that also helps your skin, too.
Vitamin C enhances your body’s ability to kill microbes, protecting your skin cells and even reversing damage. On top of that, it stimulates collagen production to further restore that youthful glow.
Bradenton skincare practitioners rejoice: Vitamin C is famously present in our local citrus fruits.
Natural sources: Citrus, berries, broccoli, potatoes.
Omega 3 for Skin Brilliance
Omega 3 is one of the primary nutrients behind your body’s ability to regular oil production. And oil is how your skin maintains hydration and elasticity.
And believe it or not, oil helps to prevent breakouts by acting as a barrier between your skin and infection-causing microbes.
More good news for Bradenton skincare: Omega 3s can be found throughout our amazing local seafood selection.
Natural sources: Fish, flax seed, chia seed.
Zinc: Your Skin’s Guardian
Zinc is a major anti-inflammatory nutrient. Inflammation is one of your body’s first responses to perceived threats and injury, and sometimes this response can cause other problematic symptoms. Without sufficient zinc supplies, your body’s inflammatory responses run amok.
Overactive inflammatory skin conditions like eczema can be drastically reduced by boosting your zinc intake.
Natural sources: Seafood (especially oysters) and animal proteins, nuts and whole grains.
Collagen Peptides Turn Back Time
It’s right there in the name: Collagen peptides are the building blocks of collagen, one of the primary protein materials in your skin (as well as bones, hair, and connective tissue).
As we age, collagen breaks down and collagen production slows. So it’s important that we protect the collagen we have and supplement it with more. (FYI sun exposure also leeches collagen from our skin, so sunscreen is important, too—especially here in Bradenton!)
Natural sources: Seafood and animal proteins (including bone broth), citrus, beans, garlic, and bell peppers.
Astaxanthin: The Underrated Antioxidant
And finally, our dark horse skin nutrient: astaxanthin. It doesn’t get as much press as the other nutrients on this list, but astaxanthin is revealing itself as a vital antioxidant that also has anti-inflammatory properties.
Astaxanthin is actually categorized as a cartenoid, which means it’s a natural pigment that helps some plants and even animals to convert sunlight into fuel. It’s most commonly found in marine algae, so humans tend to get it from eating fish that eat that algae.
Natural sources: Salmon, shellfish.
