Can Folic Acid Reduce Skin Disorders?

Why Folic Acid helps reduce Skin Pigmentation:

Folic acid helps reduce skin pigmentation because it promotes the synthesis of homocysteine and reduces its levels in the plasma. Thus, diminishing the negative effects on the body and skin.

This action helps regulate tyrosinase’s function and improves melanin production. Hence, the skin’s protective layer becomes stronger, which reduces skin patches and the risk of skin pigmentation.

Furthermore, given that one of the causes of skin pigmentation is due to folate deficiency, supplying the body with sufficient amounts of folic acid might compensate for this deficiency, and help improve skin cell development. This reduces the formation of skin patches, thus decreasing chances of skin pigmentation disorder.

How Folic Acid works to prevent and reduce Skin Pigmentation:

Folic acid decreases the chances of pigmentation by supporting the synthesis of DNA and RNA. The latter allows proper production of healthy new skin cells and improves the skin’s protective layer.

Moreover, vitamin B9 (folic acid) plays an important role in breaking down the homocysteine amino acid in the plasma. By doing so, melanin production gets regulated and melanocytes can be better protected.

Simultaneously, folate induces the synthesis of GTP (guanosine triphosphate), which is a substrate that produces melanocytes and modulates melanin production. This balances tyrosinase activity and reduces the chances of skin pigmentation disorder.

Folic Acid Dose for Skin Pigmentation:

Taking folic acid for skin pigmentation can be used in various ways including:

• Tablets/Capsules: this is considered a less invasive form of folic acid. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for men and women older than 19 years old is an oral dose of at least 400mcg daily.
• Liquid injection: can be taken through the vein (IV), skin or muscle based on the doctor’s suggestion. The injectable dose of liquid folic acid is set at 5mg/ml daily.
• External application: applied as cream on the skin to reduce some sun damage’s visual indicators, including reducing DNA damage to affected skin.

Dosages should always be consulted with the doctor in order to revise each personal case according to age and consider any medical condition, if any.

Folic Acid for Skin Disorders: precautions

If you are taking folic acid, you need to avoid drinking alcohol as it could interfere with the absorption of folic acid in the body. Alcohol increases the rate of breakdown of the vitamin allowing it to be discharged faster from the body.

1.  People with certain medical conditions:

People with the following conditions should be careful and always check before taking folic acid:

• Allergies: People who have allergies can possibly have a reaction to folic acid which might lead to skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing, and redness.
• Impaired Immune Function: intake of high doses of folic acid may reduce protective immune cells, thus suppressing one’s immune system
• Digestive disorders: people with digestive disorders such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease, should pay attention when they consume folic acid because their conditions could interfere with the absorption of folic acid and decrease it.
• Genetic variants: people who acquire the MTHFR gene can’t convert folic acid to folate, which is the active form used by the body.

2.  Interaction with certain medications:

Folic acid may interact with different medications and exacerbate certain conditions. Consult your doctor or healthcare provider before taking folic acid supplements if you take the following medication:

• Anticonvulsants medication: drugs such as cerebyx, phenytoin, and primidone- could decrease the concentration of vitamin B9 supplement in your blood.
• Barbiturates, methotrexate, and pyrimethamine medications: could decrease the effectiveness of folic acid

Folic Acid for Skin Pigmentation: side effects

If you take folic acid to reduce skin disorders, some side effects can take place such as nausea, loss of appetite, irritability, and bad breath.