You have probably heard it said that good skin care starts on the inside: A healthy body manifests in healthy skin. Unfortunately, that’s not altogether true: As I’m sure you’ve noticed, some people who seem to eat well, exercise take vitamins and get plenty of sleep but still have problem skin of one sort or another. There can be several reasons for this: the diet, although good, may not contain adequate amounts of certain vitamins or minerals, or the skin could be irritated by environmental and household chemicals and pollutants. A good shielding lotion is the best topical skin care product to protect you from the chemicals, but there are a few vitamin remedies that might also help.

One of the most important vitamins in skin care is Vitamin B. Different B vitamins affect the skin in different ways.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) keeps the circulation functioning normally to ensure the nutrients in the blood are delivered to every cell. Vitamin B1 will benefit any skin problem and is a must in every natural skin care routine.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency can cause several problems: it affects pigmentation and can lead to the brownish spots on the skin known as ‘liver’ spots; it can cause the skin to be oily; it can create small fat deposits under the skin, usually around the cheeks, on the forehead and behind the ears; and it can cause cracks in the skin under the nose and in the corners of the mouth and eyes.

Deficiencies in Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), B3 (niacin - in its various forms), B5 (pantothenic acid), B7 (biotin) and B9 (folic acid) can all result in dermatitis or eczema type conditions. When the deficiency is with B3, the breakout often includes brown spots on the face, legs and forearms.

Taking daily Vitamin B supplements or brewers yeast, mixed with juice or water, can help eliminate or prevent these problems and should be part of any natural skin care routine. Change doesn’t occur overnight, it depends on the severity of the deficiency, but none of these conditions should take more than a month to six months to resolve.

The other factor that can cause skin problems in otherwise healthy people, household and environmental chemicals, can be addressed with a shielding lotion. A good shielding lotion bonds with the outer layer of the skin to form a protective layer that keeps out chemicals. No natural skin care routine should be without it, and you’ll usually see results in a matter of days.

If you have an otherwise healthy diet and lifestyle but still have problem skin you may have a Vitamin B deficiency, or your skin might be affected by chemicals. To be sure, try both. Add B vitamins to your diet, and use a good shielding lotion. These simple changes to your natural skin care routine may be all you need to resolve your skin problems, and you’ll be healthier on the inside, too.