Using Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) as an Acne Treatment

How Pantothenic Acid Works
Many people have commented before that I recommend vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) a lot to acne sufferers. There happens to be a reason for that: It is what cleared my acne. Totally. 100% Eliminated. If you haven't tried it before, I strongly urge you to give it a go, it really is amazing stuff.

Pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B5, is commonly supplemented in large doses to reduce oil production and help rid your skin of acne. It works like Accutane, in the sense that it reduces oil production. Pantothenic acid, however, works by helping your body to metabolize the fats in your body that later turn into sebum. Accutane actually shrinks the oil glands to block the oil from coming through to your face. Since pantothenic acid addresses the underlying problem, it is, in fact, the more efficient solution.

Let's get into the details of how exactly pantothenic acid works. During your natural metabolism process, your body breaks down fats. When your body lacks enough coenzyme-A, not all of these fats can be broken down, and your body has to get rid of them some how, so they are ejected through your oil glands on your skin in the form of sebum (oil). By creating more coenzyme-A, these extra fats can be broken down with the rest, and oil production will be greatly reduced.

Coenzyme-A is made up of three things: Cysteine, ATP and Pantothenic Acid. Your body takes care of cysteine and ATP by producing it by itself, so vitamin B5 is the only thing that you have to take in through food. By supplementing with pantothenic acid, more coenzyme-A is producted, fats are broken down better, and less oil ends up on your skin. Without too much oil on your face, when a pore gets clogged, the p. acnes bacteria will have nothing to feed upon and can't thrive to cause acne in the first place.

Considering that pantothenic acid works for more than 90% of the people who take it, including myself, it's a very effective medication. Since it's all natural and water soluble, it's much safer than Accutane, which only works for 70%-80% of the people who take it. It's also more efficient than Accutane, because it eliminates the problem, instead of covering it up by shrinking the glands and trapping the fats inside the body.

Supplementing with Pantothenic Acid
As I've said before, to address a pantothenic acid deficiency, you have to take large amounts of it, up to around 12 grams or so. Not everyone has to take quite that much though, so the recommended dosage is as follows: Start out with around 4 grams per day. Always divide the doses into 4 times per day, spreading them out as much as possible. To prevent stomach irritation, the only known side effect of pantothenic acid, try to take it with food or at least a glass of water.

If the 4 grams doesn't work for you, slowly ramp it up until you start to see results, stopping at around 12 grams. When you find a dose that seems to be working for you, stay with it for about two months straight, continuing to divide the doses so that you are splitting the dose into 4 parts. After those two months or so, you should be able to slack back on it until you start seeing negative results to find out how much you will need to continue to take as a "maintenance dose".

The only thing to watch out for is that pantothenic acid can deplete your body of other B vitamins, so a B-50 complex should be taken with it. Some say you should also take Zinc with it, though I only take B-50.

Since pantothenic acid has to be taken in large doses to see results, that means you can forget trying to get enough by eating foods high in it, or through a multivitamin or B vitamin complex. You can even forget about taking pantothenic acid pills, since that means you would have to take 20+ pills every day. There's only really one reasonable way to take the amount of B5 you will need to treat acne, which is pantothenic acid powder.

Pantothenic acid pills can't be found in most stores, much less the powder form of it. Some health food stores might have it, but the ones around my area didn't. You might be able to talk to someone at the store and have them order it for you, though it's usually marked up quite a bit. The easiest and cheapest way to get pantothenic acid powder is to just order it online. A Google search will uncover many websites, such as Amazon.com, which sell pantothenic acid powder at a great price.

Ryan Bauer is a former acne sufferer from Springfield, MO. He runs an Acne information website called Acne Elimination.

---

Having A Sweet Tooth May Not Help Your Acne

Many dermatologists and acne sufferers believe that excessive sugar consumption... Read More

All Natural Acne Treatments

At some point in your life you will probably suffer... Read More

Overnight Home Pimple Remedy

You can do several things to improve acne. There are... Read More

Over The Counter Acne Treatments ? Do They Work?

Over the counter, sometimes referred to as otc for short,... Read More

Lasers - A Modern Cosmetic Treatment For Acne Blemishes

The best way to protect your skin from acne-related scarring... Read More

Distressing Acne and Its Probable Causes

If you are on your teenage years, pretty good chances... Read More

Acne Treatment Tips

Acne is a broad term which includes blemishes, blackheads, and... Read More

Cystic Acne and Some Natural Treatments

More severe cases of acne tend to be characterized not... Read More

Take Advantage of Natural Acne Treatments

Let's face it. Nobody is really immune to having acne... Read More

A Clear Complexion Made Easy

Getting clear skin is a simple matter of paying attention... Read More

Acne Solution

Million of people suffer from acne breakouts young and old.... Read More

Are You Tired Of Looking For The Acne Cure?

When it comes to zits and finding the acne cure... Read More

Possible Acne Messages

There are over ten forms of acne a person can... Read More

A Bumpy Ride Towards Aging

Picture this; the snow-white clear skin that you have been... Read More

7 Little Known Acne Skin Care Secrets

An acne problem is not a problem, so long as... Read More

Acne Adoloscent Style ? How To Deal With It?

Adolescent acne is referred to by many names, teen acne,... Read More

Healing Skin Cream

There are so many skin creams on the market it's... Read More

Acne Scar Removal Surgery

Acne scar removal surgery is one way of treating the... Read More

Mineral Makeup a Natural Acne Cure?

Mineral makeup may offer new hope for acne sufferers. Because... Read More

How to Treat Acne for Black Skin

Acne treatment for black skin is the same as that... Read More

Performing Microdermabrasion at Home

Microdermabrasion kits have been designed for medical professionals, estheticians, and,... Read More

Back to School With Clear Skin

Backpack? Check. Notebooks? Check. Ink-pens? Check. Clear Skin? Mommmm!If you... Read More

Acne Home Remedy

Acne or pimples are caused by hormonal changes, wrong food... Read More

The Best Acne Treatments

The best acne treatments may be the ones that help... Read More

Save Money On Acne Cleansers

My first education on how to buy acne skin care... Read More

Clear Your Acne - Naturally!

Most people who suffer from acne go out and spend... Read More

Water and Sunlight Helps to Clear Acne

Drink More WaterThe skin stores around 12% water. It is... Read More

The Kill the Bacterial and Cure the Acne Myth

All life forms strategize to survive and procreate. Weeds, worms,... Read More

Battle Blemishes

Every individual has different skin needs. But what doesn't differ... Read More

Do Roasted Peanuts Cause Acne?

Many people wonder what the active cause for acne to... Read More

Middle Age Women ? Acne Be Gone!

For women who have suffered with acne since their teens... Read More

Beware of Acne Cyst! Take the Precautions Necessary

People are exposed in many elements outside and inside their... Read More

Microdermabrasion Acne Treatments ? Harsh or Helpful?

Many people think of microdermabrasion acne treatments as those supplied... Read More