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@article{185181,
        author = {Mehak Mushtaq},
        title = {Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Association with Acne and Skin Health - Can Supplementation Help?},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {5},
        pages = {193-202},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=185181},
        abstract = {Acne vulgaris is one of the most prevalent dermatological disorders worldwide, affecting physical appearance, psychological well-being, and quality of life. While its pathogenesis is multifactorial encompassing hormonal, genetic, inflammatory, and microbial factors emerging evidence highlights the role of nutritional and micronutrient status in disease onset and severity. Vitamin D, traditionally recognized for its role in calcium homeostasis and bone health, is increasingly being studied for its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, suggesting potential relevance in dermatology.
This paper explores the association between Vitamin D deficiency and acne, with a particular focus on whether supplementation may improve clinical outcomes. A review of current literature demonstrates a higher prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among acne patients compared to healthy controls, with deficiency correlating to greater disease severity. Mechanistically, Vitamin D influences sebocyte activity, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and enhances innate immunity against Cutibacterium acnes, all of which are implicated in acne pathogenesis. Interventional studies, though limited in size, suggest that supplementation can reduce inflammatory lesion counts, improve skin healing, and contribute to better overall skin health. However, the strength of evidence remains moderate due to small sample sizes, short intervention durations, and confounding factors such as diet, sun exposure, and genetic variations in Vitamin D metabolism.
The findings support the hypothesis that Vitamin D may serve as an adjunctive therapy in acne management. Routine Vitamin D testing in acne patients, especially those with moderate-to-severe disease or poor response to conventional treatments, may be clinically valuable. Nonetheless, larger randomized controlled trials are needed to establish causality, determine optimal supplementation protocols, and integrate Vitamin D into evidence-based dermatological practice.},
        keywords = {Vitamin D, acne vulgaris, supplementation, skin health, deficiency, dermatology},
        month = {September},
        }