Recently, some influencers have promoted “eating retinol” to achieve glowing skin from the inside out.
This doesn’t mean ingesting retinol-based skin care products.
Fruits and vegetables with yellow, orange, and green huessuch as carrots and papayascontainhigh amounts of beta-carotene.
Anna-Ok / Getty Images
Some influencers have shared videos of themselves eating these foods to support skin health.
Choosing foods for clear skin isnt a new idea.
Should you ditch your facial serum and eat your retinol instead?
Heres what nutrition and dermatology experts think.
Does Eating Retinol-Rich Food Help With Skin?
The human body needs vitamin A for growth, reproduction, immune function, and vision.
While rare, people with vitamin A deficiencies may experience skin issues or night blindness.
However, eating a bowl of carrots will not have the same effect on your skin.
Can You Drink Your Retinol?
However, you may lose some of the health benefits as you strain the juice from the pulp.
Are Retinol-Rich Foods Better Than Retinol Serums?
The “eat your retinol” trend offers many benefits beyond the skin.
“The reality is, you’re going to have to eat a balanced diet.
Also, it’s important to manage expectations about this trend’s skin health benefits.
Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.Vitamin A.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Beta-carotene.
2020;156(8):854 doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2020.1602
Mount Sinai.Vitamin A (retinol).
2019;155(11):1260. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.1937
Quan T.Human skin aging and the anti-aging properties of retinol.Biomolecules.
Am J Clin Dermatol.
2019;20(3):345-365. doi:10.1007/s40257-019-00423-z
Harvard T.H.
Chan School of Public Health.Vegetables and fruits.
Harvard Health Publishing.Most Americans dont eat enough fruits and veggies.
