There are several micro nutrients (vitamins & minerals) which are important in preventing the development of acne, but none quite as important as Vitamin A. This is because Vitamin A is essential for the conversion of the fatty acids in the blood stream into the oil of the sebaceous gland in a form that is normal and healthy. In other words, oil that flows smoothly out of the glands and pores of the skin and provides a thin protective barrier over the skin. It is not thick and sticky, and does not trap dirt, dead skin cells or bacteria.
Of course Vitamin A does not do this job of creating healthy skin oil alone and unaided. A chief co-factor for Vitamin A is Riboflavin, known as Vitamin B-2. This is because Vitamin A naturally comes in several different forms, one of which becomes toxic to the body if it accumulates in any significant quantity. This toxicity quickly disappears without harm as soon as the individual stops taking Vitamin A. Ref. 2 All three of these natural forms of Vitamin A have to be converted in the body to various derivatives of the original three in order to do their job. Vitamin B-2 is an essential co-enzyme factor working in the liver to convert Vitamin A to its active and non-toxic derivative forms.
Thus without enough Vitamin B-2, no matter how much Vitamin A is taken, much of it will remain inactive and ineffective. If large amounts of Vitamin A are taken, without the Vitamin B-2 to convert it to useful non-toxic forms, it can become toxic.
One example of the partnership between Vitamin A and B-2 is in the eye where Vitamin A is essential for the production of rhodopsin and retinene. These are the chemicals within the eye that allows the rods of the retina to “see” at night and in dim light. Yet, it is well established that even when Vitamin A intake is adequate, night blindness will still occur if there is not enough Vitamin B-2 in the diet. This is because Vitamin B-2 is an essential cofactor with Vitamin A to create that chemistry of vision.
A group of baboons were placed on a diet that was nutritionally complete in all respects except for a lack of Riboflavin, which is Vitamin B-2. Within 6 months their faces were covered by a mass of eruptions virtually identical to those of teenagers. This was in spite of the fact that they had plenty of Vitamin A. All of the skin lesions disappeared.
Shortly after large amounts of riboflavin were administered to make up the deficit. So it is that even adequate supplies of Vitamin A in the diet will not insure healthy skin without an adequate intake of Vitamin B-2.
Although not quite as critical as the nutrients just covered, Vitamin E, Vitamin B-2, B-3, B-6 and the mineral Zinc as well as others are also important in the creation of healthy skin.