Selenium is good for the skin, due to its antioxidant properties. A daily dose of 55 mcg prevents premature skin-aging, due to exposure to UV radiation!
Selenium may prevent skin aging due to sun radiation
The main reason of premature skin aging is skin exposure to the dangerous UV radiation. Selenium protects the skin from sunlight damage! Actually, selenium has powerful antioxidant properties. It can neutralize UV radiation-induced free radicals that age the skin!
Selenium is involved in the synthesis of certain antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, which are present in epidermal keratinocytes. Keratinocytes are the primary cell types found in the outer layer of the skin, called epidermis. They are about 90% of the epidermal skin cells. Selenium plays a key role in keratinocyte growth and function.[1,2]
Selenium deficiency may lead to skin diseases
Moreover, selenium protects the skin from inflammations. For instance, selenium can help people with psoriasis, which is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects about 2-3% of the population worldwide.
It’s pretty common for people with psoriasis to have low glutathione peroxidase levels. Glutathione peroxidase is a powerful selenium antioxidant enzyme. High doses of selenium can increase the levels of glutathione peroxidase in patients with psoriasis, improving disease outcome.
Moreover, selenium deficiency increases the risk of skin cancer.[1]
Also, you should eat lots of foods with boron, as it raises levels of many antioxidant enzymes. Glutathione peroxidase as well. Additionally, boron and resveratrol play a key role in wound healing![3]
Most noteworthy, we should get adequate amounts of vitamin C and vitamin E. These vitamins are crucial for skin health, as they have potent anti-aging properties.
How much selenium per day for elastic skin?
The recommended daily intake of selenium is 55 mcg. Even higher doses may be beneficial for the skin, though. Especially, if you’re deficient in selenium.
However, we shouldn’t get more selenium than the maximum safe dose. Too much selenium may be bad for the skin. For instance, symptoms of excessive selenium include lesions of the skin, or skin rashes.[4]
We can get enough selenium from food. Seafood, meat, and Brazil nuts, are good dietary sources of selenium. Cereals, eggs, and dairy contain moderate amounts of selenium as well. Selenium is also beneficial for weight loss.
