Does Magnesium Clear Acne Prone Skin?

If you’re one of the lucky ones, clear skin comes easily for you. However, for some people, having spotless skin does not come easy. Double cleansing, exfoliating and hydrating with various cosmetics products are rarely the best way to clear your skin in the long term. Here at GoodGlow, we try to look at nutritional deficiencies and external triggers before spending hundreds of dollars on expensive skincare products.

While having a daily skincare routine is not a bad thing, drinking two liters of water a day and following a healthy diet absent of processed foods and sugars is the best thing you can do to clear your skin. However, even when you do this, there are still probably vitamin and mineral deficiencies in your diet. One of the most common mineral deficiencies is magnesium. Many people are surprised to learn that 48% of Americans have some level of magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency can cause all sorts of health issues which we will discuss during this article. Most importantly, this article will discuss magnesium’s role in skin health, specifically acne.

What Is Magnesium?

Magnesium is an alkaline macro mineral that naturally occurs in our bodies, and it’s crucial for the proper functioning of our brain and body. From boosting athletic performance and regulating blood sugar levels, magnesium is involved in many biochemical reactions in your body. 

However, although it’s also found in many foods, such as leafy greens, seeds, nuts, and beans, many people still don’t get enough magnesium from their diet.

In skin care, magnesium is beneficial for lowering cortisol levels, stabilizing hormonal imbalances, repairing the skin barrier, and reducing inflammation. All of these functions help clear acne and maintain spotless skin.

Benefits of Topical Magnesium for Acne

Wondering if magnesium help acne? Luckily, both research and practice have shown that magnesium can improve the skin’s complexion. When applied topically, magnesium oil can break apart oils and fats, thus reducing skin oiliness. 

This, consequently, can reduce the severity of your skin inflammation and get rid of acne breakouts. Magnesium oil on acne can be your best ally in getting spotless skin. Some studies even suggest that magnesium oil can help relieve eczema and rosacea. 

Just pump two or three sprays of the product into your hand and rub it onto the affected skin parts once a day.

Benefits of Magnesium Supplementation for Acne

Magnesium is a calming agent, which makes it a great solution for treating acne and healing minor skin irritations. It plays an important role in skin hydration and barrier repair, and it’s also essential for skin cell regeneration and shedding.

When you’re deficient in magnesium, the fatty acid and collagen levels on the surface of your skin will decrease. These nutrients are important for keeping your skin elastic and moisturized. When your skin lacks magnesium, your face will become dryer, more prone to fine lines and wrinkles and will have an uneven tone. Using magnesium for acne will help you increase these levels and thus help bring more life to your lackluster skin.

Furthermore, magnesium regulates cellular regeneration and repair and can help protect your skin from external damage. Magnesium supplements also help speed up the recovery process when your skin is irritated or damaged.

If you’re dealing with acne, sometimes, using inappropriate topical products may aggravate and worsen your condition. Magnesium could also be a real lifesaver for people who suffer from hormonal acne. Magnesium supplements reduce the production of cortisol production, thus stabilizing hormonal imbalances in the body, which will consequently help reduce acne.

Magnesium is an essential component for our immune functions, and besides acne, it can also soothe skin allergies. Just like with many health problems, working from the inside out could be crucial for getting rid of acne.

Risks/Side Effects of Magnesium

For healthy adults, consuming too much magnesium from foods shouldn’t be a concern. However, it’s a different story when it comes to supplements. Taking a higher magnesium supplement dose than recommended might cause diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramping. This is why you have to be extremely careful when taking supplements like Milk of Magnesia.

Additionally, magnesium supplements can interact with certain kinds of antibiotics and other medicines. If you’re considering taking magnesium supplements, check with your doctor or pharmacist first. Particularly, if you take magnesium-containing antacids or laxatives routinely.

Does Too Much Magnesium Cause Acne?

There is no direct evidence showing that consuming magnesium supplements has a direct impact on the appearance of acne. On the contrary, people deficient in magnesium are more likely to experience skin breakouts and inflammation than that who regularly take magnesium. 

So, if you’re wondering if magnesium causes acne, the next time you take your supplements, don’t worry – magnesium is safe and beneficial for your skin. If you’re suffering from acne breakouts, pay attention to all the medications you’re currently taking to see whether they might be the cause. 

Many people have found that their multivitamin is giving them acne. So, by all means, do your research and eliminate whatever supplements, foods or medications do not agree with your skin.  

How to Tell If You Have Low Magnesium Levels

Hypomagnesemia (also known as magnesium deficiency) is a common and often-overlooked health issue. In some cases, this deficiency might not be diagnosed as the typical signs and symptoms don’t appear until after your magnesium levels have become severely low.

There can be various causes for magnesium deficiency, these can include:

• not eating a balanced diet
• some medications, including chemotherapy drugs and proton pump inhibitors
• chronic or acute diarrhea
• “hungry bone syndrome” after undergoing parathyroid or thyroid surgery
• gastric bypass surgery

Take a look at the most common symptoms of magnesium deficiency:

• muscle cramps and twitches
• certain mental health issues
• osteoporosis
• muscle weakness and fatigue
• asthma
• high blood pressure
• irregular heartbeat

Can You Have too Much Magnesium?

Magnesium is found naturally in your body and in various foods. Nevertheless, as with most things, there are certain dangers related to having too much magnesium in your system.

Hypermagnesemia is the technical name for a magnesium overdose. This condition occurs when there’s too much magnesium in your bloodstream. Hypermagnesemia can occur in people dealing with chronic health conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, but it’s very rare.

You can also have a magnesium overdose if you have taken too many magnesium supplements or medications containing magnesium. All in all, for healthy people, the risk of having a magnesium overdose is extremely low. Still, in certain cases, it’s possible to have too much of it.

If you experience severe symptoms, such as diarrhea, when taking magnesium supplements or medications containing magnesium, you might want to cut down on their use. Just to be safe, talk to your healthcare provider to receive guidance on the best form of magnesium for you.

If you’re dealing with an impaired kidney function, discuss the potential risks of taking supplements and medications that contain magnesium to help ensure your safety.

Is Magnesium Safe for Sensitive Skin?

Generally speaking, magnesium is safe to use on all skin types, including sensitive skin. Plus, it’s stable enough and can be easily mixed with other skincare products without causing skin irritation and other skin issues. Magnesium is one of the best supplements for acne and a true friend to sensitive skin. Plus, when combined with prebiotics and postbiotics, it can provide remarkable results.  

Best Magnesium for Acne

Both practice and research have shown that magnesium chloride, magnesium oil, magnesium chloride bath flakes and epsom salts are all great for winning the battle against acne. These are all excellent sources of premium-quality magnesium that your body will benefit from and can use to minimize inflammation and reduce cortisol levels, which will consequently improve the health of your skin.

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