The Aesthetics Advisor

Keloids are more than just scars — they’re an overreaction of your body’s wound healing process that leads to thick, raised growths that continue expanding beyond the original injury. Unlike normal scars that fade over time, keloids persist indefinitely and even cause pain, itching and discomfort. However, recent research is shedding light on an overlooked factor that could change the approach to keloid treatment — vitamin D. Your body relies on this essential nutrient for everything, from immune regulation to calcium absorption, but its role in skin health is just as important. Blocking This Enzyme Could Be the Key to Stopping Keloid Growth Keloids are fibrotic scars that form when there’s an overproduction of extracellular matrix components like Type I collagen. They develop when there’s an imbalance in tissue repair mechanisms and are particularly common in people with darker skin tones. 1  Some estimates suggest Africans, Asians and Hispanics are up to 15 times more likely to d...

Vitamin D is more than just one vitamin. It’s a family of nutrients that shares similarities in chemical structure. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and maintain strong bones throughout your entire life. Your body produces vitamin D when the sun’s UV rays contact your skin. Other good sources of the vitamin include fish, eggs, and fortified dairy products. It’s also available as a dietary supplement. In your diet, the most commonly found members are vitamin D2 and D3. While both types help you meet your vitamin D requirements, they differ in a few important ways. Research even suggests that vitamin D2 is less effective than vitamin D3 at raising blood levels of vitamin D. Dietary vitamin D comes in two main forms: Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) The two forms of vitamin D differ depending on their food sources. Vitamin D3 is only found in animal-sourced foods, whereas D2 mainly comes from plant sources and fortified foods. Your skin makes vitamin D3 whe...