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Folate helps your body make new cells, including skin cells. But no U.S. health agency recommends folic acid pills or skin products to prevent wrinkles, acne, or sun damage. Here’s what we know and what we don’t.
What we know
- Your skin needs folate, like the rest of your body. The CDC says folic acid helps your body make new cells, such as blood cells, skin, hair, and nails.
- Very low folate can show up in your skin. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements lists changes in skin, hair, or nail color among the signs of folate deficiency. See 8 Signs of Folate Deficiency.
- Most people already get enough. The NIH says most people in the U.S. get enough folate from food.
What we can’t say
The U.S. health agencies we rely on haven’t found that folic acid protects skin from the sun, prevents wrinkles, boosts collagen, clears acne, or gives skin a glow. We don’t make those claims. On skin cancer specifically, the NIH reports that a 2015 expert panel found folic acid supplements don’t lower cancer risk in people who already get enough folate.The best reasons to think about folate
- Eat folate-rich foods. Leafy greens, beans, and enriched grains support your whole body, skin included. See Foods High in Folate.
- If you could become pregnant, take folic acid. The CDC recommends 400 mcg every day to help prevent serious birth defects of the brain and spine.
- For skin concerns, see a dermatologist. Acne, sun damage, and skin changes have proven treatments a doctor can help you choose.
