Another point of note: research shows4 that vitamin C can help improve collagen production in the skin, which isn’t necessarily related to acne, but is related to overall skin health. As board-certified dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D., tells us, “It not only promotes fibroblast proliferation4 (fibroblasts are the cells that produce collagen and other fibers), but it also acts as an assistant in enzymatic activity that relates directly to skin health and function.” Vitamin A is another huge component, says Brigitte Zeitlin, R.N.: “The high vitamin content is going to be the main reason parsley might improve skin health. Vitamin A is a big part of that, especially with acne. Vitamin A promotes skin turnover.” Topically we know this is true, but increasing the amount of vitamin A in your diet may have similar affects, as research shows5 that increasing your intake of vitamin A improves cell regeneration. But be cautious of direct claims, says Zeitlin. “Parsley is a diuretic, so it flushes out your system through your kidneys by encouraging urine production. So it can help remove any sort of access salt, alcohol, or stuff like that, which might be triggers for acne in some people—but we can’t draw a direct line between parsley detoxes and acne-reduction.” Parsley Tea:
