Overview

Vitamin C can play a powerful role in your skincare regimen. Vitamin C is especially effective in reducing oxidative damage to the skin when used in combination with vitamin E [21, 54, 89, 91, 92]. In addition, vitamin C is an antioxidant, which means it protects skin cells from harmful free radicals caused by UV exposure. It also inhibits the production of melanin in the skin, which helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and brown spots, even out skin tone and improve its radiance.

You can get vitamin C in fruits and vegetables, but that’s not the only way to enjoy its benefits for skin health—it’s widely used in cosmetic products.

What is vitamin C?

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble antioxidant that plays an important role in immune function and skin health through its protective ability and ability to fight free radicals. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, good for all skin types, and one of the best vitamins for skin. Helps reduce redness and even skin tone. Vitamin C also helps treat many inflammatory skin diseases.

What are vitamin C’s benefits for skin?

Vitamin C helps lighten dark spots on the skin by limiting the enzyme responsible for melanin production. Vitamin C works synergistically with the antioxidants vitamin E and ferulic acid to reduce UV damage to the skin.

A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that the combination of vitamins C, E and ferulic acid not only provides better stability than vitamins C and E, but also improves skin's UV protection.

Vitamin C  plays an important role in the formation of collagen, which is a fibrous protein that helps build the connective tissue of the skin. Normal skin requires high concentrations of vitamin C, which plays many roles in the skin, including the formation of the skin barrier and collagen in the dermis, the ability to counteract skin oxidation, and modulation of cell growth signaling pathways and cell differentiation. Normal skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C, which supports important and well-known functions by stimulating collagen synthesis and helping in antioxidant protection against UV-induced photodamage. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and its role in collagen synthesis make vitamin C a vital molecule for skin health. 

When used topically, vitamin C can accelerate the production of collagen and elastin, helping to keep the skin firm and firm. Topical vitamin C is the most effective in delivering ingredients directly to the skin, significantly improving the appearance of the skin by brightening and increasing firmness, while preventing environmental stress factors from corroding the barrier.

Using topical vitamin C (3-10%) for at least 12 weeks has been shown to reduce wrinkles , reduce damage to protein fibers , reduce visible skin roughness  and increase collagen production . Hence, by helping to stimulate collagen production, topical vitamin C can help prevent premature skin aging. While skin aging is inevitable, daily vitamin C intake can help increase collagen production and slow down the aging process.

Some studies have shown that vitamin C can help prevent and treat ultraviolet (UV)-induced light damage. In a small clinical study, scientists pointed out that vitamin C can help reduce and prevent dark circles by strengthening the thin and delicate skin under the eyes. 

Keratinocytes and their intercellular lipids are an important part of the human skin barrier. Vitamin C can promote the differentiation of keratinocytes and the production of interstitial substances. 

Topical vitamin C is directly absorbed into the outermost layer of the skin, allowing it to take effect immediately, smoothing the skin, reducing fine lines and dark spots, and preventing free radicals. 

When does vitamin C become less effective?

vitamin C becomes less effective when exposed to light, so it is important to allow it time to penetrate the skin before going out, SELF explained earlier. Although your diet may contain vitamin C, there is no guarantee that it will enter your skin directly.

Takeaway

Vitamin C is legendary in the skin care world. In fact, some say it is the holy grail for all things skin-related.

Environmental pollutants like ozone can reduce vitamin C levels in the skin and lead to free radical damage . But vitamin C can help limit this damage thanks to its antioxidant properties. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) plays an important role in maintaining skin health and may promote keratinocyte differentiation and decreased melanin synthesis, leading to antioxidant protection against UV-induced photodamage.

DISCLAIMER 

Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice.