Vitamin C is a necessary nutrient for the body and exhibits many benefits, especially for the skin. Read more to find out the advantages of vitamin C in your skincare!
What Is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is important for one's health. As it is a vitamin and cannot be created naturally in the body, sources of vitamin C include food, dietary supplements, or even skincare products. It is a necessary nutrient and contributes to the growth, development, and repair of all body tissue types, including the skin. Its numerous benefits explain why it is a popular skincare ingredient.
What Can Vitamin C Do for the Skin?
Photoprotection
Vitamin C can limit the amount of damage caused by UV radiation. UV radiation can cause the production of free radicals, or unstable molecules in the body that can damage cells. As a potent antioxidant, vitamin C can protect you against these free radicals created from sun exposure. Furthermore, vitamin C can decrease inflammation from UV radiation, known as sunburn, by limiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, or cell-signaling proteins.
Anti-Aging
Vitamin C is abundant within the skin’s outer layers in one’s youth, but levels deplete over time. The reduction of natural vitamin C in the skin can leave older skin less firm, dull, or rough. This affects the skin because vitamin C is essential for regulating collagen biosynthesis, a protein that structures the skin. Additionally, vitamin C can stabilize collagen mRNA, which can increase the synthesis of collagen in damaged skin. By increasing collagen production in older skin, it can make the skin look and feel younger and healthier.
Dry Skin
The stratum corneum, or the most outer layer of skin, is composed of lipids called ceramides that keep the skin moisturized. One of the main causes of dry skin is a deficiency of ceramides that render them unable to keep the skin moisturized as effectively. Studies have shown that vitamin C enhances the production of these lipids, and therefore can affect transepidermal water loss.
Anti-Pigmentation
Vitamin C is able to serve as an inhibitor to the enzyme tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is a protein that catalyzes the production of melanin, the natural pigment that gives color to the skin. By inhibiting this enzyme, vitamin C can correct hyperpigmentation or dark spots on the skin to even out skin tone.
Vitamin C is a great ingredient to keep the skin healthy, whether it is received through dietary sources or skincare products!
Thanks for reading!
Written by Kaylee Barrera
Sources:
Al-Niaimi, Firas, and Nicole Yi Zhen Chiang. “Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications.” The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, Matrix Medical Communications, July 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605218/.
Pullar, Juliet M, et al. “The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health.” Nutrients, MDPI, 12 Aug. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/.
Telang, Pumori Saokar. “Vitamin C in Dermatology.” Indian Dermatology Online Journal, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, Apr. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673383/.
“Vitamin C and Skin Health.” Linus Pauling Institute, 1 Jan. 2021, lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-C#reference33.
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