How much do you know about vitamin C benefits and effects on the skin?
Vitamin C is considered an important nutrient since the human body is unable to create it on its own. However, it fulfills a variety of functions and has been associated with significant improvements in health.
It is a substance that dissolves in water. It may be found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, and spinach.
Vitamin C has a recommended dietary allowance of 75 milligrams for women and 90 milligrams for males.
Even though it is recommended that you acquire most of your vitamin C through food, many individuals still use vitamin C pills to satisfy their requirements.
Vitamin C Benefits in Cosmetic Products
In the field of skincare, vitamin C has a legendary reputation. Many believe that it is the holy grail of all that has to do with the skin and with good cause. It is well known that this amazing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient may enhance the tone and texture of the skin, as well as minimize the indications of aging and hydration loss.
You may acquire vitamin C by eating fruits and vegetables, but it is not the only method to reap the advantages of this nutrient for your skin’s health; cosmetics often include vitamin C. According to the findings of recent studies, applying vitamin C topically is a substantially more effective method of promoting healthy skin than ingesting the vitamin.
The addition of vitamin C to your regimen for skin care may not only brighten your complexion, but it can also defend against the damage to your skin caused by dangerous free radicals and by exposure to the sun. This powerful antioxidant may be found in various facial products, including cleansers, serums, oils, and moisturizers.
Signs of Vitamin C Deficiency
A vitamin C deficiency is unusual in industrialized nations. Still, it is possible for someone to acquire the condition if their diet is restricted to fewer than 10 milligrams per day for at least one month.
In industrialized nations, the scenarios that put people at the highest risk for insufficiency include eating a diet low in fruits and vegetables, smoking or being exposed to secondhand smoke for an extended period, and abusing drugs or alcohol. The following is a list of the most prevalent symptoms that are associated with deficiencies.
- Scurvy, the illness that characterizes severe vitamin C deficiency, is characterized by the following symptoms, all of which are brought on by the loss of collagen, which weakens connective tissues:
- Bruises and other marks on the skin that result from blood vessel ruptures
- Gum disease, characterized by inflammation and/or bleeding and, ultimately, tooth loss.
- Thinning Hair
- Wounds that take too long to heal
- Fatigue, apathy
- Anemia caused by insufficient non-heme iron absorption
Vitamin C Benefits for Skin
Applying vitamin C to the skin has several positive effects. For example:
1. Most Skin Types Can Use It
Vitamin C has an exceptional absence of known side effects. The vast majority of individuals can take topical vitamin C for lengthy periods of time without encountering any unfavorable side effects.
According to a study summary published in 2017, more than 20% of vitamin C can potentially irritate the skin. Because of this, its concentration in skin care products often falls anywhere between 10% and 20% of the whole product.
2. Vitamin C Is a Good Source of Hydration
Most healthy skin and organs have high vitamin C concentrations, demonstrating that circulation accumulates it. Ascorbic acid penetrates skin best, according to reviewers.
Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, another vitamin C derivative, hydrates skin. It reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL), helping skin maintain hydrated.
An antipollution, antioxidant serum with Deschampsia antarctica extract, ferulic acid, and vitamin C decreased TEWL by 19%, enhancing skin barrier function.
3. Brightening Effect
In addition to reducing the appearance of dullness, the another benefits of vitamin C is that it may aid in the fading of pigmentation. Skin will look radiant and fresh after using this.
When taken in large doses, vitamin C prevents the synthesis of melanin. Skin tone is determined by melanin.
Vitamin C’s ability to suppress melanin formation is what makes it so effective in lightening hyperpigmentation and fading age spots. A possible additional benefit is a more radiant complexion.
4. It Reduces Redness and Evens Skin Tone
The antioxidant properties of vitamin C have also been linked to its anti-inflammatory effects. This implies that it helps calm the skin and lessens the appearance of swelling.
Possible aid from vitamin C’s anti-inflammatory properties include:
- Reduce oxidative damage by canceling out free radicals
- Boost immunity to prevent an inflammatory reaction
Redness may be diminished by vitamin C’s anti-inflammatory capabilities, leading to a more uniform skin tone. The skin’s natural tone is revealed and enhanced by eliminating discoloration, redness, and irritation.
5. Vitamin C Helps Get Rid of Dark Spots
Hyperpigmentation may be lightened by vitamin C because it inhibits melanin formation. The overproduction of melanin leads to hyperpigmentation, which includes sunspots, age spots, and melasma. It is not limited to newly active acne, though.
Inhibiting melanin production, vitamin C Is a source of reliability by decreasing tyrosinase activity. Widespread usage in dermatology, namely for lightening hyperpigmented scars and patches. Although research is limited, it has also been used to treat gingival melanin hyperpigmentation (also known as gum hyperpigmentation).
Suffering from acne? Hyperpigmentation acne may be treated with various products besides vitamin C serums.
6. Reduces Under-Eye Circles
The skin around the eyes might benefit from vitamin C serums since they help hydrate and plump the skin. Some claim that vitamin C may assist with under-eye discoloration, however, it is more beneficial in reducing general redness.
Using a cold compress and including retinol in your skincare regimen are two other strategies for reducing the appearance of under-eye bags. Because it is so delicate, the skin around your eyes should only be treated with treatments created for that region.
7. Collagen Production
Collagen is a kind of protein that may be found in the body and gradually disappears over time. Reduced amounts of collagen are linked to an increased risk of developing wrinkles and fine lines.
Through a process called collagen synthesis, vitamin C is well-known for enhancing the creation of collagen. In point of fact, the production of collagen cannot take place in the absence of vitamin C.
This is because vitamin C is an important cofactor for the two enzymes that are needed for the production of collagen, which are as follows:
- Lysyl hydroxylase, which is responsible for providing structural strength
- prolyl hydroxylase, which is responsible for maintaining the stability of the collagen molecule
In addition, changing your diet may help your body produce more collagen.
8. It May Prevent Skin Sagging
The skin’s ability to retain its youthful plumpness and flexibility is directly linked to collagen formation. As collagen levels decline, skin laxity often follows.
A vitamin C serum may stimulate collagen formation, which leads to a tightening effect. Fading due to age, damage from free radicals, or significant weight loss all have the same effect.
This implies that it might make your skin seem tighter and more toned by helping to prevent the appearance of sagging.
9. Vitamin C Prevents Sunburn
Vitamin C levels drop when the skin is subjected to excessive oxidant stress, such as that caused by pollution or ultraviolet (UV) irradiation.
Scientists can not say if the reduced vitamin C levels in older or sun-damaged skin are a cause or a result of the skin’s deterioration. Free radical molecules are the culprits in solar photodamage. These are examples of “one-electron atoms.” Damage to the skin is caused when free radicals trusted source look for other atoms to “steal” an electron from.
Several studies have shown that one of the vitamin C benefits is that it significantly increases antioxidant protection. Antioxidants prevent damage to healthy skin cells by neutralizing harmful free radicals by “giving” them an electron.
10. Helps Soothe Sunburns
Vitamin C not only reduces inflammation, but also speeds up the body’s natural process of replacing dead cells with new ones. In this way, the damaged cells are swapped out for brand-new, healthy ones.
It has been found to lessen UV-induced damage when combined with vitamin E and other substances (aka sunburn). Excessive sun exposure is associated with inflammation; however, this combination helps reduce that inflammation.
Studies have shown vitamin C to have little impact in reducing sunburn when used alone.
11. Improves Wound Healing
It is not surprising that using vitamin C topically helps hasten the healing process for wounds in general, given its impact on sunburn. If you have suffered an injury, you know how important it is for your wound to heal without causing any more irritation, infection, or scarring.
A lack of this essential vitamin might actually slow the healing process. The increased antioxidant levels in the body and the skin are one way in which vitamin C supplements favorably promote skin healing and development.
One reason for this is that collagen creation, which aids in wound healing, is stimulated by vitamin C.
The Last Word
Vitamin C has been shown to aid in healing blemishes, decrease hyperpigmentation, and impart an otherworldly shine to the skin. Because maintaining consistency is essential to achieving optimal results, include it in your skincare regimen in a manner that makes sense to you.
While some individuals find that it is most effective to use it in the morning to take advantage of its UV-protectant effects, others discover that it is more effective to use it at night as a serum. Others use it on a regular and twice-day basis.
If you start to feel irritated or uncomfortable, you should stop using the product immediately.
