Benefits Of Using Vitamin C For Your Skin
The skin acts as a barrier against dirt, pollution, harsh weather, etc. It has two layers – the outer epidermis layer and the inner dermal layer. The epidermal layer offers barrier function while the dermal layer takes care of skin strength and elasticity. The dermal layer provides nutrition to the epidermis. Skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C, which stimulates collagen synthesis and offers antioxidant protection against UV rays (1). Here are the many benefits of vitamin C for your skin.
Dry Skin: Dry skin can be caused due to an improper or indequate skin care regimen age, illness, certain medications, environmental changes, and humidity. The skin’s barrier layer contains about 40-50% of lipids, and their deficiency may lead to dry skin. Vitamin C may increase the production of lipids.
Roughness: Creams containing vitamin C may decrease skin roughness.
Wrinkles: Wrinkles are a result of skin aging. They may be caused prematurely by oxidants from smoking, UV exposure, and other factors. Vitamin C can help counter these.
Understanding the benefits of vitamin C benefits is sure to convince you to add this power ingredient to your daily skin care routine. You can apply topical creams and serums that contain vitamin C or add vitamin C foods to your diet. Consuming vitamin C supplements may also help improve skin health.
Effects Of Vitamin C Deficiency
Vitamin C deficiency is called scurvy, which is characterized by fragile skin and impaired wound healing. Excess exposure to pollutants or UV rays may lead to low levels of vitamin C in the epidermal layer (4). Research shows that people with aged or photo-damaged skin have low vitamin C levels (1). Its deficiency may hamper wound healing, thicken the outermost layer of the skin, and cause subcutaneous bleeding.
How To Use Vitamin C For The Skin
Incorporating vitamin C into your skincare regimen is crucial since it is one of the important vitamins for glowing skin. The vitamin C levels in the skin can be balanced by applying topical creams, serums, and patches. But the effectiveness of vitamin C topical creams depends on their pH level (which should be below 3.5 to 4). Vitamin C should be added in the form of ascorbic acid for effective skin penetration (1), (2). Most serums contain active vitamin C and are colorless, but they can get oxidized upon exposure to light. Apply topical creams in regular 8-hour gaps for best results. The most stable forms of vitamin C include:
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP): It reduces water loss in the skin. It is photoprotective and stimulates collagen production. Ascorbyl 6 Palmitate: It is a free-radical scavenger that forms (or breaks down to) vitamin C. Disodium Isostearyl2-0 L-ascorbyl Phosphate (VCP-IS-Na): It enhances permeability in the epidermal layer.
Ascorbic acid sulfate and Tetraisopalmitoyl ascorbic acid are two other stable forms of vitamin C that are currently under research. However, the effectiveness of topical vitamin C creams depends on the amount of vitamin C in the skin. If there is a balanced amount of vitamin C in the skin, it may not absorb the same from topical creams. Hence, intake of vitamin C foods and supplements may be more effective. This may prevent certain skin diseases like atopic dermatitis and herpes zoster (5).
How To Store Vitamin C Serum
Proper storage of vitamin C serum is essential to maintain its potency and effectiveness. First, store the serum in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and heat. Exposure to light and warmth can degrade the serum and reduce its efficacy. Keeping it in its original dark or opaque bottle also helps shield it from light exposure. In addition, tightly seal the bottle after each use to prevent air from entering, which can oxidize the serum and diminish its benefits. Refrigerating the serum helps prolong its shelf life and maintains its stability. These practices ensure that your vitamin C serum remains potent and effective when you use it for skin care. While vitamin C is clearly beneficial to the skin, it also may cause certain side effects.
Side Effects Of Vitamin C
Vitamin C topical creams are mostly considered safe. But they also may cause stinging, erythema, or dryness in some cases. These issues can be remedied with a moisturizer. Consult a dermatologist if any irritation occurs. Be careful while applying vitamin C around your eyes as it may cause burning. As with any nutritional supplement, there is a recommended dosage for vitamin C intake. Scroll on to know in detail.
Dosage For Vitamin C
The German, Austrian, and Swiss nutrition societies recommend an intake of about 95 mg/day of vitamin C for adult women (6). Similarly, 105 mg/day is recommended for pregnant women from the fourth month and 125 mg/day for lactating women. Girls aged 1 to under 15 years have increasing requirements ranging from 20 to 85 mg/day. Female adolescents aged 15 to 19 years are advised to take 90 mg/day. Can you use vitamin C on your face every day? Yes, vitamin C can be used once or twice per day. All we need to do is cleanse, tone, use vitamin C serum, and then moisturize. Does vitamin C help reduce under-eye circles? Besides the benefits mentioned above, vitamin C is a powerful collagen booster. Hence, using it at bedtime will significantly enhance the fragile under-eye area and conceal discoloration (1).
Vitamin C is a well-known powerful antioxidant that reduces the appearance of fine lines to brighten the skin. Watch this video and learn from expert dermatologist Dr. Davin Lim explaining the many ways how vitamin C benefits the skin.
