May Help Protect Against Sun Damage
03/2020 Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS on November 03, 2020
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SOURCES:
Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute: “Vitamin C and Skin Health.”
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology: “Hyperpigmentation.”
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology: “Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications.”
Harvard Health Publishing/Harvard Medical School: “Skin Serum: What it Can and Can’t do.”
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “Dietary Nutrient Intakes and Skin-aging Appearance Among Middle-aged American Women.”
Cedars-Sinai: “Collagen for Your Skin: Healthy or Hype?”
Nutrients: “The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health.”
Harvard Health Publishing/Harvard Medical School: “Finding the Right Serum for Your Skin.”
Cleveland Clinic: “Understanding the Ingredients in Skin Care Products.”
Mayo Clinic: “Wrinkle Creams: Your Guide to Younger Looking Skin.”
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: “Vitamin C Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
First Off, What Is Vitamin C?
As far as your skin is concerned, vitamin C is “a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals,” explains board-certified dermatologist Patricia Wexler, M.D. “Because of its antioxidant properties, vitamin C aids in your skin’s natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells.”.
So, in the same way that consuming antioxidant-rich foods aids your body in fighting off free radicals, topical antioxidants do the same for your skin by helping to offset daily aggressors like UV damage and exposure to air pollution. Quick refresher course on antioxidants: They prevent or reduce damage to our cells by neutralizing the production of highly reactive molecules called free radicals. In other words, antioxidants help keep our body and our skin cells healthy.
How Else Does Vitamin C Benefit The Skin?
Remember: Collagen and elastin are both naturally occurring protein fibers that help keep skin plump and firm.