I Think Most Of Us Know That Vitamin C Prevents Scurvy
I think most of us know that Vitamin C prevents scurvy, but were you aware of the anti-aging properties of topical Vitamin C? While I’ve never actually diagnosed anyone with scurvy, I’ve talked to a whole lot of people about how to treat their aging skin. After sunscreen, my second recommendation is always Vitamin C. And then Botox and retinol and, and, and. But, my second recommendation is still always Vitamin C. You can get lost in a sea of skin care products, but if you follow the science it will lead you to right back to C!
The Antioxidant Benefit Of Vitamin C
The antioxidant benefit of vitamin C makes it an excellent protective factor against UV exposure. Interestingly, taking oral vitamin C does not confer the strongest benefit. It is much better if you consume a vitamin rich diet of a variety of fruits and vegetables and then smear on a vitamin C serum nightly.
Skin Fibroblasts Have An Absolute Dependence On Vitamin C
We can study this benefit at the level of the cell. Skin fibroblasts have an absolute dependence on vitamin C for the synthesis of collagen and regulation of the collagen and elastin balance in the dermis. Skin keratinocytes accumulate vitamin C to protect themselves from UV damage. When growing these same cells in culture vitamin C is shown to influence the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and promotes healthier epithelial growth. While studies looking at aging are often subjective and challenging to duplicate, some objective studies looking at collagen deposition and wrinkle depth have shown statistically significant improvements through daily application of topical vitamin C.
Not All Skin Care Products Deliver What They Say Is In The Bottle
Do remember that not all skin care products deliver what they say is in the bottle, so get a reputable product from a reputable source. Vitamins are very challenging to keep in a usable, active form and can be easily damaged by the production process, exposure to light or extreme temperature conditions. This is why these true products are often a bit more expensive, especially as the concentration of the C increases in the product.
So, What Are You Waiting For
So, what are you waiting for, now that you understand the importance, celebrate by eating some citrus and buying a vitamin C serum.
What Are Our Favorite Vitamin C Serums?
Our favorites are the Jan Marini C-Esta and Obagi Vitamin C serums.
