Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health?
by Admin
Posted on 13-08-2025 10:53 AM
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.
https://www.specialistsupplements.com/product-category/cleanse-and-detox/
Vitamin a is important for babies and young children, and some may not be getting enough. It's needed for a healthy immune system, can help their vision in dim light, and keeps skin healthy. Good sources of vitamin a include: dairy products carrots, sweet potatoes, swede and mangoes dark green vegetables, such as spinach, cabbage and broccoli. https://f004.backblazeb2.com/file/pkrkkl/herbalcolonicscomplex/index.html
A 2017 study found that healthy skin contains high levels of vitamin c because it both assists collagen production and prevents sun damage. Vitamin c can help stimulate collagen production in the skin. Collagen is a protein that provides skin with its structure and stretch. As we age, our body naturally produces less collagen, resulting in wrinkles and fine lines. Topical application of vitamin c may help regenerate lost collagen. Vitamin c also removes oxidants caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which helps to prevent sun damage. Ultraviolet radiation causes premature aging of the skin, resulting in wrinkles, hyperpigmentation , and skin sagging.
Vitamin c is an essential micronutrient that we need to get through our diet, preferably through a variety of whole foods like fruits and vegetables. It plays a role in numerous important bodily functions, including immunity and skin health, and it may lead to a reduced risk of several chronic diseases, so getting your recommended daily allowance can help ensure that your body is working optimally. Talk with a doctor or dietitian for advice if you’re concerned about your own vitamin c levels and whether you’re getting enough of this important nutrient. Also, seek medical advice before taking vitamin c for preventing or treating any condition, especially if you’re taking other supplements or medications.
Skin benefits of vitamin C
A few clinical studies have demonstrated that vitamin c can improve wrinkles. One study showed that daily use of a vitamin c formulation for at least three months improved the appearance of fine and coarse wrinkles of the face and neck, as well as improved overall skin texture and appearance.
Vitamin c may also help protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays when used in combination with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Clinical studies have shown that combining vitamin c with other topical ingredients, namely ferulic acid and vitamin e, can diminish redness and help protect the skin from long-term damage caused by harmful sun rays.
Many of the benefits of vitamin c can be traced to its antioxidant properties. “antioxidants act to neutralize free radicals, which are volatile and harmful substances produced in the body that cause damage to cells and tissues,” samuels says. According to the mayo clinic , antioxidants can protect against the development of serious health conditions, such as cancer or heart disease. More studies — especially ones involving human participants — are needed, however, to show whether vitamin c specifically can prevent cancer or cardiovascular disease, per the harvard t. H. Chan school of public health. Related: 10 healthy foods high in antioxidants.
Vitamin c benefits also include the general health and strength of our skin and bones. In the skin, its antioxidant properties and role in collagen production helps protect against skin ageing and other skin complaints - this is why you'll find vitamin c in many skincare products. As an anti-inflammatory, this vitamin can also help to prevent inflammatory arthritis and may support people with osteoarthritis 3.
Vitamins and minerals are compounds that our bodies do not make, but which are nevertheless essential for our health. As we cannot make them, we must get them from our food. Examples include vitamin a ; which is vital for good eyesight and maintaining healthy skin; vitamin c, which is essential for a healthy immune system, and vitamin k ; which is necessary for blood clotting. Essential minerals, meanwhile, include calcium, magnesium, selenium, potassium, and others. Vitamins and minerals are classed as micronutrients because we only need them in small amounts compared to macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Where to find topical vitamin C and what to look for on the label
Vitamin c supplements are available as a single nutrient supplement or combination supplement. You can find them in many forms, such as: tablets this ensures purity and that the contents match the label; however, it doesn't guarantee effectiveness.
Vitamin c is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that it is not stored in the body like vitamin d, a fat-soluble vitamin. When you give your body more vitamin c than it can use, it will flush out the rest through the bowel. Too much vitamin c will give you loose stools. Vitamin c can also cause nausea, especially if you take the ascorbic acid form of vitamin c. Frequently though, vitamin c side effects are not caused by vitamin c but by additives in your vitamin c supplement. Check the label of the vitamin c that you use. You will find fillers, artificial colors, and artificial sweeteners (some of which are excitotoxins.
When it comes to skincare products that work, antioxidant serums containing vitamin c reign supreme. But it’s crucial to know how and when to use vitamin c serum to reap the many benefits of vitamin c for your complexion. “vitamin c is an antioxidant that works to protect the skin against free radical damage and can help to brighten the skin, improve hyperpigmentation, and boost collagen production,” explains marisa garshick, m. D. , a leading board-certified dermatologist at manhattan dermatology and cosmetic surgery in nyc. “results may be seen after three to four weeks, but can take three to six months for full effect.
Skinceuticals launched its first vitamin c serum in 1997, so it can take a lot of credit for the explosion of the entire antioxidant skin-care category. The late sheldon pinnell, the dermatologist behind the serum, published a watershed study in 2001, in the journal dermatologic surgery, proving the effective absorption of a low-ph, l-ascorbic acid serum. And skinceuticals c e ferulic launched in 2005. In label-concealed testing, our panelists truly favored its simple elegance. The serum is born from extensive scientific research. Pinnell was the chief of dermatology at duke university medical school when he founded skinceuticals, based on his research on antioxidants.
Vitamin c may be present in a number of different forms in supplements, although ascorbic acid is the most common form. The ascorbic acid used in supplements has a bioavailability that is equivalent to that of the ascorbic acid that occurs naturally in foods. Supplements typically contain vitamin c in the form of ascorbic acid, which has equivalent bioavailability to that of naturally occurring ascorbic acid in foods, such as orange juice and broccoli [ 11 , 15 , 16 ]. Other forms of vitamin c supplements include sodium ascorbate; calcium ascorbate; other mineral ascorbates; ascorbic acid with bioflavonoids; and combination products, such as ester-c, which contains calcium ascorbate, dehydroascorbate, calcium threonate, xylonate, and lyxonate [ 17 ].
Here at new chapter, it’s our mission to craft excellent quality nutrition so you can get the best support for wellness, every day. Vitamin c is so important that it’s included in all of our multivitamin blends , including our prenatal and postnatal multis. You can also boost your levels of vitamin c with our targeted blend called immune defense vitamin c + elderberry (also known as fermented activated c complex). And we have 100% delicious vitamin c+ gummies that deliver 125 mg of c per serving (2 gummies per day). Come explore the new chapter family of vitamin c products!.