Vitamin C is legendary for its magical work! Enhance immunity, protection against cancer, great for skin – you just name it and vitamin C will show its magic over it.
It is loaded with antioxidants that are known to make your skin radiant and youthful.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) helps to destroy the free radicles and enhance the tissue repairment and collagen synthesis for healthy skin.
Aging, pollution, or exposure to UV rays may lower the vitamin availability mainly from the epidermis. Oral intake of vitamin C is very effective for the skin but less than topical application.
Daily required dose of vitamin C –
The recommended daily requiring dose for men is 90 mg and for women 75 mg. Vitamin C is commonly found in various fruits and vegetables such as lemon, oranges, broccoli, etc.
What are the skin benefits of vitamin C?
Along with the other major health benefits, vitamin C is key to skin health. It stimulates collagen and elastin production which improves the skin texture and quality. Here are some great benefits of vitamin C for skin;
1. Prevent wrinkles and fine lines
It so depressing, when your skin shows aging signs such as wrinkles. Vitamin C works beautifully to prevent and reduce these unwanted signs by enhancing collagen synthesis in your body. Two study results found that a higher intake of vitamin C was associated with good skin appearances and topical application of vitamin C for 12 weeks has been shown to decrease the wrinkling of the skin, smoothening of the skin, and increase the production of collagen.
2. Protection from sun exposure
Prolonged sun exposure can affect your skin horribly like skin tanning, rough skin, redness of the skin, etc. The topical application of vitamin C works as an antioxidant to protect your skin from UV rays. Combinations of vitamin C and vitamin E are more effective in preventing the skin from sun damage than vitamin alone.
3. Provide skin hydration
A high intake of vitamin C helps to decrease dryness of skin and provides moisture to your skin. Ascorbic acid retains water in the skin and prevents it from becoming dry and oily.
4. Aids wound healing
Vitamin C contains ascorbic acid that helps rapid wound healing by activating collagen formation. It works better when applied topically than ingested orally. Combination of Vitamin C and vitamin E with other oral therapies for pressure ulcers (bed sores) and burns aids for rapid recovery.
5. Improves elasticity of the skin
The topical application of vitamin C encourages the production of collagen and elastin in your skin that helps the skin to become tight and firm.
7. Lowers dark pigmentation of the skin
Dark pigmentation also is known as hyperpigmentation of the skin is caused due to increased production of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives color to your skin. Hyperpigmentation is generally not harmful but for beauty purposes, topical application of vitamin C can lower the dark patches.
8: Helps to reduce inflammation
Vitamin C is a great anti-inflammatory as well as an antioxidant that helps reduce the signs of inflammation such as rash, redness, and irritation. Topical vitamin C relieves the inflammation in various skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis.
How to use vitamin C for your daily skin routine?
Vitamin C is full of various nutrients including antioxidants. Although you are getting vitamin C from your diet, there is no guarantee that it will reach the skin. For better skin results you have to apply it topically. There are different kinds of options in the market such as vitamin C containing lotions, moisturizer, serum, and creams. However, many dermatologists will go with serum for the best skincare result as the serum is a lighter formulation than a moisturizer that absorbs easily into the skin. Also, don’t forget to apply vitamin C sunscreen before stepping out.
