Most dermatologists who focus on anti-aging skin care will tell you that Vitamin C ranks as one of the top three products to use, falling just behind sunscreen and retinoids. Vitamin C performs a vital role in maintaining the skin’s cellular function and repair. Here are some facts you need to know if you are considering adding Vitamin C to your daily skin care routine.
What Vitamin C Does for Your Skin
This answer could fill an entire chapter, but I’ll focus on the key points:
- Boosts collagen synthesis – Vitamin C is essential for collagen production as loss of collagen is one of the major causes of saggy skin and wrinkles.
- Provides protection from ultraviolet rays from the sun and reduces UV-related damage to your DNA.
- Decreases UV-induced inflammation and cell death
- Acts as an antioxidant by reducing the stress caused by free radicals–unstable molecules that damage cells and contribute to signs of aging such as age spots, wrinkles, easy bruising, and skin laxity. Free radicals are caused by environmental pollution and sun exposure. Most sunscreens only block 55% of these free radicals!
- Directly decreases pigment production– this makes it extra helpful for those age spots by lightening them directly and suppressing their formation in the first place.
FYI- Vitamin C works best when used along with Vitamin E, another skin superstar.
Why doesn’t dietary Vitamin C or a simple oral supplement do the trick?
Oral Vitamin C is critical for a variety of our body’s cell functions, however this is not very effective for maintaining the levels of Vitamin C in the skin. Topical application of Vitamin C (and other anti-oxidants) is over 20 times more effective at maintaining adequate concentrations in the skin compared to oral intake through dietary or supplemental sources.
Not all Vitamin C Products Are Created Equal
Vitamin C is not very stable in topical forms making many products on the market essentially ineffective. Exposure to heat (products sitting in a cargo truck), air (opening the bottle) and light all degrade this finicky compound. Ascorbic acid, the natural form is most effective for topical use; however, it’s the least stable. Synthetic forms that are “stable” in bottles, however, don’t easily penetrate the skin surface. The doctors at Pariser Dermatology carefully select the product lines we sell and recommend to ensure the ingredients are active and effective. These selections are based on best scientific data available.
If you are interested in learning more about Vitamin C and other skin care options, please call 757-622-6315 to make an appointment for a skin care consultation.
