What does Vitamin C do to the skin?

Vitamin C does the body good. According to experts, this particular vitamin is the body’s major aqueous antioxidant and since it is abundant in the extracellular matrix of the skin, it has a slew of benefits. This includes reducing the appearance of wrinkles and improvement of the skin’s tone and texture. It also helps suppress pigmentation on the skin because it inhibits tyrosinase –an enzyme that causes ugly skin pigmentation. Vitamin C also curbs inflammation whether one is talking about pimples or inflammation due to wounds. Another wonderful thing about this vitamin is that it enhances sunscreen protection as well as improves the production of collagen resulting to younger-looking, supple, and smooth skin.

Vitamin C is an anti-aging vitamin because it helps thicken the skin. As we grow older, our skin’s thickness lessens and as this happens, the skin shows more of our nerves –giving us an old and tired look. Many say that this is just the course of life and the course of the human body as it grows old but the effects of aging can be minimized if not halted. This vitamin also retains the skin’s natural moisture.

Note to lovers of Vitamin C: Topical formulations with this vitamin can be unstable so it is better to take supplements that contain this vitamin instead of applying it on your skin.

What are the primary characteristics of this vitamin that contribute to improvement of the skin?

According to books we’ve read, it prevents the formation of free radicals. You may have heard of this already. What are free radicals though? Based on the Free Radical Theory of Ageing, accumulating free radicals contributes to ageing which means that these unpaired atoms destroys the skin’s integrity and beauty.

Darr et al, Lin et al, among others say that this particular vitamin protects and treats skin that has been photodamaged. The expert Kameyama on the other hand contributed to the Vitamin C discussion and said that it also suppresses pigmentation and the decomposition of melanin which means it helps in making the skin glow.