Ascorbic acid or Vitamin C is a important component of collagen and elastin synthesis in bodies. Elastin and collagen are proteins that make up skin, muscles and other connective tissue. Ascorbic acid brightens skin, encourages collagen production, and develops elasticity. Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants block some of the damage caused by free radicals, substances that damage DNA. Antioxidant properties of vitamin C have been demonstrated in many experiments in vitro. Applied topically, vitamin c has been shown to develop skin texture and tone, decrease brown spots, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and help avoid their formation.
Vitamin C Benefits for Skin
Vitamin C is responsible for producing collagen. Collagen is a protein that connects all fiber network, suchlike as tendons, skin, cartilage and other tissues in the body. Almost 33% of the protein in the body is collagen. without collagen, the body would literally fall apart. Vitamin C plays an substantial role in the formation of collagen, which is the main structural protein in the skin. A study performed in 1981 by Linus Pauling, shows that exposure of skin cells to Vitamin C had an 8 times increase in collagen production.
Free radicals are reactive molecules that cause tissue damage and are present in sun rays and cigarette smoke. These molecules initiate the deterioration of the skin’s structural support and reduce the elasticity, and resilience of skin. Vitamin C can stop or decrease these chemical reactions acting against oxidative process, neutralizing its deleterious effects.
The use of vitamin C (3-10%) in topical applications for at least twelve weeks has been shown to reduce wrinkling, decrease protein fiber damage, reduce apparent roughness of skin, and enhance production of collagen. Three-month study period in 19 participant with moderately photodamaged facial skin found a important development in fine wrinkling, skin tone, and sallowness on the side treated with vitamin C compared with the placebo group. Photographic evaluation revealed a 57% development in the ascorbic acid treated individuals compared with the placebo group. In 2002, researchers applied 10 percent ascorbic acid to the cheek of participants and compared it with the opposite untreated cheek. At twelve weeks, biopsy specimens revealed an enhance in the Grenz zone collagen and increased gene expression of type I collagen in the skin. In 2004, scientists examined the epidermal-dermal junction and depth of dermal papilla in participants of all ages and found that as people age, the papillae and its nutritive capillary reduce in density. They then applied topical 3 percent ascorbic acid on the forearm of participants and saw that there was an increase in the dermal papillae with new vessel formation after one month of therapy, compared with the opposite forearm where placebo was applied.
Topical and dietary Vitamin C have positive effects on skin cells, and some researches have shown that ascorbic acid may help avoid and UV induced photodamage. In addition, vitamin E such as ascorbic acid, is also an antioxidant that can help preserve body from free radicals. In 2005 study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology; found that taking 500 IU of vitamin E and 1.000 milligrams of vitamin C daily for three months significantly decreased the sunburn reaction to UVB radiation. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study (against sunburn to investigate the protective effect of vitamins C and E), each of 10 participant took daily either 2 gm of vitamin C combined with 1000 IU of vitamin E or placebo. Research findings, combined vitamins C and E decrease the sunburn reaction, which might indicate a consequent decreased risk for later sequelae of UV-induced skin damage.
Melanin is produced by cells named melanocytes. Melanin determines skin color. Individuals with high amounts of melanin tend to have darker skin. The production of melanin is stimulated by your exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) rays in especially. Vit C can reduce the skin hyper-pigmentation. Vitamin C is a tyrosinase inhibitor, it decreases melanin production and encourages cellular renewal through exfoliation. If this enzyme is deactivated, the production of melanin is stopped at its initial phases.
Some researches shows that AA2P, a derivative of vitamin C, not just neutralizes free radicals, but also reverse DNA damage. A study recently; showed that a form of ascorbic acid helped to encourage wound healing and helped preserve the DNA damage of skin cells. (Free Radical Biology and Medicine). In this study, investigated the activity of continuous exposure to a ascorbic acid derivative, AA2P (ascorbic acid 2-phosphate), in human dermal fibroblasts. The research findings showed that ascorbic acid may improve wound healing by stimulating quiescent fibroblasts to divide and by promoting their migration into the wounded area.
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