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.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) is loaded with antioxidants that are known to make your skin radiant and youthful. It helps to destroy the free radicles and enhance the tissue repairment and collagen synthesis for healthy skin.

Vitamin C normally presents in skin layers named dermis and epidermis where these nutrients are transported from the bloodstream. 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 – 

Vitamin C is found abundantly in fruits and vegetables. A few common dietary sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli and strawberries. Make sure to consume these to get the optimum health benefits of vitamin C.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD

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.

Why vitamin C is highly recommended for skin?

Vitamin C is not just limited to its antioxidants properties but it is beyond it. Since vitamin C is highly acidic it works efficiently in skin-healing processes. When applied topically, it works instantly to heal a wound by accelerating the production of collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin are both protein fibers that enhance skin cell regeneration and make your skin firm and tight. Collagen also helps to delay the aging process of the skin and may reduce dark pigmentation.

 What are the skin benefits of vitamin C?

Do you know vitamin C can help in cases of anaemia? Vitamin C promotes the absorption of iron in your body, which is an essential requirement for those suffering from anaemia.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

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. Read more.

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.

Also Read: Best Vitamin C Products In India For Improved Health

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 

Vitamin C has numerous benefits and one should always include it in their diet however people suffering from kidney stones should be cautious while taking vitamin c supplements because Vitamin C might exacerbate stone formation and worsen the condition

Dr. Nikhil Yadav, MBBS MD,CCEBDM

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, when taken along with paracetamol, a medication used to treat fever, can cause increased levels of paracetamol in the body. Be cautious while using a combination of the two of them.

Dr. Smita barode, BAMS

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.

Symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency

• Rough, Bumpy skin: Vitamin C plays an important role in the production of collagen, a protein that is abundantly found in connective tissues, hair, joints and bones. When Vitamin C content is low in the body, a condition called keratosis pilaris can be developed. This causes the creation of ‘bumpy’ chicken skin at the back of the upper arms, thighs and buttocks due to the buildup of keratin protein inside pores.
• Cork-screw shaped hair: Vitamin C deficiency in the body can cause hair to be bent or coiled shaped due to deficiency due to defects that develop in the protein structure of hair as it grows. With an adequate amount of Vitamin C intake as a treatment, this hair abnormality can be fixed.
• Dry, damaged skin: Vitamin C protects the epidermis (upper layer of the skin) from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Sun exposure, and exposure to pollutants like cigarette smoke and ozone – all contribute to dry, flaky skin. Although there are other reasons why skin can get wrinkled and dry, deficiency of Vitamin C can lead to skin becoming parched.
• Slow-healing wounds: Deficiency in Vitamin C slows the rate of collagen production in the body, thus making wounds heal much slower. In severe Vitamin C cases, old wounds may re-open, increasing the risk of infection on the skin. Slow healing is one of the most severe forms of Vitamin C deficiency, which happens only when a person has been deficient in Vitamin C for many months.

Commonly searched products containing vitamin C:

Also Read: What Is Scurvy? A Deep Dive into the Vitamin C Deficiency Disease

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