Taking care of your skin is one of the greatest treats you could ever give to yourself. As the barrier from the outside environment, it is your first line of defense from all impurities, toxins, and harsh weather elements. The sun conceivably is the greatest threat of all. Depending on the severity and length of our exposures, we get sunburns, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, sagging, dryness, and the list just goes on.
It is easy to resort to chemical peeling and synthetic anti-wrinkle creams to restore sun-damaged skin. But ending up with redness and irritation is not what you signed up for. Most of these products are just too harsh and gives unnatural results.
You might have searched far and wide for the perfect product. But quite interestingly, some studies show that Vitamin C, both dietary and topical, helps prevent and treats photodamage or skin damage from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Yes, the ascorbic acid (vitamin C’s natural form), commonly known for its antioxidant properties and its role in collagen production, could just be the key to solve your sun-beaten skin. To better understand the concept, let us know first a bit of the skin’s structure.
Our Skin
The skin has two main layers, the epidermis is the outer layer or the one you see with your eyes, and the dermis, the layer located beneath the epidermis.
The epidermis is mainly made up of cells called keratinocytes that are set in layers. The outermost layer of keratinocytes, or the one directly exposed to the outside environment is a pile of “dead cells” or cells that, after cell divisions (as how cells would multiply) no longer have its subcellular structures such as the nucleus and cytoplasm making them metabolically dead. These dead cells are sealed together through higher concentration of lipids making even water impossible to get through, forming a layer called stratum corneum.
The dermis on the other hand is the opposite. It is a layer not made up of cells but consists of vessels, veins, and proteins. It is predominantly rich in collagen fibers which provide strength, structure, and elasticity of the skin. The blood vessels that provide nourishment of both layers of the skin are also found in the dermis.
Vitamin C
Normal skin contains high levels of Vitamin C and it holds a lot of important tasks. It supports most of the cell’s functions such as in the production of collagen and acts as antioxidant. It also fills up intracellular compartments or spaces within a cell. Higher concentrations of Vitamin C are in the epidermal layer. Thus, prolonged UV exposures, unhealthy lifestyles and other pollutants depletes the vitamin C, and not to mention natural ageing.
Vitamin C when taken orally either from natural sources like fruits or from supplements reached the skin cells through the bloodstream. Transport proteins for ascorbic acid are found throughout the layers of the skin but specifically, the keratinocytes have high capacity for these vitamin C transport. Therefore, orally ingesting vitamin C would effectively increase the skin’s vitamin C levels. The maximum concentration of such vitamin in the skin is yet to be determined by studies.
Topical applications can amazingly work even better. Depending on the type of vitamin C used, it can be absorbed into the skin 20 times more than oral intake! The L-ascorbic acid is the purest and most potent form of topical vitamin C that can fully permeate through skin’s lipid barriers. Not only that it gets absorbed more and easily by the skin, but its effect can also even last for up to 72 hours.
For preventing UV-induced photodamage
Vitamin C as antioxidant is a good defense against UV-induced damage caused by free radicals. As skin’s innate response to UV light, vitamin C transport proteins increase in keratinocytes prompting the body for an uptake of vitamin C for skin protection. Based on the experiments conducted, the surge in vitamin C mitigates UV-related DNA damage and a host of other benefits right in the cellular level.
Further studies show that vitamin C oral supplements work more effectively when paired with vitamin E. It increases photo protection in skin from UV light and there is also an observed decrease of reddening of the skin.
Studies also suggested that topical application of vitamin C, when combined with other compounds is found to be more effective in protecting the skin from sun damage. Some findings inferred that it is even better than oral vitamin C as it is directly applied right at the area where protection is needed.
For Treating Photodamage
Wrinkling is either brought by age or a sign of photodamage. Vitamin C plays a significant role in collagen production which in turn repairs damaged skin. It boosts the fibroblasts or cells that excretes collagen. It also promotes the formation of stratum corneum and cell division in general. As an antioxidant that fights free radicals, it also aids the DNA damaged by these free radicals.
Observational studies were conducted to see people’s perception of the efficacy of vitamin C. It showed that people who have higher intakes of vitamin C in their diet for a certain number of weeks have noticeably better skin appearance. Topical vitamin C users also exhibited improvement on the appearance of wrinkles and other age-related changes.
In Conclusion
Vitamin C effectively and powerfully helps and nourishes the skin in all levels, from cell division to important functions such as in collagen synthesis, in fighting off free radicals and in repairing sun-damaged cells. Its action is mainly supporting the skin’s natural mechanisms thus results are real and just pleasantly natural which is way better than other creams could ever achieve.
Baeskinco Glow Drops Vitamin C Serum
Our vitamin C serum is blended with other powerful compounds to bring out the full effect of vitamin C. Every drop is loaded with “C” nourishment that your photodamage-skin needs. So, the next time the sun beats your skin, fight back! Regular application of the serum ensures normal functioning of skin cells, protection from the damaging rays of the sun and regular dose of repair for the damaged cells. Soon you will notice your smooth and healthier skin, more even skin tone, the reduced lines and redness, and your overall youthful appearance.
Kylie G
