Research in skincare has revealed some new, novel ingredients that can help us maintain great skin (for example – stay tuned for news about Exosomes), but it’s worth taking a closer look at Vitamin C, an ingredient in many skincare products.
Why Is Vitamin C Important?
Our skin is the body’s largest organ, and it performs a lot of vital functions for us, including providing a barrier to harmful things in our environment. Think of your skin as a forcefield, constantly being bombarded by harmful UV radiation and pollutants, irritants and toxins. Those things gradually damage our skin barrier through a process called oxidation, which is part of the aging process.
Vitamin C has been shown in studies to help prevent oxidation by scavenging, or mopping up free radicals, which are damaging compounds that are part of the oxidative process. Vitamin C has also been shown to play a role in production of collagen.
Through complex interactions with many other important compounds including metalloproteins and vitamin E, it can also turn off melanin production, help maintain the skin’s elastin, and exert an anti-inflammatory effect.
Not all topical Vitamin C formulations are created equal, and to be effective, Vitamin C in a skincare product needs to be formulated in a manner that is “bioavailable,” meaning the skin can absorb and use it (for example, altering the pH of a skin cream or serum will alter how much Vitamin C is absorbed).
Products manufactured by medical-grade skincare companies specifically include highly bioavailable forms of Vitamin C, packaged in containers that ensure they will be stable (for example, Vitamin C in a clear bottle will break down due to light exposure).
Some of the proven benefits of topical Vitamin C include:
- 1. Protection from photoaging.
- 2. Protection against photo carcinogenesis – i.e. Vitamin C can offer some protection from skin cancer.
- 3. Aiding and speeding wound healing.
This translates into some big-time positive effects of regular use of vitamin C.
Seven Benefits of Vitamin C
- 1. Reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
- 2. Reduces pigment and brown spots.
- 3. Reduces redness and development of broken blood vessels.
- 4. Maintains skin elasticity and improves texture.
- 5. Reduces Sebum production and acne outbreaks.
- 6. Heals damaged or injured skin.
- 7. Helps reduce scarring.
These last two properties are worth considering when recovering from procedures such as microneedling, facelift or neck lift surgery, or even when healing from liposuction, breast augmentation, or tummy tuck.
Next Steps
If you are interested more about medical-grade skincare products, come in for a consultation. Contact us at (905) 273-3045 or request a consultation online to book your appointment.
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