The effect of vitamin C on the skin

With the exception of humans, primates, guinea pigs and some bird species, humans cannot produce vitamin C themselves. It is known from the evolution of man that the vitamin C supply was mainly ensured by plant food. But the fact is: we need vitamin C.

This has been known since the time of seafaring in the 18th century, when a lack of vitamin C led to hemorrhaging, lapses and even death of seafarers. So we hold: vitamin C is essential for survival. It is involved in the construction, maintenance and healing of the largest human organ, the skin.

What is vitamin C?

pharmaceutical products under the term ascorbic acid (from "ascorby" - English "against scurvy"). It is one of nine water-soluble vitamins. Vitamin C is a cofactor (makes chemical reactions partially possible in the first place) of many enzymes, which plays an important role in collagen synthesis in connective and supporting tissue. This explains the enormous importance of vitamin C for wound healing, formation of new bone, cartilage and tooth enamel.

In addition, vitamin C increases the absorption of iron from food and has a highly antioxidant effect. Together with vitamin E, it can inactivate free radicals, protect DNA from damage and prevent atherosclerosis.

What foods contain vitamin C?

You can find high amounts of vitamin C in plant foods. These include sea buckthorn, currants, peppers, kiwi, citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables. Frozen vegetables often have more vitamin C than fruits and vegetables that have been stored for some time. In fact, vitamin C tolerates heat, light, metals and alkaline environments less well.

What is the importance of vitamin C for your skin?

As already mentioned, vitamin C has an antioxidant effect against free radicals and supports collagen production in the skin. Free radicals are unstable molecules that attack healthy body cells by "grabbing" a missing electron from another cell, thus damaging the healthy cell. This process of oxidation is visible through tired and wrinkled looking skin.

Antioxidants voluntarily provide their electron, so to speak, so that free radicals are rendered harmless. Vitamin C inhibits the process of oxidation particularly effectively. This slows down premature skin aging and makes the skin look fresher and younger.

How vitamin C promotes collagen synthesis

Collagen and elastin fibers cross-link in the middle layer of the skin to form a flexible structure that makes your skin elastic and stretchable. While you still have high levels of collagen when you are young, after the age of 25, collagen levels decrease by 1 percent per year. With this process, the number of wrinkles and lines increases. The skin loses volume and proven contours. Vitamin C supports the body's collagen production by intervening at the crucial points of collagen synthesis and ensuring stable and elastic collagen fibers. Furthermore, vitamin C stimulates collagen production.

In a study with human skin fibroblasts, in which collagen helices are synthesized, long-term treatment with vitamin C significantly increased the synthesis of collagen.

How does vitamin C in creams & co. work?

Vitamin C must be supplied from the outside at regular intervals, as it cannot be stored or synthesized. Now the question arises whether vitamin C has a better effect on the skin via skin care products or on collagen production exclusively via food. Could the combination of a vitamin C rich diet and vitamin C skin care be the key to beautiful and youthful skin?

Skin creams are supposed to make the skin look young, healthy and beautiful. By applying a targeted care cream (with vitamin C) to the face or arms, many people promise themselves a pinpoint effect. However, a quality product should have the following:

• Concentration: Care creams that bring a vitamin C content of more than 20% do not increase the effectiveness. In some cases, they can cause skin irritation.
• Vitamin C form: L-ascorbic acid is considered well researched and an active ingredient. It is considered more active than other forms of vitamin C. Alternatively, products containing magnesium ascorbyl phosphate can be used, which are less irritating.
• Shelf life: Vitamin C is sensitive to oxygen. Therefore, the ingredients should be combined just before use.

According to a study from the University of Otago (New Zealand) published in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal, a vitamin C skin care product can be effective for sunburn. Vitamin C accelerates cell renewal by replacing damaged cells with new healthy cells. This can reduce the risk of inflammation, infection and scarring.

Another benefit of vitamin C is that it balances skin pigmentation and inhibits the formation of melanin. It can be effectively used against skin spots and age spots.

Vitamin C drops for oral use

Creams & nutrition are one way to supply vitamin C from the outside. Another option is to take vitamin C in the form of a dietary supplement. To ensure that the vitamin C really reaches where it is needed, you should not resort to vitamin C effervescent tablets or the like, but in the form in which it really arrives where your body can best utilize it: In your cells. To ensure this, it is best to take liposomal vitamin C in drop form.

Our tip: With LipoVibes Pure Vitamin C you finally get vitamin C that reaches your cells directly. This is ensured by the unique Lipo-Molecule technology, a scientific and patented innovation.

Instead of taking vitamin C in cream form, you can support your skin from within with LipoVibes Pure Vitamin C.

What does a vitamin C deficiency lead to?

Impairment of all body functions is associated with the deficiency of vitamin C. The immune system is more susceptible to disease and collagen synthesis is significantly reduced. Inflamed and bleeding gums, delayed wound healing, edema, joint pain, fatigue and depression are typical symptoms of vitamin C deficiency.

Is it possible to overdose on vitamin C?

An overdose of vitamin C is more likely to be achieved through a face cream than through a vitamin C-rich diet. The tolerance level of over 2g/day of vitamin C is rarely exceeded as a rule. When it does happen, the excess vitamin C is excreted by the kidneys. High-dose vitamin C preparations or dietary supplements can, in the worst case, lead to diarrhea.

Skin and facial care creams that are ingested in an overdosed form, for example if the cream is taken out too often or is not tolerated in this concentration, can lead to redness and itchy, blotchy, dry and irritated skin.

Conclusion: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is rightly considered the vitamin among all vitamins. The combination of an adequate amount of plant foods via kiwi, peppers and green leafy vegetables and a well-dosed vitamin C-containing vitamin C skin care regimen can help your body synthesize collagen, render free radicals harmless and protect your skin from wrinkles, pigmentation and signs of aging.