Vitamin C is a common ingredient in skin care. It should prevent skin aging and be good for healthy skin. The vitamin in creams and serums is said to be able to reduce pigment spots and tighten the skin. In addition, vitamin C can act as an antioxidant that protects the skin from irritation, inflammation and environmental stress. This article explains which product promises made by the manufacturers of vitamin C serums are realistic and which are not.
Vitamin C contributes to collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels, which affects not only bones, gums or teeth but also the collagen structure of the skin. It can also be used as a peeling because the acid dissolves dandruff, horny cells and fats.
A vitamin C serum actually counteracts the breakdown of the collagen structure in the skin, because the vitamin is essential for collagen synthesis. Do you remember the seafaring disease scurvy? This was caused by a vitamin deficiency, because it led to tissue degeneration in the body. The skin therefore needs vitamin C to regenerate itself. Of course, you can also get the vitamin C you need from a balanced diet. The following applies: a person’s daily vitamin C requirement can be covered with just one or two pieces of fruit.
Pure vitamin C (known as L-ascorbic acid) is too acidic for the skin and can cause irritation. That is why ascorbyl glucosides are used in cosmetics because they are first converted in the skin by biochemical processes. So the concentration is more skin-friendly. The water-soluble vitamin does not penetrate into deeper layers by itself. Therefore, a vitamin C serum needs a fat-soluble derivative so that it can penetrate the skin. If it penetrates into the lower layers of the skin, it can stimulate collagen formation, inhibit inflammation and have a tightening effect.
Vitamin C serums with a concentration of around 15 percent are recommended because the higher the content, the more irritating the product can be on the skin. Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a product is that antioxidants like a vitamin C serum lose their potency when exposed to air or light. Therefore, make sure to close the vitamin C serum well after use and buy tinted bottles so that it is difficult for light to penetrate.
Allow your skin to get used to the application before using the serum several times a week. The skin may become irritated. If this reaction persists, stop using it immediately and speak to your dermatologist. In principle, a vitamin C serum is harmless, but since skin types are different, you should always pay attention to how you individually react to new products.
It has been proven that UV radiation leads to faster skin aging. That’s why you should pay attention to UV protection in addition to the vitamin C serum. This applies to every season, because the skin is exposed to radiation even in winter. Those who use products with a sun protection factor every day (the lighter the skin, the higher the factor should be) are the most effective at preventing wrinkles and pigment spots.
Sources: Apotheken Umschau, consumer center, German pharmacist magazine
This article contains so-called affiliate links. There is more information here.
