Vitamin C is well-known for its benefits to healthy skin and the prevention of premature ageing, but its abilities in the treatment of acne are, to be honest, underappreciated.
Vitamin C in various forms is beneficial to your skin, and the right vitamin C product may aid in the treatment of persistent acne.
Of course, there are limitations — skin care products aren't magical, and topical vitamins are only a part of the solution.
But we have a feeling that once you learn more about what vitamin C can do for you, you'll be adding another letter to your skin care alphabet.
What Does Vitamin C Do?
Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that primarily serves as an antioxidant in the body. L-ascorbic acid is another name for it.
Vitamin C benefits include assisting your body in combating free radical damage, which are damaging compounds produced in a variety of ways that can harm your cells and cellular function.
Vitamin C also aids in the production of collagen and can aid in wound healing.
A typical adult requires between 75mg and 90mg of dietary vitamin C per day, which is primarily obtained from fruits and vegetables, most notably citrus, which can contain natural vitamin C or be fortified with it.
In some cases, vitamin C supplementation is also beneficial.
Depending on the type of acne, you could be dealing with infection, inflammation, or inefficient cell production.
It turns out that vitamin C can help with all of this.
The Effects of Vitamin C on Your Skin: What Are the Advantages?
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals caused by UV rays, smoke, and other environmental pollutants, which can impair normal dermal cell and collagen production.
These are essential ingredients for keeping your skin looking vibrant and glowing — as well as acne-free.
With less vitamin C, human skin is unable to combat the effects of free radicals.
But that's not all you're missing out on if you don't get enough vitamin C. In brief, here are some of vitamin C's acne-fighting benefits:
Healing Wounds
Vitamin C has been shown in studies to increase the effectiveness of your body's wound-healing system.
While acne may not resemble the lacerations from a slasher film, those little inflamed welts can become open wounds if picked at.
To summarise, vitamin C can aid in the repair of damage. Vitamin C can also help to fade acne scars and even out skin tone issues.
Defeat Wrinkles
The same factors that reduce the likelihood of wrinkles also reduce the likelihood of acne. Aside from the fact that vitamin C has been linked to increased collagen production,
Combat Dry Skin
As a topical vitamin, vitamin C can help with wrinkles and acne by reducing dry skin, which can cause dead skin cells to build up in your pores if left untreated.
Combat Inflammation
The ability of vitamin C to reduce inflammation is perhaps its most important effect. Reducing inflammation can help you manage certain types of acne, keep your skin functioning at its best, and keep you looking good.
More importantly, anti-inflammatory properties can help with dryness, itching, and other issues that may cause acne flare-ups in the future.
Other Acne Treatment Options
Vitamin C can help you fight everything from acne to fine lines and the signs of ageing on your skin.
However, vitamin C is not a stand-alone skin saviour. There are other acne treatments available, many of which can be used in conjunction with vitamin C. They are as follows:
Retinoids
Retinoids can aid in the treatment of a variety of skin conditions, including inflammatory acne. They can also be used as a preventative measure to maintain skin health and radiance.
Tretinoin is one of the most widely used retinoids because it is effective at reducing dead skin cells and has been used safely for decades. It is usually necessary to obtain a prescription.
There are additional advantages to using topical retinoids, such as the fact that tretinoin has been shown to aid in collagen synthesis.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics work by destroying the bacteria that cause acne, and the right one can be just what your skin needs to help it fight a particularly stubborn case of inflammatory acne.
Salicylic Acid
It is effective at removing dead skin cells (exfoliating) and has antifungal and antibacterial properties. It has anti-inflammatory properties as well.
It's also more accessible than some retinoids because it's available without a prescription.
Benzoyl Peroxide
A topical disinfectant, such as benzoyl peroxide, has peel-like properties similar to retinoids, but with the added benefit of killing bacteria.
Burning, dryness, peeling, or stinging are all possible side effects, but they are usually minor.
Acne and Vitamin C
While vitamin C is a great ally to have on your side in the fight against acne, there's a lot more available to help you hone your skin care.
Some of these treatments include topical retinoids, salicylic acid, and even certain antibiotics.
A vitamin C serum may be beneficial to your skin, especially when combined with a retinoid. However, the best way to find out what will work is to seek professional help from a healthcare professional.
You may be able to get your daily vitamin C at breakfast, but if your acne is out of control, don't rely on home remedies. Help is available; speak with someone today to reclaim the face you adore.
