Beauty & Body Tips

Researchers discovered Vitamin C, arguably the most thoroughly researched vitamin, a century ago while searching for a cure for the scurvy. Scurvy was a frightening condition that caused small blood vessels to rupture resulting in life-threatening uncontrolled bleeding. Scurvy also caused swelling of the joints and destroyed the matrix of bones, making them weak and brittle. Scurvy would eventually lead to death if left untreated.

Since its discovery, vitamin C has been well-researched. However, scientists are still learning how vitamin C works in the body. The latest research on vitamin C, published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine sheds new light on the mechanisms involved in vitamin C’s ability to heal, rejuvenate and protect the skin.

Vitamin C is a vital Co factor for the production of collagen, the principal protein-component in skin. In the past, researchers demonstrated that vitamin C could stimulate DNA repair. They were able to determine a meaningful increase in DNA repair, in vitamin C users.

The latest research focused on gene expression and DNA repair of human skin cells called dermal fibroblasts. Dermal fibroblasts play a vital role in the healing of wounds. According to lead-researcher, Dr. Tiago Duarte, “exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation increases in summer, often resulting in a higher incidence of skin lesions”. “Ultraviolet radiation is also a genotoxic agent responsible for skin cancer, through the formation of free radicals and DNA damage.”

In this latest vitamin C research, Dr. Duarte and his colleagues confirmed vitamin C’s well-known ability to scavenge free radicals, but more importantly, they found that vitamin C left a genetic sequence revealing its mechanisms for repairing skin and protecting it from further damage.

Researchers exposed human dermal fibroblasts to vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid 2-phosphate. A fibroblast is a cell that synthesizes extra-cellular matrix and collagen that serves as the structural framework for human skin and connective tissue. Fibroblasts play a vital role in wound healing and regeneration of skin cells. The study focused on gene expression of these cells and the effect of exposure to vitamin C.

The results demonstrated that vitamin C improved wound healing by stimulating fibroblasts to divide, and by promoting their migration into the wounded area. Additionally, Vitamin C protected the skin by inducing fibroblast-repair of potentially dangerous mutant DNA lesions.

Co-author, Dr. Marcus S. Cooke of the University of Leicester’s Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, commented at the end of the study; “This study indicates a mechanism by which vitamin C contributes to the maintenance of a healthy skin by promoting wound healing. Vitamin C also protects skin against cellular DNA against damage caused by oxidation,” “These findings of are particular importance to our photobiology interests, and we will certainly be looking into this further”.

The best way to take advantage of the skin-healing properties of vitamin C is to apply topically to damaged skin. Numerous studies have demonstrated that low-molecular weight antioxidants like vitamin E and vitamin C are readily absorbed when topically applied to the skin. Vitamin C is active in the dermis, the inner layer of skin that contains the proteins responsible for the structure and elasticity of skin. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C protect collagen and elastin, the framework of skin, from oxidative damage.

There is a number of pure vitamin C preparations that can help damaged or aging skin. The one I use and recommend is Serum C, which contains a high concentration of vitamin C in the form of L-Ascorbic acid. Serum C also contains an antioxidant complex of extracts of grape skins, grape seeds and green tea.

There is compelling evidence that reducing oxidative stress through the use of antioxidants like vitamin C will heal, and protect, damaged or aging skin. Numerous studies indicate topically applied vitamin C can increase the body’s natural healing process. Apply vitamin C, to your hands, face and neck, morning and night for sixty days. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the look and feel of your skin

Popularity: unranked [?]

Here are few related articles