36. Reducing Blemishes with Topical Vitamin C
Acne is a common skin ailment that negatively affects more than 50 million Americans each year. While most cases occur in people ages 12 to 24, it’s possible to deal with blemishes continuing into your 30s and beyond. What’s the best way to combat outbreaks? Consider using a skincare product containing topical vitamin C to provide the nourishment your skin needs to control acne.
In this article, we’ll explore the facts about this vitamin, its benefits to your skin and how it can provide nourishment and healing from the inside out.
The Science of Your Skin
Your skin is the largest organ of your body and has a specific role to fulfill that no other organ in the body can: to protect your bones, muscles, and internal organs from external threats such as bacteria and injuries and to help regulate body temperature.
Skin is composed of three layers: the epidermis is the outermost layer (the one we see,) the dermis is the layer just beneath the epidermis, and the subcutaneous tissue is the deepest layer. Even if we suffer outbreaks or damaged skin, we’re fortunate that our skin has the amazing ability to regenerate by shedding dead skin cells, so we essentially have a new face when the cycle of regeneration is completed about every 28 days.
Facts About Blemishes
About 80% of all teens struggle with blemishes and acne. About 1% of adult men and 5% of adult women experience at least an occasional breakout as well. Blemishes affect millions of Americans every year. Major breakouts and unrelenting acne can make a person self-conscious and diminish quality of life.
There are several contributing factors to the onset of acne. A poor diet, hormonal changes and overactive sebaceous glands that produce oil on the skin’s surface that often results in an inflammatory response, a “breakout.” The skin becomes inflamed, red and irritated. Pimples or blackheads appear on the surface.
About Vitamin C
Vitamin C, whether consumed in fruits and vegetables, as a dietary supplement or through a diet rich in green vegetables, berries, and citrus fruits, has proven to be a safe and effective antioxidant for keeping our bodies healthy. In addition to benefits to overall health, topical vitamin C has also proven beneficial to our skin, including
- protection of skin from sun damage and environmental toxins
- promotion of collagen production
- reduction of under-eye circles
- reduction of skin discoloration (hyperpigmentation)
- improvement in skin’s youthful appearance
- improvement in hydration and moisture
- reduction in inflammation
- healing acceleration
Most forms of vitamin C are easily oxidized and poorly absorbed, so use only skincare products that are formulated and packaged to minimize oxidation and maximize absorption. Commonly known as vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid is the most easily absorbed form and has been proven safe and effective for daily skin care use on most types of skin.
How Vitamin C Reduces Blemishes
The anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C work in the outer epidermal layer to calm inflammation on the surface. This inflammation can complicate the clogged pores which produce blemishes. The consistent application of topical vitamin C skin care products will help reduce the frequency and severity of breakouts as well as reduce redness and irritation. As an antioxidant, topical vitamin C also works to reduce free radical damage that can trigger and worsen outbreaks.
L-ascorbic acid is also proven to accelerate skin healing, which can reduce the duration of breakouts. When breakouts occur, the antioxidants in topical vitamin C will accelerate the healing process, so blemishes disappear more quickly with the possible prevention and improvement of acne scars, resulting in a healthier overall appearance.
While it’s extremely important to consume healthy foods for optimal overall health, using topical L-ascorbic acid can improve the texture of your skin and reduce blemishes. Be proactive and invest just a few minutes each day to care for your body’s largest organ with topical vitamin C skincare products. You could see measurable improvements in a few days and long-term results in two to three months.
Acne is a common skin ailment that negatively affects more than 50 million Americans each year. While most cases occur in people ages 12 to 24, it’s possible to deal with blemishes continuing into your 30s and beyond. What’s the best way to combat outbreaks? Consider using a skincare product containing topical vitamin C to provide the nourishment your skin needs to control acne.
In this article, we’ll explore the facts about this vitamin, its benefits to your skin and how it can provide nourishment and healing from the inside out.
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