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Skin Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin c has been linked to many health benefits including common cold prevention, assisting with iron absorption, and cancer prevention. 

Skin Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin c is an important factor in skin health.  Research has shown Vitamin c, also known as ascorbic acid, to possess anti-inflammatory properties beneficial in wound and cut healing.  Vitamin c is also a powerful antioxidant and has been shown to provide photoprotecting properties which applied topically can reduce skin damage from too much sun exposure.

Vitamin c may also possess anti-aging properties.  It works to increase production of collagen while working to decrease the production of the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of collagen.  Collagen, together with elastin and keratin, is responsible for skin flexibility and strength warding off signs of aging. 

Topically Applied Vitamin C

Over the counter cosmetics have already begun to tout the benefits of vitamin c in their preparations.  You will most often find vitamin c on the label listed as I-ascorbic acid or ascorbyl palmitate.  Studies have shown these topically applied forms of vitamin c to have major beneficial skin properties.

Don't look for the vitamin c miracle in a jar just yet. 

Unfortunately, simply adding vitamin c to a cream may not be the answer.  Because vitamin c is water-soluble most studies have shown that its effectiveness is inconsistent when added to preparations because it does not remain stable enough to adequately penetrate the skin.  And when opened, the preparation quickly oxidizes reducing its effectiveness- if not rendering it completely ineffective.

Because this is known, it's likely only a matter of time before scientific research will surpass these hurdles and find effective ways to jar the miracle to live up to its full potential.  Until that time, vitamin c can still provide its many health benefits when added to the daily diet.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

The US recommended daily allowance for vitamin c intake is based on two factors, the first is the minimum required dosage to prevent deficiency and promote optimal health, the second is based on singling out smokers, as they require additional vitamin c levels due to the toxins in cigarettes generally lowering blood levels of vitamin c.

Adult males require 90 milligrams of vitamin c per day, adult females 75.  Pregnant women and women breastfeeding require slightly higher dosages.  Adult male smokers should ingest 125 milligrams per day, while adult female smokers require 110.

Foods Containing Vitamin C

A large orange contains on average 100 mg of vitamin c so fulfilling the daily allowance is as easy as peeling an orange or pouring a large glass of juice.