Does vitamin C work on acne scars ?


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VITAMIN C

What is vitamin C? 

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant found in citrus fruits and leafy vegetables. Vitamin C is an important nutrient for healthy skin, bones, teeth and blood vessels. Vitamin C also goes by the name ascorbic acid and is commonly found in skincare products because it can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles & discoloration.

The two most common forms of Vitamin C are Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and L-Ascorbic Acid. 

What is vitamin C best for?

Vitamin C is an important component of a great skincare routine. This nutrient helps even out skin tone and reduce discoloration. Vitamin C as an antioxidant also protects skin from the negative consequences of pollution on our skin, such as wrinkles and dark spots. Vitamin C also acts as a hydration barrier, keeping your skin viable and pliable.

Using vitamin C for dark spots, age spots and post acne hyperpigmentation (PIH)

Vitamin C is known to help reduce discoloration in the skin. Studies have shown that using vitamin C on hyperpigmented skin can reduce discoloration by up to 60% in time. As a naturally occurring antioxidant, vitamin C inhibits certain steps of melanin formation, therefore stopping hyperpigmentation from occurring at a cellular level.

What are the drawbacks to using vitamin C?

Vitamin C requires a low pH to be effective so it may be too irritating for sensitive skin.

Many traditional treatments for dark spots (bleaching chemicals) yield several moderate to severe side effects, while vitamin c rarely induces any side effects at all.  The only downside is that vitamin C does not penetrate deeply into the skin very well, so it is only effective on some types of dark spots. 


ACNE SCARS

What are acne scars?

A scar can form anywhere the skin is broken deeply enough to damage surrounding skin cells. With acne, most superficial blemishes will heal cleanly, leaving no visible evidence of prior breakouts. However, in the case of cystic acne, when a clogged pore leads to infection that travels deep into the dermis, ruptured cysts can break the follicle wall and cause the infection to damage surrounding skin cells. Collagen helps to repair the damage but leaves the skin more firm and tight than the rest of your skin. Some types of acne scarring leave a concave shape, called a pockmark. Contrary to some belief, not all acne scars are caused by picking or popping your blemishes. Some occur even if the acne is allowed to heal without picking.

What ingredients are best for acne scars?

To prevent sun damage from making acne scars more visible, it’s best to moisturize daily and wear sunscreen. Additionally, antioxidants protect the skin from free radicals that damage cells and speed up aging.  Ingredients and nutrients like acai oil, alpha-lipoic acid, green tea extract, retinol/vitamin A, coenzyme Q10, caffeine, alpha-hydroxy acid and salicylic acid are all beneficial for preventing and reducing acne scarring. Jojoba oil is also good for reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, and keeping in moisture for healthier skin.


Does vitamin C work on acne scars ?

vitamin C may be effective for acne scars, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.


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