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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.
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.
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.
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.
There are several different types and causes of acne. Cystic acne occurs when pores in your skin are clogged with sebum, dirt, and dead skin cells. This creates a perfect opportunity for the growth of bacteria, which can cause an infection. The infection can grow deeper into the skin, leading to inflammation and redness, causing raised acne bumps (AKA cysts) with pus that can be tender to the touch.
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and can be good for some type of cystic acne. Jojoba oil and rosehip oil are also good for reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, and keeping in moisture for healthier skin. Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for treating cystic acne as well.
The secret to winning the battle against cystic acne is having the right regimen for your skin. Products that are too strong can be irritating and drying, causing your skin to overproduce oil, which leads to more acne. Picking the wrong active ingredients may have no effect. Using the right regimen for your acne type and skin tolerance can effectively clear acne while keeping your skin healthy and balanced.
vitamin C may be effective for cystic acne, 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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