Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic acid, also known as topical vitamin C, is a commonly used vitamin in skin care products. It is an antioxidant, which works effectively in protecting against photoaging of the skin.

In order to understand how ascorbic acid works, it is essential to understand how free radicals and antioxidants are linked with each other in the human body. Free radicals are molecules which are by-products of oxygen metabolism and result from body’s ability to create energy at the cellular level. The formation of free radicals can be altered by various external factors including emotional stress, smoking, pollutants, sunlight, excessive alcohol, and some drugs. Free radicals float freely in human body and search for electrons in order to rebalance themselves. If needed, free radicals may steal electrons from normal healthy cells, which may lead to different consequences like accelerated ageing and even cancer. The role of antioxidants is to protect healthy cells and donate an electron to the free radicals. Even though the body produces antioxidants naturally, they can also be obtained from foods and supplements.

Ascorbic acid protects the skin from UV damage resulted by prolonged exposure to the sunlight through reducing the number of formed free radicals and sunburn cells. The exposure to UV light also decreases the naturally produced ascorbic acid. Thus, skincare products that contain ascorbic acid help to restore these photoprotectant levels. Some studies suggest that ascorbic acid is also involved in the collagen biosynthetic pathway via activation of collagen metabolism and dermal synthesis of elastic fibres.

Incorporating skincare products with ascorbic acid helps to improve skin’s appearance by reducing wrinkles and fine lines. Since ascorbic acid in involved in stabilizing collagen, it promotes wound healing. Lastly, it protects from getting sunburns or lessens their severity.