The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 12 August 2017
- Vol. 9 (8), 866
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080866
Abstract
The primary function of the skin is to act as a barrier against insults from the environment, and its unique structure reflects this. The skin is composed of two layers: the epidermal outer layer is highly cellular and provides the barrier function, and the inner dermal layer ensures strength and elasticity and gives nutritional support to the epidermis. Normal skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C, which supports important and well-known functions, stimulating collagen synthesis and assisting in antioxidant protection against UV-induced photodamage. This knowledge is often used as a rationale for the addition of vitamin C to topical applications, but the efficacy of such treatment, as opposed to optimising dietary vitamin C intake, is poorly understood. This review discusses the potential roles for vitamin C in skin health and summarises the in vitro and in vivo research to date. We compare the efficacy of nutritional intake of vitamin C versus topical application, identify the areas where lack of evidence limits our understanding of the potential benefits of vitamin C on skin health, and suggest which skin properties are most likely to benefit from improved nutritional vitamin C intake.Keywords
Funding Information
- Health Research Council of New Zealand (Hercus Fellowship)
- Zespri International (Vitamin C and Skin Health)
This publication has 177 references indexed in Scilit:
- A Randomized Steady-State Bioavailability Study of Synthetic versus Natural (Kiwifruit-Derived) Vitamin CNutrients, 2013
- Human skeletal muscle ascorbate is highly responsive to changes in vitamin C intake and plasma concentrationsThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2013
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin agingDermato-Endocrinology, 2012
- The SLC23 family of ascorbate transporters: ensuring that you get and keep your daily dose of vitamin CBritish Journal of Pharmacology, 2011
- Aquaporin-3 in keratinocytes and skin: Its role and interaction with phospholipase D2Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2011
- Mechanisms Regulating Skin Pigmentation: The Rise and Fall of Complexion ColorationInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2009
- Vitamin C: update on physiology and pharmacologyBritish Journal of Pharmacology, 2009
- Anti-angiogenic effect of high doses of ascorbic acidJournal of Translational Medicine, 2008
- Vitamin C Regulates Keratinocyte Viability, Epidermal Barrier, and Basement Membrane In Vitro, and Reduces Wound Contraction After Grafting of Cultured Skin SubstitutesJournal of Investigative Dermatology, 2002
- Topically Applied Vitamin C Enhances the mRNA Level of Collagens I and III, Their Processing Enzymes and Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 in the Human Dermis11Part of this work was presented in poster form at the American Academy of Dermatology, San Francisco, CA, March 10–15, 2000.Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2001