The Benefits of Vitamin C for Your Skin

1. Vitamin C May Help Protect Against Sun Damage
2. Vitamin C Might Lighten Dark Spots
3. References

The antioxidants in vitamin C may help defend against the damage that UV light can cause. That doesn’t mean that you can use a vitamin C skin serum in place of sunscreen. It can’t replace SPF since it doesn’t absorb UVA or UVB rays. But if UV light does get into your skin, some research suggests that vitamin C can help blunt the harm.

Vitamin C-based skin care products may lighten patches that are darker than the rest of your skin, called hyperpigmentation. In one study, vitamin C applied to the skin for 16 weeks significantly cut down on these spots. But experts say it will take more research to confirm how well vitamin C creams work.

Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute: “Vitamin C and Skin Health.”

American Osteopathic College of Dermatology: “Hyperpigmentation.” 

The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology: “Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications.”

Harvard Health Publishing/Harvard Medical School: “Skin Serum: What it Can and Can’t do.”

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “Dietary Nutrient Intakes and Skin-aging Appearance Among Middle-aged American Women.”

Cedars-Sinai: “Collagen for Your Skin: Healthy or Hype?”

Nutrients: “The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health.”

Harvard Health Publishing/Harvard Medical School: “Finding the Right Serum for Your Skin.”

Cleveland Clinic: “Understanding the Ingredients in Skin Care Products.”

Mayo Clinic: “Wrinkle Creams: Your Guide to Younger Looking Skin.”

National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: “Vitamin C Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.”