Does Vitamin C Cause Acne? – Beautiful With Brains
Does Vitamin C cause acne? You’ve heard this powerful antioxidant brightens skin and keeps wrinkles at bay and you’re dying to add it to your skincare routine ASAP. But you’re worried your oily, acne-prone skin won’t be able to take it. Anything breaks you out. Will this be any different? Here’s what the science says – and how I recommend my clients with oily, acne-prone skin incorporate Vitamin C into their skincare routine to help (rather than aggravate) acne:
Vitamin C Benefits For Skin: What Does It Do?
Did you know Vitamin C is the most abundant antioxidant in your skin? Here’s everything it does for you:
Boosts collagen: Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen (the protein that keeps skin firm). Collagen production naturally decreases with age, but you inadvertently speed up the process when you get a lot of unprotected sun exposure. Adding Vitamin C back into your skin can help you boost collagen levels up a notch or two.
Brightens skin: Vitamin C inhibits the enzyme involved in the production of melanin (the pigment that gives skin its colour). When your skin stops producing excess melanin, dark spots slowly fade away. Studies show that 25% vitamin C significantly decrease melasma after 16 weeks. But, it’s NOT as effective as topical treatments with hydroquinone.
Fights free radicals: Free radicals are nasty molecules that destroy collagen, elastin, cellular DNA (and everything else they find in their wake), causing wrinkles, dark spots, and cancer. Vitamin C finds and destroys them before they can wreak their havoc. This alone helps you slow down premature aging.
Enhances sun protection: When UV rays hit your skin, they generate a cascade of free radicals. No sunscreen can stop all of them. Even SPF 100 lets 1% of UV rays through. Enter Vitamin C. Layer it underneath your sunscreen and it’ll neutralise the damage those few UV rays could cause.
