Does taking vitamin C whiten skin?
Skin whitening is an eternal topic for women. So does taking vitamin C really whiten skin and prevent aging?
1. The principle of skin whitening
First of all, there are many factors that determine whether our skin is black or white such as genetics, exposure to sunlight, hormone levels... But in general, skin color mainly depends on the melanin content in the skin.
The origin of melanin production lies in tyrosinase. Tyrosinase in melanocytes will form eumelanin after a series of chemical and oxidative reactions and then reach the skin surface. If the skin metabolism does not go smoothly, it will lead to precipitation and pigment formation. Aggregation will darken the skin color or form , making the skin uneven in color, thereby making the skin darker.
Therefore, inhibiting tyrosinase biosynthesis is the key to skin whitening. Vitamin C can inhibit tyrosinase activity, prevent melanin production, and has certain antioxidant properties, which can reduce melanin, help improve dull skin and achieve whitening effect.
In addition, although vitamin C is not a sunscreen ingredient, it can fight against free radicals caused by the loss of free radicals. Loss is also a major factor causing skin aging and wrinkles, vitamin C can promote collagen synthesis, prevent collagen loss, so it has anti-aging and wrinkle-reducing effects.
But that does not mean that the more vitamin C you take, the better, it needs to be in moderation. Taking large amounts of vitamin C over a long period of time can be harmful to the body.
2. Dangers of taking too much vitamin C
Vitamin C is generally safe when taken from food. People who take vitamin C supplements run the risk of consuming too much and experiencing side effects, including:
- Vitamin C is acidic, overdose can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, causing abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach ulcers and other symptoms of the digestive system.
- Supplements increase the concentration of oxalic acid and uric acid in the body, increasing the risk of gout and kidney stones.
- Too much vitamin C will also affect the body's anti-coagulation mechanism, platelet function is easily disrupted leading to thrombosis, increasing the risk of cerebral infarction.
Taking more than 2500 mg of vitamin C at one time can cause a large number of red blood cells to rupture, leading to serious phenomena such as hemolysis. Therefore, it is best not to exceed the allowable dose.
3. How to take vitamin C for best whitening effect?
The human body cannot produce vitamin C on its own, so vitamin C intake into the body mainly comes from diet. A common dietary intake of vitamin C is to eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
Fruits rich in vitamin C include: Oranges, tangerines, kiwi, pears, apples, bananas, peaches, cherries, strawberries, lychees...Vegetables rich in vitamin C include: chili, bitter melon, tomatoes, cauliflower, green leafy vegetables, cabbage, celery, lettuce, pumpkin...
If oral vitamin C supplementation is needed, special attention should be paid to the allowable dosage and the following points:
- Vitamin C should not be taken on an empty stomach, nor should it be taken with tea, milk or other drinks. It is most effective when taken with filtered water and after meals. Vitamin C cannot withstand high temperatures, so when taking vitamin C effervescent tablets, do not dissolve them in very hot water, but use warm or cold water to dissolve them, otherwise the medicinal properties will be lost.
- Depending on each person's physical condition, the effect will generally be more obvious after taking it orally for at least 3-6 months.
- Finally, although vitamin C has a skin whitening effect, if you want your skin to not get dark, in addition to supplementing vitamin C, you also need to use adequate sun protection to inhibit melanin production./.
