According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, 50 million people in the U.S. have experienced some form of acne during their lifetime [1]. Many suffer from severe acne and acne scarring that can cause social isolation as well as permanent scarring. If you suffer from acne and the scarring that can sometimes come with it and want to know what to do about it, read on to find out how using Vitamin C as a topical serum can help you!
Table of contents
What Causes Acne Anyway?
Conventional dermatologists may state that acne happens because of hair follicles on the face that become blocked. This can cause an overproduction of sebum, or face oil, which in turn causes bacteria to gather in the area and infection to occur [2].
This is a very valid and sound explanation. But if this were all there was to the story, all one would have to do is clean out and “unblock” the area and—“wah lah”– no more acne!
Of course, that is not always the case. For many people with chronic acne vulgaris, outbreaks occur over and over again, and no amount of face washing seems to stop it.
If we go beyond surface level (no pun intended), we will find that the real culprit is inflammation. According to the Mayo Clinic, the main things that can cause inflammation in the skin (and indeed in the whole body) are:
- hormonal changes (both in puberty and later in life)
- eating the Standard American Diet (lots of simple carbohydrates and sugars in particular)
- taking certain medications, and
- emotional stress [3].
Getting to the root causes of acne must include making lifestyle and dietary changes. Be sure to consult with a naturopathic dermatologist or health coach who can help you heal from the inside out!
Why Vitamin C Is So Important to Skin in General
In the meantime, if you are suffering from chronic acne or even occasional outbreaks, your skin needs some attention, rebalancing, and nourishing on the surface as well.
This is where vitamin C serum can really help.
There is a reason why vitamin C is called the “vanity vitamin.” Basically, your body can’t make skin cells without it. Both the epidermis (top layer) and dermis (middle layer) is saturated with this essential vitamin. Vitamin C is one of the main components needed for the production of collagen.
Collagen is the building block for the creation of all tissue in the body, including skin tissue. When collagen production is healthy, your skin looks fresh and supple. When there is not enough collagen, this not only leads to wrinkles. A lack of collagen can also create inflammation.
Vitamin C is super important for maintaining skin elasticity and hydration. And, as we shall see, it is one of the main substances that can protect against oxidative stress throughout your whole body.
Four Big Ways Vitamin C Serum Can Help with Acne and Acne Scars
Right about now you might be saying: That is all really great, but how does all this help my acne?
Here’s how!
#1: Vitamin C Serum is a super antioxidant for the skin.
Applying vitamin C serum directly to the skin counteracts oxidative stress in the dermal layers where it is needed most. A 2019 trial found that facial ascorbic acid treatment on healthy volunteers significantly helped with many types of inflammatory skin conditions [4].
Applying an all-natural vitamin C serum to your face before you are exposed to the sun helps you stay protected. This can keep inflammatory responses down overall too, which can keep acne flare-ups from occurring. A 2012 investigation put out by Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York is just one of many studies to make the link between vitamin C application and lower free radical skin damage [5].
#2: Vitamin C Serum helps balance sebum production on par with retinoids.
If you go to a conventional dermatologist for acne, he or she may give you a prescription for a “retinoid.” These pharmaceuticals are designed to lower the amount of sebum, or face oil, that your body produces.
Unfortunately, these drugs come with a laundry list of both short-term and long-term side effects including hypotension, edema, fever, weight gain, headache, impairment of eyesight, nausea, and heart complications (just to name a few) [6].
A better (and side-effect free) solution, in addition to diet and lifestyle changes, is to use vitamin C serum topically. This is because sebum is controlled by hormones. Overproduction has been linked to the hormonal imbalances caused by oxidative stress [7].
A 2016 report published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology found high levels of “reactive oxygen species (ROS)” (the molecular substance most associated with oxidative stress) in people with acne vulgaris. They also found that when a topical antioxidant was applied for 6 weeks, the number of lesions and blemishes diminished as ROS reduced in the skin as well [8].
#3: Vitamin C Serum improves the pH of your skin.
Maintaining a relatively low skin pH can help protect against the growth of harmful bacteria that can lead to acne, according to a 2018 study [9].
Applying vitamin C serum topically can help balance pH levels and end the cycle of inflammation, infection, and outbreak by not only lowering inflammation but also increasing skin strength, resilience, and elasticity. It can only do this, however, if it is able to penetrate into the skin’s surface and remain active.
An in-depth investigation conducted at the University of Otago in New Zealand discovered certain forms of vitamin C that were utilized best by the dermis and epidermis layers of the skin. They found that when ascorbic acid contains a phosphate group and comes in an ascorbyl variation, it is significantly more stable in the body [10].
#4: Vitamin C Serum can help with acne scarring.
Even when a person is able to keep acne outbreaks at bay, they may be left with scars, marks, and blemishes. This is where vitamin C’s role in collagen production can really help.
A 2013 Korean comparative study on Asian women who had undergone facial surgery found that a vitamin C topical (combined with silicon gel) applied for 6 months after surgery significantly helped lessen visible scarring [11].
Studies show that topically applied Vitamin C serum can also help even out pigmentation issues that may develop as a result of scarring [12].
Make Restore Vitamin C Serum a Part of Your Day!
Dealing with acne outbreaks can be difficult, embarrassing and, at times, downright debilitating. What’s more, discovering just the right products to help with your situation sometimes only adds to the frustration.
That’s why we recommend using a product that really works. Restore Vitamin C Serum utilizes a gentle yet super-absorbable form of vitamin C called sodium ascorbyl phosphate in addition to other key natural ingredients like organic vitamin E and organic aloe vera, creating a synergetic blend like no other. What’s more, Restore Vitamin C Serum is certified clean by independent third-party lab testing, non-GMO, and made in the U.S.A.
You absolutely can beat acne and have beautiful, vibrant looking skin again, with Restore Vitamin C Serum by AnnieMak!
Wrapping It Up!
- Acne and acne scarring on the face are common problems, but can be socially and mentally isolating.
- Acne is caused by inflammation and overproduction of facial oil. Hormonal changes, diet, emotional stress and even certain medications can contribute to acne.
- Vitamin C is vital in the body’s production of collagen – and a lack of collagen can lead directly to skin inflammation.
- Vitamin C serum can help fight acne by helping protect the skin from inflammation, and by helping to balance your skin’s sebum production as effectively as retinoids, but with fewer damaging side effects.
- It’s also been found to help improve your skin’s pH balance, and can even help heal acne scars, too.
- Adding an effective natural Vitamin C serum, like AnnieMak Clean Skincare Restore Vitamin C Serum, to your daily skincare routine can help in the battle against acne damage.
- AnnieMak Clean Skincare Restore Vitamin C Serum has the highest concentration of clean vitamin C from natural sources, combined with patented ingredients designed to maximize its healing powers.
Leave a Reply