The No.1 Anti-Aging Supplement for Your Skin, Scientists Discover
This vitamin promotes cell regeneration to combat the skin thinning that comes with age.
Creams, chemical peels, toners, tinctures—the list of products marketed to keep our skin looking young goes on and on. Of course, some of us even turn to plastic surgery procedures to maintain our youthful glow. But what if we told you anti-aging skincare was as simple as taking a daily supplement, one you very well may have in your medicine cabinet right now.
RELATED: 4 Proven Ways to Smooth and Tighten Aging Skin, According to a Dermatologist.
This common supplement promotes skin regeneration, scientists discover.
Most of us associate vitamin C with a healthy immune system, which is certainly one of the antioxidant’s biggest benefits. It also helps maintain strong bones and improves heart health. And a new study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, provides further evidence that vitamin C has anti-aging skin properties.
Conducted by scientists at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology (TMIG), the study explored vitamin C’s role in skin regeneration. This is important because, as you age, your epidermis (the outermost layer of skin) “gradually becomes thinner and loses its protective strength,” a press release explains.
To arrive at their findings, the researchers created a lab-grown model of the human epidermis in which skin cells on the surface were exposed to the air, while receiving a liquid vitamin C nutrient from underneath, “replicating the way human skin receives nutrients from underlying blood vessels while remaining exposed to the external environment.”
Compared to a control model, the skin that received the vitamin C supplementation was made thicker because the nutrient activated specific genes that control cell growth and development in the epidermis.
Specifically, vitamin C “promotes the formation and division of keratinocytes,” the release notes. Keratinocytes make up 90 percent of the cells in the epidermis, “ultimately forming the skin’s protective barrier.” The researchers observed an increase in the number of Ki-67-positive cells, which is an indicator that cells are actively dividing.
Akihito Ishigami, PhD, vice president of the Division of Biology and Medical Sciences at TMIG and the lead study author, said the findings indicate that vitamin C can be “a promising treatment for thinning skin, especially in older adults.” Those with damaged skin could also benefit.
RELATED: 9 “Beauty Foods” That Will Keep Your Skin Glowing, According to Doctors.
What about vitamin C serums?
If you’re thinking that vitamin C serums have been around for years, you’re right. But these skincare products focus on collagen production, skin brightening, and reducing hyperpigmentation rather than skin regeneration. They also target the skin on your face, specifically.
But this can be especially helpful as you age because your body starts producing less collagen, which can lead to wrinkles and decreased skin elasticity.
“Its antioxidant properties support the skin’s natural regeneration process, and it aids in the repair of damaged skin cells,” Kristopher M. Day, MD, FACS, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, previously told Best Life about vitamin C serums.
However, upping your general vitamin C intake could help in this department, too. “Vitamin C supplements, or better yet, a diet high in Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables, can significantly boost collagen production, enhancing skin elasticity and firmness,” Day added.
