Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is vital for the body, acting as a strong antioxidant and helping with important chemical reactions. A recent study reveals that Vitamin C enhances skin cell growth and repair by stimulating key genes that promote cell regeneration and strengthening of the skin without altering the DNA sequence.
Humans don’t have the ability to make vitamin C in their bodies and need to get it from foods like fruits and vegetables or from supplements. The body uses vitamin C to produce collagen, an essential protein for skin, blood vessels, and ligaments. It also helps create neurotransmitters and supports the breakdown of specific amino acids.
It also helps strengthen the skin’s protective barrier against germs and boosts its ability to neutralize harmful substances, potentially shielding it from environmental damage. It appears to regulate the epidermis' structure and function, particularly by modulating epidermal cell growth. Prior research has shown that Vitamin C operates at the cellular level to regulate multiple processes, impacting skin cells, immune cells, and even cancer cells.
For the study, the scientists studied how vitamin C impacts skin growth using 3D skin models that mimic real skin. In these models, the top layer is exposed to air, while the bottom layer receives nutrients, similar to how blood vessels feed skin in the body. They tested two different doses of vitamin C. After seven days, they observed that the living skin layer grew thicker, indicating increased skin cell growth.
The outermost dead skin layer remained unchanged initially. However, by day 14, the living skin lay-er had thickened further, while the outer dead layer became thinner. This indicated that vitamin C was boosting the production of key cells that form the skin’s protective barrier.
The finding enabled scientists to construct a lineage map of stem cells critical to the formation and upkeep of the human skeleton. It may open doors to therapies that promote bone and cartilage regeneration in patients.
These results indicate that vitamin C can fortify thin or aging skin. It functions by reviving growth pathways that weaken with age, stimulating genes, and promoting cellular repair at a molecular level. Based on this new study and prior research, vitamin C could become a key part of daily skincare, not only as an antioxidant but also as a gene-revitalizing agent.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Vitamin C Promotes Epidermal Proliferation by Promoting DNA Demethylation of Proliferation-Related Genes in Human Epidermal Equivalents
While melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma are generally slow-growing and rare, a new study finds that people with tattoos face a greater risk of developing melanoma. While tattoos raised melanoma risk, they did not increase the odds of squamous cell carcinoma, another sun-driven skin cancer that, unlike the much more lethal melanoma, arises from different skin cells.
A groundbreaking new study reveals that soybean oil, the most consumed edible oil in the U.S., may directly drive obesity, independent of calorie intake. Scientists now have compelling evidence that the problem isn’t the oil itself. Instead, the real culprit appears to be the harmful metabolites soybean oil produces once inside the body.
New research shows that keeping your heart healthy might depend on what’s happening in your gut. Inside your digestive system live trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, known as the gut microbiome, that influence far more than just digestion. These microscopic inhabitants play a surprisingly powerful role in protecting your heart and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.