Everybody knows a daily vitamin dose is good for your health. Eating fruits and vegetables will keep your body and skin in an excellent condition.
But it is less well known that certain vitamins (in oral or topical formulations) are being investigated for their effectiveness in the treatment of sun damaged skin. Evidence has been found supporting the role of vitamins A, C, E, and B3 in modifying the photoaging process. According to Jenny Kim (M.D., Ph.D., FAAD, associate professor in the division of dermatology, department of medicine, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)) an impressive amount of basic science and clinical research has been conducted in both an attempt to discover novel strategies for preventing damaging sun damage and to confirm the addition of vitamins to skin care products.
Topical retinoids are one of the most common forms of vitamin A, which are found in foods such as liver, milk and eggs. Research has proven that there is evidence of topical retinoids is able to treat photoaged skin. FDA has retinoids approved for the treatment of fine wrinkles, skin roughness and mottled hyperpigmentation caused by aging and sun exposure.
Another possible treatment for photoaging is vitamin B3, which has been shown to reduce the blood cholesterol and atherosclerosis. (A condition where fatty materials collect along artery walls.) Recently new research is examining its role as an effective treatment for several skin conditions, such as photoaging and acne.
“There has been one clinical trial conducted in Caucasian women in which 50 women applied 5% niacinamide (topical vitamin B3) to one side of their faces twice per day for 12 weeks, and these women experienced significant reductions in the appearance of hyperpigmented spots, redness, wrinkles, and yellowing, as well as improved skin elasticity,” said Dr Kim “While initial studies show promise that topical vitamin B3 may prevent UV-induced skin aging, larger clinical trials are needed to confirm its role as a definitive treatment of photoaging.”
Vitamin C is still being researched on its antioxidant properties in skin care products. Only a few clinically controlled studies assume that this vitamin is able to reverse the negative effects of UV radiation on the skin. Also Dr Kim pointed out when adding vitamin C to cosmeceuticals it’s not known how much, if any, intact molecule will remain when applied to the skin.
The final vitamin which has been examined is vitamin E, which protects cell membranes. Because of its antioxidant properties it has a huge participation in the skin aging process. Although vitamin E is available in many products, to date no data supports a diminution of skin wrinkling, discoloration and texture.
In other words skin care products with vitamins may not offer clinically significant improvement; it is known that you should always protect yourself from the sun to mineralize the risk of having a photoaged skin.
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