Why Your Anti-AgingSkin Care Routine Needs Vitamin A & C

Anti-Aging Benefits of Vitamin A & Vitamin C Skin Care

The skin is the body’s largest organ – whose purpose is to act as a barrier against the environment.  When understanding “anti-aging” it is important to understand that the skin is comprised of two layers. The thinner epidermis (outer layer) provides the barrier function. And the much thicker dermis (inner layer) provides structure, strength, thickness, “plumpness,” and elasticity.

The skin is exposed to a number of daily influences over a person’s lifetime time that affect the skin’s structure, function, and appearance. One of the most important factors affecting skin condition is the quality of the nutrients it receives. Like any organ in the body, the skin needs the proper vitamins, minerals, proteins, etc. to build new cells as well as repair damaged cells.

In this article the anti-aging experts at AMAE discuss the importance of Vitamin A and Vitamin C in skin care for fighting the signs of aging and maintaining youthful skin.

Vitamin C Anti-Aging Skin Care

Young skin contains high levels of vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid). High Vitamin C levels provide antioxidant protection against UV photodamage from the sun. But several recent research studies have shown that photodamaged skin, or skin with visible signs of aging have low levels of Vitamin C. This research has demonstrated that excessive exposure to UV radiation from the sun, as well as oxidative stress from exposure to pollution and chemicals (including cleansers and makeup) are associated with reduced Vitamin C levels in the skin’s outer epidermal layer [1].

Vitamin C is also required for the skin to produce elastin and collagen. Collagen is the protein “building block” that gives the skin a thick, smooth texture. While elastin is the protein that provides skin with tightness and the ability to “snap back,” rather than droop or sag.

Melanin is the “pigment” in the body that causes age spots, sun spots, freckles, and other unwanted pigmentation. Vitamin C also plays a crucial role in decreasing melanin synthesis, due to photodamage from the sun.

Skin care research has shown that both dietary and topical delivery of vitamin C fight sun damage, increase collagen and elastin, and reduce the formation of dark spots. [2]

Vitamin A Anti-Aging Skin Care

Vitamin A is also necessary for maintaining smooth, clear, young skin. One of Vitamin A’s most important roles in the body is to help speed up healing. And this includes repairing skin cells damaged by sun exposure. Vitamin A also helps prevents acne breakouts and promotes natural hydration.

Vitamin A was actually the very first vitamin approved by the FDA for use as an anti-wrinkle agent. Since then, there has been an abundance of clinical research that further supports the effectiveness of topical Vitamin A skin care products for anti-aging benefits. [3]

Vitamin A belongs to a class called “retinoids”. “First generation retinoids” refers to all natural retinoids including: retinol, retinal, tretinoin, isotretinoin. Retinol, retinal and retinoic acid have the same biological features as vitamin A. [3]. These ingredients are what patient should be looking for in an anti-aging skin care product.

Second and third generation retinoids – such as etretinate, acitretin- are synthetic compounds that resemble retinoids – but aren’t as effective as natural Vitamin A derivatives.

Retinoids help regulate new skin cell production and turnover. Retinoids also provide anti-wrinkle protection by strengthening the epidermis, preventing moisture loss, and protecting collagen from breaking down. [3] For this reason Vitamin A and its derivatives are among the most effective ingredients used in skin care products to slow the aging process.

In addition to boosting collagen and elastin production, Vitamin A (retinoids), also has strong anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce clogged pores and decrease acne breakouts.

How to Get Vitamin A & Vitamin C to the Skin

But many people do not get enough Vitamin A or Vitamin C in their diet, due to processed or “fast” foods and/or because they simply don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. Fortunately, topical Vitamin A and Vitamin C – from skin care creams and serums – has been shown in clinical studies to be highly effectively at getting these two essential nutrients directly to the skin.

When it comes to Vitamin A and Vitamin C skin care products, the anti-aging skin care experts at AMAE prefer the clinical grade products from Alastin and ZO Skin Health.

Alastin Renewal Retinol serum was recently featured as a top skin care product in Oprah Magazine. This advanced retinol serum helps build collagen and hydrates at the same time – which immediately diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and helps repair the skin for long term benefits. Alastin Renewal Retinol is also safe for beginners, too, because it has a smaller concentration of retinol. Once the skin adjusts to the Vitamin A, patients can graduate to Alastin’s more powerful retinal formulas.

ZO 10% Vitamin C Self Activating is another of our favorite anti-aging skin care products for defending against sun and environmental damage, minimizing the appearance of discoloration, fine lines, and wrinkles.

By giving skin the nutrients that it needs every day, Vitamins A and C (along with other essential nutrients, antioxidants and peptides) can help patients achieve healthier, more resilient, younger looking skin … at any age!

Shop online for exclusive Alastin or ZO skin care products. Or stop by our office AMAE today and let our skin care experts help you choose the advanced skin protection and restoration products that are right for you.

Skin Care | Birmingham, MI: 248-335-7200

  1. NIH National Library of Medicine; The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health; Juliet M. Pullar, Anitra C. Carr, and Margreet C. M. Vissers; 2017 Aug; 9(8): 866.
  2. Frontiers in PhysiologyRole of Vitamin C in Skin Diseases; Kaiqin Wang1, Hui Jiang1, Wenshuang Li, Mingyue Qiang, Tianxiang Dong and Hongbin Li; 04 July 2018.
  3. NIH National Library of Medicine; Postepy Dermatol Alergol. Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments; Malwina Zasada and Elżbieta Budzisz; 2019 Aug; 36(4): 392–397.