What Collagen Does
Collagen
is a protein molecule made up of amino acids. It provides structural
support between cells that make up the inner layers of connective
tissues in our skin1. The connective tissue in the inner
(middle) layer of the skin is composed of collagen and elastin fibers,
which maintain the tension and elasticity of skin.2,3
Vitamin C and Skin Health
The
antioxidant properties of vitamin C and its role in collagen synthesis
make it a vital molecule for skin health. Vitamin C’s antioxidant
activity is particularly important in the top (epidermal) layer of our
skin,4 where its concentration is 425% higher than in the dermis.2 Ultraviolet light, especially UVA, is a common factor that induces skin oxidative stress.2,5 The antioxidant activity of vitamin C helps protect against UV-induced damage caused by free radicals.6
Cell
culture studies have shown that addition of vitamin C might influence
the ability of the skin to protect itself from water loss.4,7,8
Cited References:
- Block
G, Jensen CD, Morrow JD, Holland N, Norkus EP, Milne GL, et al. Free
radical biology & medicine. 2008;45(4):377-84. Epub 2008/05/06. doi:
10.1016/j.freeradbiomed. - Wang K, Jiang H, Li W, Qiang M, Dong T, Li H. Frontiers in Physiology. 2018;9. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00819.
- Hadjighassem
M, Kamalidehghan B, Shekarriz N, Baseerat A, Molavi N, Mehrpour M, et
al. Nutrition journal. 2015;14:20. Epub 2015/04/19. doi:
10.1186/s12937-015-0012-5. - Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. Nutrients. 2017;9(8):866. doi: 10.3390/nu9080866.
- McArdle
F, Rhodes LE, Parslew R, Jack CI, Friedmann PS, Jackson MJ. Free
radical biology & medicine. 2002;33(10):1355-62. Epub 2002/11/07.
doi: 10.1016/s0891-5849(02)01042-0. - De Filippo C, Cavalieri D,
Di Paola M, Ramazzotti M, Poullet JB, Massart S, et al. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
2010;107(33):14691-6. Epub 2010/08/04. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1005963107. - Savini
I, Catani MV, Rossi A, Duranti G, Melino G, Avigliano L. The Journal of
investigative dermatology. 2002;118(2):372-9. Epub 2002/02/14. doi:
10.1046/j.0022-202x.2001.01624.x. - Boyce ST, Supp AP, Swope VB,
Warden GD. The Journal of investigative dermatology. 2002;118(4):565-72.
Epub 2002/03/29. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.2002.01717.x.
