Ascorbic Acid in Skin Health

RAVETTI, SOLEDAD; CLEMENTE, CAMILA; BRIGNONE, SOFIA; HERGERT, LISANDRO; ALLEMANDI, DANIEL; PALMA, SANTIAGO

Cosmetics

MDPI

Lugar: Basel; Año: 2019 vol. 6

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a water-soluble vitamin and a recognized antioxidant drugthat is used topically in dermatology to treat and prevent the changes associated with photoaging,as well as for the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Ascorbic acid has neutralizing properties of freeradicals, being able to interact with superoxide, hydroxyl and free oxygen ions, preventing theinflammatory processes, carcinogens, and other processes that accelerate photoaging in the skin.Current research focuses on the search for stable compounds of ascorbic acid and new alternativesfor administration in the dermis. Unlike plants and most animals, humans do not have the abilityto synthesize our own ascorbic acid due to the deficiency of the enzyme L-gulono-gamma-lactoneoxidase, which catalyzes the passage terminal in the ascorbic acid biosynthesis. To deal with thissituation, humans obtain this vitamin from the diet and/or vitamin supplements, thus preventingthe development of diseases and achieving ge