Current understanding of the vitamin C effects in skin

Abstract

Vitamin C is a recognized natural antioxidant compound, soluble in water and used topically in dermatology to treat and prevent changes associated with photo aging, as well as for the treatment of hyperpigmentation, among others. Vitamin C has the ideal properties of a free radical neutralizer (antioxidant) with numerous applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields. It is a very unstable molecule and oxidizes easily in aqueous solutions and cosmetic formulations. This chapter describes some of the functions of vitamin C in skin health, the main mechanisms of action and its clinical applications.Because of its instability and the difficulty of topical administration, we will describe some of the strategies to formulate vitamin C and the impact on their stability. We will also cover the design and development of new derivatives from vitamin C.