Vitamins To Maintain Youthful Skin: Scientific Overview
Vitamins are essential for healthy skin because they
stimulate the synthesis of collagen, act as potent antioxidants, and prevent
melanogenesis, all of which contribute to the appearance of younger-looking
skin. It may reduce the appearance of ageing on the skin by inhibiting
oxidative damage-free radicles and providing antioxidant defence against
UV-induced photodamage. However, vitamin supplements are required
to support a youthful appearance.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A (carotene) complements the skin’s everyday life cycle.
Due to the deficiency of vitamin A, several skin problems appeared, such as
skin dryness, wrinkles, and ugliness. According to studies, vitamin A is an
endogenous defence of skin cells, and thus, it has the potency to inhibit the
formation of erythema by UV induction (1). When human blood and tissues are abundant in vitamin A
and lycopene, they can harmonize the skin properties, protect the skin
against sunburn (solar erythema) and increase the defence against UV-mediated
damage to collagen and procollagen (2).
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1 Bor thiamin, helps to maintain
skin tone, brain, muscles, and intestines complications. It is also involved in
the flow of electrolytes into and out of muscles and nerve cells. Along with
niacin, it promotes the skin to receive maximum oxygen to prevent acne
vulgarism. Vitamin Bs like thiamin, niacin, and panthenol, are rich in
antioxidants, that protect the skin from free radical damage and UV ray damage
and also delay the onset of ageing and encourage pigmentation and redness (3).
Vitamin C
Vitamin C often known as ascorbic acid is
one of the most important ingredients of nutraceuticals because the human body
cannot synthesize it, so it is required in daily diet. Vitamin C protects skin
from external or internal damage because of its antioxidant properties and also
diminishes the reactive oxidant species and free radicle generation that are
harmful to skin and tissues (4). According to trials on both humans and animals, it has
been observed that vitamin C supplementing minimizes the production of raised
scars in the skin and considerably aids in wound healing. Vitamin C is
necessary for skin fibroblasts to synthesize collagen and to regulate the
balance of collagen and elastin in the dermis. Furthermore, an investigation
revealed that vitamin C supplements had better collagen synthesis in animals
who received them as compared to the control. If combined with vitamin E,
vitamin C can be substantially accumulated by skin keratinocytes, offering
protection against UV radiation. Moreover, vitamin C protects human
keratinocytes from UVA-induced lipid peroxidation and UV radiation-induced skin
neoplasms in mice (5).
Vitamin D
Vitamin
D is considered a group of antirachitic
vitamins synthesized in the body when exposed to sunlight (UV rays) and is also
present in food activated by UV radiation. Vitamin D has anti-ageing and
photoprotective properties for the skin by regulating keratinocyte
proliferation, constructing the epidermal barrier that is essential for skin
homeostasis, and promoting differentiation in the skin. Similarly, it exhibits
potent antioxidant abilities that could be useful in promoting the synthesis of
collagen and elastin, preventing DNA damage, and stimulating DNA repair
mechanisms to diminish the risk of cancer and premature ageing of the skin.
Premature ageing may be avoided with adequate vitamin D supplementation, but
excessive use might accelerate the ageing process of the skin (6).
Vitamin E
Vitamin
E (tocopherol) acts as a super antioxidant
by scavenging free radicals and other reactive species that harm the skin, thus
equilibrating cell membranes and defending membrane protein. Skin ageing is
characterized when the cross-linking of collagen fibre starts. This process is
inhibited by vitamin E. Interestingly, administration of vitamin E with C shows
a synergistic effect for skin protection and maintains the dermis concentration
of both. Twelve patients who had taken vitamin E along with vitamin C, and
ferulic acid for a period of four days, observed less DNA damage following
irradiation than the control group and remarkable improvement was observed in
skin elasticity and skin tone. In addition, vitamin E might counteract the
effects of prior oxidative damage by combining with other antioxidants (7). Conclusively,
vitamins as a whole provide a great deal of promise for the prevention
and treatment of ageing related to skin.
References
(1). VanBuren CA, Everts HB.
Vitamin A in Skin and Hair: An Update. Vol. 14, Nutrients. 2022.
(2). Stahl W, Sies H. β-Carotene
and other carotenoids in protection from sunlight. Vol. 96, American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition. 2012.
(3). Kennedy DO. B vitamins and
the brain: Mechanisms, dose and efficacy—A review. Vol. 8, Nutrients. 2016.
(4). Chaudhary P, Janmeda P,
Docea AO, Yeskaliyeva B, Abdull Razis AF, Modu B, et al. Oxidative stress, free
radicals and antioxidants: potential crosstalk in the pathophysiology of human
diseases. Vol. 11, Frontiers in Chemistry. 2023.
(5). Hoang HT, Moon JY, Lee YC.
Natural antioxidants from plant extracts in skincare cosmetics: Recent
applications, challenges and perspectives. Vol. 8, Cosmetics. 2021.
(6). Bocheva G, Slominski RM,
Slominski AT. The impact of vitamin D on skin aging. Vol. 22, International
Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021.
(7). Keen M, Hassan I. Vitamin E
in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016;7(4):311.
