Find the Best Vitamin C for Melasma Today

Best Vitamin C for Melasma

Melasma is a chronic skin condition that causes dark spots due to the accumulation and uneven distribution of the skin pigment melanin.

Fortunately, there are many skin condition treatments and skin care products that can even out skin tone and reduce pigmentation.

Dr. Sheldon Pinel discovered many years ago that ascorbic acid (vitamin C) promotes collagen formation in the skin. Since then, we have learned a lot about the many benefits of vitamin C.

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, protecting the skin from the sun and photo-induced inflammation. It also acts as a tyrosinase inhibitor, thereby inhibiting the production of melanin.

Therefore, vitamin C can be used to treat melasma, but it is not the best skin brightener because its tyrosinase inhibition effect is not as strong as other tyrosinase inhibitors such as kojic acid, hexylresorcinol, and arbutin.

I prefer to add vitamin C to my patients’ melasma care routines and choose one of the powerful whitening products for melasma treatment.

To learn more about two different melasma care routines, click here.

I love taking vitamin C orally to treat melasma from the inside out. I also often use it topically and internally to prevent skin aging.

However, I don’t think ascorbic acid is the best treatment for melasma on most skin types. This depends on your Baumann skin type, though.

Only by understanding your Baumann skin type can you determine if vitamin C is the best treatment for melasma.

What are the benefits of vitamin C for melasma skin care?

Over the past decade, vitamin C serums and creams have become a must-have in many skincare routines, which is not surprising given the many beneficial effects of this powerful antioxidant.

Most of the scientific research on the uses and benefits of vitamin C in skin care focuses on L-ascorbic acid, the pure vitamin C found in oranges.

However, L-ascorbic acid breaks down quickly in air and light. So, always buy vitamin C serums that come in amber bottles with small openings or vacuum pumps. Never buy them in cans!

You should look for L-ascorbic acid vitamin C serum formulas with a concentration of 10%, 15%, or 20% as they have the greatest impact on even skin tone.

There is no point in skimping on vitamin C serums. The cheapest vitamin C serums are usually ineffective. Crucibles are useless.

We recommend that you consult a dermatologist or follow our recommendations for the best vitamin C serums for melasma as there are many inferior products that simply don’t work.

Including a high-quality vitamin C serum as part of your daily skincare routine can reduce the appearance of melasma and dark spots on your skin, even out your skin tone, and even reduce the signs of facial aging.

Why are vitamin C serums so expensive?

L-ascorbic acid is difficult to formulate in a way that retains the effectiveness of vitamin C because vitamin C degrades and loses its protective effects on the skin when exposed to air and light.

The production of vitamin C products must take place in an airless and lightless environment. Vitamin C also requires a low pH (acidic) to effectively penetrate the skin.

This is why vitamin C serums are so expensive. Formulating vitamin C correctly is an expensive and patented process.

In short, spend more on vitamin C and save money on cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreen.

When we recommend a skincare routine for your skin type, we try to pick the most affordable products, but vitamin C serums can still be expensive.

Click here to learn more about why these products are so expensive.

What is the most affordable vitamin C serum for melasma?

Our favorite vitamin C serum is Skinceuticals Serum 10 AOX+.

While some vitamin C serums can be slightly irritating, SkinCeuticals Serum 10 AOX+ contains L-ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C) and ferulic acid.

Both are powerful antioxidants that inhibit tyrosinase (the enzyme that causes melanin production and dark spots on the skin).

Panthenol (vitamin B5) has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe the skin and prevent melasma from getting worse. This vitamin C serum also helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

What are the best vitamin C serums for melasma?

These are our favorites due to their vitamin C concentration, pH level, and packaging.

Can all skin types use vitamin C to treat melasma?

Some sensitive and ultra-sensitive skin types cannot tolerate the low pH (acidic) of vitamin C. Skin types prone to rosacea, itchiness, and other sensitivities may be irritated by vitamin C serums.

Although it has not been proven, some patients have reported that vitamin C can cause acne breakouts, so I avoid using vitamin C in patients with acne.

Unless prescribed by a doctor, L-ascorbic acid should not be used on skin that has been damaged after treatments such as microneedling.

We have observed complications (granulomas and other side effects) in people who applied vitamin C to their skin after microneedling.

Usually, it is the vitamin C cream, not the vitamin C serum, that causes the problem. To be safe, consult your doctor.

Which vitamin C cream is best for treating melasma?

We do not recommend using vitamin C cream for melasma. The fatty acids it contains can weaken the effectiveness of the whitening ingredients.

For melasma, it is better to use a vitamin C serum or other whitening products. Never use vitamin C cream in a can. Once opened, the ingredients lose their effectiveness due to air and become useless.

How long will it take for my melasma to disappear?

The time it takes for melasma to improve depends on many factors, including:

Are you using the right melasma skincare products for your skin type?

Do all your skincare products work synergistically to treat melasma instead of inhibiting each other?

Are you taking a break from tyrosinase inhibitors and alternating between a melasma treatment regimen and a melasma maintenance regimen?

Does your choice of melasma moisturizer and cleanser allow your vitamin C serum to brighten your skin better?

Do you combine your vitamin C serum with other powerful tyrosinase inhibitors?

Do you use PAR-2 blockers?

Do you use tinted sunscreen (with iron oxide) to avoid sunlight and blue light (from your phone)?

Have you used light therapy or laser therapy, which can make your melasma worse?

Do you avoid hot environments, such as infrared saunas?

Are you pregnant?

Do you take estrogen?

Are you making lifestyle changes to clear your skin of melasma?

Even if you take all the right steps, melasma can take 12 to 16 weeks to disappear. Don’t waste time and money on products that aren’t right for your skin.

Vitamin C may not be the best product for your melasma!

Discover the best skincare routine for your Bowman skin type today!

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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