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Vitamin C may protect against skin damage
11 September 2009: Researchers have found that vitamin C can help speed up wound healing and protect skin against sun damage.
In a laboratory, scientists exposed skin cells from a healthy donor to vitamin C. They created a wound in the cells by cutting into them and used ultraviolet (UV) radiation to mimic the sun’s rays.
Genetic analyses found that the cells exposed to vitamin C grew quicker and were able to combat and repair damage better than the cells that weren’t.
Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director for Bupa International, said: “The findings from this study certainly suggest potential uses for vitamin C in wound healing and preventing skin cancer.”
Dr Khemka warns that further studies should be carried out to determine the vitamin’s full regenerative properties.
He said: “There’s no need to start drinking gallons of orange juice just yet – stick with what we already know. Make sure you get all the vitamins and minerals you need from eating a well-balanced diet. And, when you’re in the sun, always use sunscreen of at least SPF 15 that protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.”
Related information
Sun care factsheet
Healthy eating factsheet
Vitamins and minerals factsheet
Key facts: Vitamin C
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Vitamin C is a highly effective antioxidant. This means that it can help repair damaged cells in the body. It also helps the body to absorb iron from food.
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A lack of vitamin C can cause scurvy.
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The richest naturally occurring sources of vitamin C are in fruits and vegetables, for example broccoli and oranges.
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The Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that adults have 40mg of vitamin C a day. However, don’t take more than 1000mg of vitamin C a day as taking large amounts can cause stomach pain, diarrhoea and flatulence.
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