Vitamin C for UV Protection
Vitamin C is more useful applied topically than taken orally for photoprotection.
Overview
Verdict
How It Works
Dosing & Protocol
Typical dose
- Recommended dose
- 500mg/day, or topical serum
- Expected timeframe
- 12 weeks
Protocol
- form
- Topical L-ascorbic acid with vitamin E and ferulic acid; oral ascorbic acid has minimal photoprotective effect
- duration
- Topical studies measured minimal erythema dose after days to weeks of application
- co factor
- Evidence is insufficient for meaningful UV protection. Topical vitamin C combined with vitamin E does raise the minimal erythema dose in controlled studies - Lin and colleagues showed a combination of 15% ascorbic acid, 1% alpha-tocopherol and ferulic acid provided measurable photoprotection - but the effect is equivalent to a very low SPF, in the region of 2-4. Oral vitamin C alone has minimal effect. Antioxidants work by quenching UV-generated free radicals after the fact, whereas sunscreen blocks or absorbs the UV itself.
- titration
- Not applicable - no dose provides meaningful UV protection alone
- starting dose
- Not a substitute for sunscreen. Topical studies used 10-15% L-ascorbic acid with 1% alpha-tocopherol; oral studies used 2,000 mg/day with 1,000 IU of vitamin E
Evidence
What the studies say
A phase 3 randomized trial of nicotinamide for skin-cancer chemoprevention
Chen AC, Martin AJ, Choy B
Nicotinamide reduced new non-melanoma skin cancers by 23% versus placebo
Safety
Caveats
Oral effects are minimal. Topical delivery is the better route for skin.
Less likely to help if
Medical Disclaimer
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Individual results may vary. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.