Secondly, taking it internally his been the only way to assure ourselves of adequate amounts as Vitamin C cannot be produced or stored by the human body. The body's natural metabolic functions and the by-products of stress cause depletion of available stores and little is usually available for the skin's needs. But, how much absorption, when taken internally, is still an unknown factor and until more is known we should take in adequate amounts through food sources and Vitamin C supplements to build good health and help to prevent viral infections. Dangers of Smoking Smoking literally burns up Vitamin C internally and externally. A smoker's skin ages faster than normal.
Smoking prevents the skin from healing because the free radical control is diminished.
Hyperpigmentation The most exciting new findings about Vitamin C are in relationship to topical application to prevent hyperpigmentation and control sun damage. It does this by inhibiting the skin's inflammatory response to ultraviolet light. Melanin skin pigment forms through the progressive oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine. The main steps in the process of melanogenesis were analyzed by Raper and Mason. The major oxidation steps, from tyrosine to dopaquinone, are catalyzed by tyrosinase.