THE USE OF VITAMIN C AS A STRATEGIC SUPPORT IN COSMETIC PROTOCOLS FOR THE TREATMENT OF FACIAL SAGGING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/levv17n61-002Keywords:
Ascorbic Acid, Collagen, Skin AgingAbstract
Skin aging is characterized by the progressive degradation of collagen and elastin fibers, resulting in facial sagging, one of the most common aesthetic concerns. Vitamin C acts as an essential cofactor in collagen synthesis and exerts a potent antioxidant effect, neutralizing reactive oxygen species that accelerate skin degradation. Although the topical use of ascorbic acid is well established, oral intake as a complementary strategy in aesthetic protocols remains underinvestigated. The objective was to analyze the scientific evidence regarding oral intake of vitamin C as an adjunct in aesthetic protocols for the treatment of facial sagging. An integrative literature review was conducted in the Google Scholar, PubMed, VHL, and SciELO databases, using the search terms “vitamin C,” “facial sagging,” “collagen,” and “oral supplementation,” combined with Boolean operators. Studies published between 2020 and 2025, in Portuguese and English, with full access, were included. Nine articles comprised the final sample after screening based on eligibility criteria. The studies demonstrated that daily oral supplementation with vitamin C, especially when combined with hydrolyzed collagen peptides, promoted a significant increase in dermal density, reduced collagen fragmentation, and improved skin elasticity, with a consistent reduction in wrinkles and improved facial firmness in treatments lasting longer than eight weeks. It is concluded that oral intake of vitamin C constitutes a viable, evidence-based adjunctive strategy for the treatment of facial sagging, provided it is administered in adequate doses and used continuously and should be integrated into aesthetic protocols under professional supervision.
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