Vitamin C: Future Youth? Topical vitamin C is the Next Big Thing in antiaging skin care, according to Dr. Clark. Tiny vials of vitamin C "serums" sell at cosmetics counters for S 65 and up, and still we empty cosmetics counter shelves. Research suggests that topical C can help protect our skin in several ways, says Dr. Price. "There is definitive evidence that topical vitamin C functions as an antioxidant, thereby helping to protect skin against freeradical damage," she says. "There's also strong evidence that it helps protect skin exposed to the sun: When vitamin C is applied to skin, it gets less burned. And topical C may have a protective effect when used in conjunction with sunscreen." Sounds good so far. But does it "regenerate collagen," "renew elasticity and firmness," and "promote a smoother, firmer, more youthfullooking complexion," as its major manufacturers claim? According to preliminary research (much of which, by the way, was conducted by folks who are selling the stuff), L ascorbic acid can, indeed, promote the formation of collagen. Moreover, some dermatologists, including Dr. Clark, swear that the skin of their patients who use topical C appears fresher, more evenly pigmented, less blemish prone, and, in some cases, less furrowed. Other dermatologists say the jury's still out on topical C's crinklefighting capacity. "There's little scientific data to suggest that topical C definitely reverses wrinkles and promotes the production of collagen, although it may," says Dr. Price. What does she tell her patients about C? I tell them that, at this point in time, the best way to protect their skin is to use a broad spectrum sunscreen that contains transparent zinc oxide. And then, if they can afford to, they should use topical C, because the combination will probably be more protective than sunscreen alone." Typically, topical C is applied to clean, dry skin once a day. According to the manufacturers of Cellex C, one of the most popular topical vitamin C products, fine fines will become less noticeable in 3 to 8 months. Anti Aging Anti Aging Generation| Anti Aging Health Strategy| Anti Aging for Women| Take a Bite Out of Aging| Check the Index| Aim Low| Fat Factor| The Zobra Diet| Bulf Of Long Life| What about Meat?| Get the Protein, Forgo the Fat| The Taxic Avengers| Great Ways to Ambush Radicals| Going Vegetarian Sparked Her Youth| Is That a Toxin in My "Soup"?| Put Your Diet into Rehab| Little Bean, Big Benefits| Sneaking Soy into Your Diet| The Anti Aging Supplements| Alpha Lipoic Acid| Vitamins Minerals| Bioflavonoids| Coenzyme-Q10| Flaxseed Oil| Ginkgo| Are Harmone Supplements Safe?| Melotonin| Phoaphatidylserine| Pycnogenol| Vitamin C| Vitamin E| Aerobics| Disease-Proof Your Body| Liven Up Your Lifestyles| 12 Tips For a Better Workout| Weather Your Workout| Water| Erasing the Lines of Time| Skin Enemy Number One: The Sun| Sunscreen to the Rescue| A Sunscreen Primer| Sun Tips for Sun Junkies| Clean Up Your Act| Perfect Cleanser| Navigating Moisturizer Maze| The Care and Feeding of Youthful Skin| Special Problems of Aging Skin Cosmetic Nutrients Cosmetic Nutrients| Get Glowing with Glycolic Acid| User's guide of Glycolic Acids| Retin-A and Renova| Using Retin-A and Renova| Vitamin C: Future Youth?| Don't Get Lost at "C"| Getting the Most from C Makeups Makeup That Enhances| Foundation| Concealer| Blush| Powder| Eye Makeup| Lipstick| Winning the Battle of the Mane| Color to the Youthful| Dressed to Impress| Acting Your Age| 10 Attributes of a Youthful Mind Right Weight Getting Your Right Weight| Weighing In| Say Goodbye to Dieting| Putting Exercise into Everyday Events| Defying Disease| Disease Proof Your Lifestyle| Arthritis| Cancer| Diabetes| Heart Disease and Stroke| Osteoporosis|Keeping Your Senses Sharp|Can You Speak Little Louder?|Preventing Hearing Loss|Target Hearing Loss Early|The Eyes Have It|Buying Sunglasses|Eyes Need Exercise|The Life of Visionary Memory Memory Like an Elephant| Keeping the Brain Up and Running|Improving Your Everyday Memory| Get Organized| Living a Memory Enhancing Lifestyle Sleep Sweet Sleep and Relaxation| Turning Out the Lights, Naturally| Easing Toward Dreamland|When All Else Fails