The skin acts as the first line of protecting the body against external hazards. However, as we age, the outer layer of the epidermis-skin becomes thinner and loses its protective strength. About 90% of the cells in this layer are keratinocytes, which originate from the deep layers of the epidermis and migrate upwards, eventually forming a protective barrier of the skin. To combat the effects of aging on the skin, many studies have emphasized the benefits of vitamin C (VC), a vitamin that is known for its role in skin health and antioxidant properties.
Now, researchers in Japan have discovered that VC helps to thicken the skin by directly activating the skin that controls the growth and growth of the skin. Their conclusions, published online Explorer On April 20, 2025, suggest that VC can restore the skin function by re -activating the genes required for epidermal renewal.
This study was led by Dr. Akihito Ishigami was, which was the vice -president of Biology and Medical Sciences at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Georiatrics and Gerontology (TMIG), in collaboration with the University of Biology and Medical Sciences, in collaboration with Japan, Hokuriku University, and Roho Pharmaceutical Co., Limited Associate Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Professor Prof. Professor Professor Prof. Associate Professor Yasunori Sato from Hokuriku University, Professor Toshiyuki Kimura, and Mr. Hideki Tanaka (currently at the University at Fukui Hospital); And Ms. Florence, Ms. Akiri Kuwano, Shri Yasunari Sato, and Mr. Tsuoshi Ishi Roho from Roho Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. also co-written the study.
“VC affects the composition and function of epidermis, especially by controlling the development of epidermal cells. In this study, we investigated whether it promotes cell proliferation and discrimination through epic changes,” Talking about this study, Dr. Ishigami explains.
To check how VC affects the regeneration of the skin, the team used human epidermal counterparts, developed in the laboratory that closely mimic the real human skin. In this model, skin cells are exposed in the air on the surface, while a liquid is nourished from the bottom through the nutrients, the way human skin receives nutrients from the underlying blood vessels, while exposed to the outer environment.
Researchers used this model and applied VCs to 1.0 and 0.1 mm-concentration, which is usually moved from the bloodstream to the epidermis. On assessing its effect, he found that the VC-waved skin visited a thick epidermal cell layer without affecting the stratum corneum (exterior layer made of dead cells) on seven days. By 14 days, the inner layer was even more thick, and the outer layer was found to be thin, suggesting that the VC promotes the formation and division of keratinocytes. An increased cell proliferation in samples treated with VC is shown, which is displayed by a large number of Ki-67-positive cells-a protein markers present in the nucleus of cells.
Importantly, the study showed that VC helps to grow skin cells by reactivating the genes associated with cell proliferation. It is known as DNA Demithilance in a process, promoting removal of methyl groups from DNA. When DNA is methylted, methyl groups connect with cytosine bases, which can prevent DNA from transcible or reading, allowing genes to press gene activity. Conversely, by promoting DNA Demithilance, VC promotes gene expression and helps to grow, multiply and differentiate cells.
The study suggests that VC supports active DNA demthalation by maintaining the function of TET enzymes (ten-allevan translocation enzymes), which regulates genes. These enzymes convert 5-ithylsitocin (5-MC) into 5-hydroximethylchitocin (5-HMC), a process in which FE2+ Oxidation for fees3+VC helps to maintain tate enzyme activity by donating electrons to revive FE2+ From fees3+To enable continuous DNA decimals.
Researchers identified 10,138 hypomethylated dived into the VC-explained skin and saw 1.6- to 75.2 times in the expression of 12 major spread-related genes. When a TET enzyme inhibitor was implemented, these effects were reversed, confirming that VC tet acts through DNA Demithilation with mediation of TET.
These findings suggest how VC promotes skin renewal by triggering genetic routes involved in growth and repair. This suggests that VC can be particularly helpful for older adults or people with damaged or thin skin, to strengthen and strengthen themselves by increasing the natural capacity of the skin.
“We found that VC DNA helps to thicken the skin by encouraging keratinocyte proliferation through Damithilage, which is a promising treatment to dilute the skin, especially in older adults,” Dr. Closing of Ishigami.
Source:
Journal reference:
Sato, Y. Et al(2025). Vitamin C promotes epidermal proliferation by promoting DNA demethalation of genes related to proliferation in human epidermal counterparts. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2025.03.040,