Many people use topical creams, medications, foods, and supplements to help relieve acne. In fact, vitamin C is frequently added to many skin care products that purport to treat it.

Officially known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that’s crucial for various aspects of health, including your skin. Your body doesn’t produce it, so you must obtain it through your diet.

This vitamin is also a potent antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals, which are unstable compounds that can damage your body’s cells over time when levels become too high in the body.

Your skin is affected by free radicals due to its exposure to both your internal and external environments. Among other factors, diet, stress, smoking, ultraviolet (UV) rays, and pollution all affect skin health.

Your skin’s epidermis the top layer of skin that’s visible to the human eye contains high levels of vitamin C. This nutrient plays a key role in protecting, healing, and producing new skin.

As acne is a highly inflammatory condition that can be exacerbated by environmental stressors, vitamin C may play a role in treating it.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that acts as a potent antioxidant to protect your skin and other cells from free radical damage.