Brightening and Even Skin Tone (4-8 weeks): With continued use, you may start noticing a more noticeable improvement in your skin's brightness and a reduction in the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and discoloration.
The skin changes seen with Vitamin C do not occur quickly. Vitamin C serum can take 12- 16 weeks to work on dark spots and 6 - 12 months to work on wrinkles. But it is a very good skin care ingredient and is worth the wait in most skin types.
Vitamin C-based skin care products may lighten patches that are darker than the rest of your skin, called hyperpigmentation. In one study, vitamin C applied to the skin for 16 weeks significantly cut down on these spots. But experts say it will take more research to confirm how well vitamin C creams work.
Vitamin C serum can be transformational for your skin, but it's important to be realistic about your expectations for seeing visible improvements. Patience is key when it comes to seeing results, and so is consistency. Regular use of vitamin C serum should enable you to see visible improvement in 4-8 weeks.
It also depends on the depth and severity of the scars. However, most people start seeing improvements within 6 to 8 weeks. Consistency is key! Apply your Vitamin C serum daily, and you're likely to see changes.
4 weeks is usually the golden rule for beginning to see changes - it's allowed your skin to go through at least one renewal cycle with this skin-changing ingredient. At this point, your skin should have a subtle change in radiance, which is something you'll notice will stick around as long as you keep using Vitamin C.
Vitamin C can help lighten dark spots and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol slows the breakdown of collagen and increases elasticity, giving you skin that looks firmer and plumper. The combination can help even out the texture and tone of your skin.
However, the best way to know, according to Dr Kiran, is to notice the difference in your skin. “If you use the serum for a month and find your skin to be bright, clear, less sensitive to the sun, and you are feeling fresher, then vitamin C is definitely working,” she said.
In the absence of SPF, you may notice at times that your skin is easily tanned. Either tan or your skin may have turned into a funny orange or peach-ish color. It is because Vitamin C is extremely potent but it can easily react with the air, light and heat in the environment to only make your skin appear darker.
Not using sunscreen:
Vitamin C serum can make the skin even more sensitive to the sun, making it especially important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect the skin from UV damage.
Olehenriksen Banana Bright 15% Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum
What dermatologists say: If you're experiencing uneven skin tone or dark spots, this is an effective treatment, says Dr. Collins.
The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum has multiple benefits that address various skin concerns. A few key benefits you may note when using the retinol serum daily: Helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and post-blemish dark spots. Promotes the cell renewal process, helping skin look brighter.
If you want to get rid of dark spots fast, a procedure that removes layers of discolored skin may work better than a lightening cream. These techniques include laser treatments, freezing (cryotherapy), dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels.
Well, not permanently. Instead, vitamin C can cause temporary skin staining (also known as hyperpigmentation), which happens when l-ascorbic acid (the most common form of vitamin C and one that is less shelf-stable) oxidizes and turns into erythrulose (a key ingredient in many self-tanner products).
Signs your vitamin C supplements are working
Therefore, if you notice higher energy levels, brighter or healthier skin, and/or an overall improved mood after a short course of as little as two weeks, your vitamin C supplements are probably working.
Vitamin C can help reduce hyperpigmentation and even out skin tone, with noticeable results in as little as 3-4 weeks.
Melanin concentration:
As pigmentation cells rise to the surface, the melanin concentration in that area temporarily increases. This is what you perceive as the spots getting darker.
In some people, oral vitamin C supplements can cause kidney stones, especially when taken in high doses. Long-term use of oral vitamin C supplements over 2,000 milligrams a day increases the risk of significant side effects. Tell your doctor that you're taking vitamin C supplements before having any medical tests.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is a vitamin C serum that's often recommended by dermatologists. In fact, all four dermatologists we consulted mentioned this as a good (though pricey) choice. “It's dermatologist-approved,” says Amy Huang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Medical Offices of Manhattan in New York.
Vitamin C serum takes approximately one to two minutes to properly absorb into your skin. Allowing this time to pass before you apply additional layers or skincare products will help ensure you're getting maximum benefits from your serum.
However, it's important to note that vitamin C for dark spots can target and brighten hyperpigmentation regardless of what has caused the spots or dark areas. It does so by blocking the melanin formation process.
Bare in mind, you may not see results overnight - it'll take about 3-6 months of consistent nightly application to see a reduction in photo damage, acne, and fine lines.
Retinol is recommended for overnight use only and vitamin C is well suited to apply in the morning. In light of this, using your vitamin C in the morning and your retinol at night is a simple and easy way to ensure that these ingredients won't interfere with one another.