Question:
I am a 49-year-old woman with breast cancer currently undergoing chemotherapy after my surgical treatment. During my research on line, I read information related to the topical use of vitamin C to improve skin healing related to breast cancer surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. Can you explain the science related to the material I have read on the internet?
Answer:
Ultraviolet rays and other inflammatory insults, such as cigarette smoking and pollutants, create free radicals (molecules that poison DNA, proteins and lipids) that cause photoaging of the skin. It has been demonstrated that the skin’s native antioxidant protection (molecules that neutralize the free radical poison) breaks down during excessive UV injury and promotes aging due to the fact that there are more free radicals created by the UV damage than there are antioxidant molecules available in the skin. This allows free radicals to damage DNA, proteins, and lipids causing skin cells to die.
With this background information, it should be no surprise that breast cancer, chemotherapy, radiation, and medication required post-breast cancer treatment create a large free radical burden on the body and skin.
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin. The body cannot synthesize L-ascorbic acid, so humans rely on dietary intake or topical application for their supply of vitamin C. It must be ingested from vitamin supplements, food sources (such as citrus fruits, dark-green leafy vegetables, strawberries, tomatoes, green and red peppers, brussel sprouts, and turnips) or applied topically to the skin to replenish L-ascorbic acid in the body and skin. Vitamin C is essential for normal cell growth, collagen synthesis, and wound healing.
Oral vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) cannot deliver an adequate amount of L-ascorbic acid to the skin (epidermis). Conversely, topical vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) cannot deliver an adequate amount of vitamin C to the body.
The skin relies on antioxidants for protection against free radicals. Since the skin receives the most free radical assault from ultraviolet light exposure, cancer, and the effects related to cancer treatment, replenishing and increasing the antioxidant defense of the skin becomes an attractive strategy for wound healing. Oral vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is extremely important to restore and increase the body’s stores of water-soluble antioxidants, but cannot deliver an adequate amount of L-ascorbic acid to the skin (epidermis). If antioxidants, particularly vitamin C, can be delivered into the skin and body with an adequate concentration and the precise bioactive chemical form, skin cell rejuvenation, skin cell growth, and collagen synthesis are increased.
If antioxidants, particularly vitamin C, could be delivered into the skin with an adequate high concentration, the precise bioactive chemical form with an appropriate pH, and packaging that avoids oxidation prior to application, then the antioxidant protective reservoir in the skin could be increased. Photo-repair and skin cell repair necessary for healing sun-damage and tissue wound healing, respectfully, would be enhanced.
The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is important to enhance the natural antioxidant potential of the body and skin. In order to replenish antioxidant reservoirs in the skin, Rx Systems PF created Age Defense Antioxidant Serum C (L-ascorbic acid) in its Age-Bloc Delivery System. There is a need to replenish and maintain internal oxidants that nourish the body and skin from the inside. Rx Systems PF’s Age Defense Antioxidant Complex (natural, anti-aging, neutralizing, antioxidant complex) is the next generation of an oral (systemic) antioxidant supplement.