1 reply to this topic

[john1960]

Skin care related question. I've heard substances like Vit c, resveratrol, glutathione, alguronic acid (algae based) have melanin inhibiting properties.
Melanin is responsible for protecting our skin from UV damage but also can become carcinogenic if produced too much.

Just wondering if these substances would act in an adaptogenic way or would they inhibit melanin regardless if it's being produced in a damaging way?

Anyone in the know, thanks in advance!

[niner]

I don't think that melanin becomes carcinogenic if it's produced too much.  Photoexcited melanin might be able to damage DNA and be carcinogenic in that way.  I suspect this is a relatively minor effect.  Stay out of the sun or wear sunscreen and you should be ok.  I don't think resveratrol is going to have much effect on melanin.  Vitamin C can lighten skin, so maybe topical vitamin C would take out some melanin.  To the extent that these molecules have an effect on melanin, I doubt that it would matter how much was there.  The problem is, when used orally, I don't think any of these have a significant effect on melanin.  Are you interested in skin lightening?  Vitamin C probably does work topically, at least to some extent.  I don't know about the others, but I've not heard of them being used as skin lighteners.