New findings are reshaping how we understand skin aging and regeneration.
A groundbreaking study led by researchers in Japan has revealed that vitamin C can reverse age-related skin thinning by directly activating genetic pathways.
The research, published in The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, shows that vitamin C stimulates the proliferation of keratinocytes—the cells responsible for the skin’s outermost layer—by enhancing the activity of enzymes that regulate gene expression.
Using lab-grown human skin models, scientists applied concentrations of vitamin C that reflect natural blood levels.
Within two weeks, the epidermis, or living layer of skin, became significantly thicker, while the outer dead-cell layer thinned—an indicator of increased cellular turnover.
This structural change was linked to a dramatic increase in the activity of TET enzymes, which are responsible for removing chemical tags from DNA that normally silence gene activity.
When vitamin C is present, it donates electrons that help TET enzymes perform DNA demethylation.
This process reactivates genes that promote cell growth and repair, resulting in a rejuvenated skin structure from the inside out.
The implications are profound, especially for older adults experiencing skin thinning, which increases susceptibility to injury, infection and moisture loss.
According to dermatologist Dr. Akihito Ishigami, who led the study at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, vitamin C enables skin cells to proliferate more effectively by modifying the epigenetic switches that control cellular behavior.
In other words, this essential nutrient doesn’t just support the skin—it reprograms it.
Epigenetics refers to the biological mechanisms that control which genes are turned on or off, and vitamin C’s role in that process is gaining new recognition.
Without enough vitamin C, TET enzymes cannot function properly, and key skin-regenerating genes remain inactive.
This also helps explain why vitamin C is crucial for collagen synthesis, the structural protein that gives skin its elasticity and firmness.
As noted in previous research, collagen cannot form without adequate levels of vitamin C, making it indispensable for preventing wrinkles, sagging and UV damage.
The study reinforces the importance of both internal and external delivery.
Topical application allows direct access to skin cells, while oral supplementation provides systemic support.