Following is my summary of the following case report:
“Intravenous vitamin C in the treatment of post-laser hyperpigmentation for melasma: a short report”
Georgia Siow Kiang Lee
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2008; 10: 234-236
This article discusses the use of intravenous vitamin C to reduce hyperpigmentation initially caused by laser therapy. Hyperpigmentation is a cosmetic problem experienced by many people, and it is an especially hot topic in the beauty industry. Many creams, lotions and potions exist to reduce pigmentation. Sometimes they are successful, sometimes not. But like any beauty issue, the most successful treatment works from the inside out, versus a topical treatment.
The mechanism of action that intravenous vitamin C uses to reduce hyperpigmentation is as follows:
Melanogenesis, which is the development of melanocytes, causes dark patches to form in the skin. This occurs by an enzymatic conversion of tyrosine to melanin pigments. Vitamin C has the ability to inhibit peroxidase and thus melanin synthesis. Although topical vitamin C preparations have been used in the dermatology field for years, they can be very unstable, but a good formulation can yield impressive results. However, only intravenous vitamin C can produce high plasma concentrations., which may be able to produce very fast and effective results. The before and after pictures in this article appear to report success.
The dose administered was 7 grams of ascorbic acid per session, and three sessions were performed weekly. Side effects could include a tendancy towards hypoglycemia during administration and a potential risk of kidney stone predisposition.
