Confused about topicals after dermarolling..

[marycotter5678]

I want to start dermarolling with a 1.5mm on my face (scars, aging) and body (stretch marks).I know I have to apply vitamin c and a for the dermarolling to be even more effective but I have dry skin and usually apply Johnson & Johnson baby Oil with aloe vera & Vit E after showering, then towel off. I am wondering if this is a bad idea when it comes to applying vitamin c, Retin-A I am worried the body oil will cause the retin-a or vitamin c spray not to be absorbed as well - is this right?

[SarahVaughter]

Vit. C is water soluble and oils on the skin will prevent vit. C to reach the skin. I understand it is quite inconvenient for you but you should apply vit. C after your shower, wait at least 10 minutes and only then apply your body lotions. At least on the areas with scars and stretch marks. Vit. C stays in the skin for several days so you do not have to apply it every day. The tissue half-life for topically applied vitamin C is four days:

   https://http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11207686

Detailed study on topical vit. C absorbtion:



   https://http://www.nordicselfcare.com/pdf/1.09_percutaneousabsorption.pdf

 

Vit. A is fat soluble and it is OK to apply it on oily skin. You can even mix your baby oil with Retin A in your hand palm and use it after the shower as usual.

[Katarina]

Tissue levels were saturated after three daily applications; the half-life of tissue disappearance was about 4 days.   Q:  will the vit. C stay in the system for four days after only one application or is it cumlative of after three daily applications?

[SarahVaughter]

The tissue half-life is always 4 days, regardless of how much vit. C you have loaded your skin with. This means that after about three days it starts to be a good idea to re-apply one application. Let`s say your skin has 256 mg/kg vit. C in it.  After 4 days, it only has 128 mg/kg, after 4 more days 64 mg/kg, after 4 more days 32 mg/kg etc. The same formula applies with any number of applications, serum strengths etc.

So, if you start with less vit. C because you had applied less often, initially you would have for ex. 64 mg/kg, 4 days later 32 mg/kg, 8 days after initial application 16 mg/kg etc.