Skincare Ingredient Facts – Folic Acid

Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9 found in foods, and is prepared as an additive in skin and hair care products as  “folic acid.” The folic acid form is better absorbed, especially topically than folate from food sources, (80+% absorption, versus about 50%). Folic acid helps break down homocysteine, an amino acid that that can negatively impact both skin and hair when present in high amounts. It is crucial in the construction of both DNA and RNA and helps to facilitate the metabolism of many proteins essential for healing and rejuvenation. Folate plays a key role in producing robust red blood cells during periods of rapid growth, such as wound healing, and in response to treatments for hair and skin.

Folic acid is sometimes referred to as “Vitamin B9.” B vitamins are essential to the system your body uses to convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which provides the energy you need to resist the signs of premature aging. Often referred to as B-complex vitamins, this family of nutrients also help you to use fats and proteins to give you healthier skin and hair.

Skin

Folic acid’s anti-oxidant properties mean it can help reverse sun damage by neutralizing harmful free radicals present in the skin. It can help to reduce the severity of acne and other inflammatory conditions by helping to more efficiently remove toxins from your body. Folic acid helps maintain the epidermal barrier function, leading to increased hydration, as well as better resistance to environmental irritants, toxins, and even pathogens! It also helps reduce the signs of premature aging by facilitating more rapid collagen production, especially in conjunction with treatments that utilize the wound healing cascade, and in conjunction with the up-regulation of ATP provided by Red Light Therapy.

Hair

Because Folic acid is essential to maintaining the rate of cellular processing it will help ensure an optimal response to treatments intended to restore damaged or dormant follicle (for hair regrowth) and to promote robust hair growth and volume.