People in big cities started aging earlier than those in small towns due to environmental pollution, which is represented by many external factors such as air pollution, smog, stress, psychological stress, etc. Therefore, the role of antioxidants in skin care has become more important in modern times.
And when the high-energy UV rays of the sun combine with environmental pollution, oxidative damage to the skin becomes much greater, whereas under normal circumstances there is a balance of oxidants and antioxidants in our bodies producing enough effective antioxidants to neutralize most free radicals before we get ahead of ourselves. Age, as the body’s cells begin to fail to eliminate them quickly and effectively enough. And in this case, our body needs to receive support from the outside. The condition in which the cell is constantly exposed is called oxidative stress.
Free radicals are very harmful to our health and antioxidants are molecules capable of easily neutralizing these radicals. It is very important to have enough antioxidants in our body, in order to protect against them. The main purpose of skin care is to cleanse and eliminate free radicals formed due to internal and external factors.
Thus, the skin regains its natural balance and acquires a healthy appearance, since our skin is exposed throughout the day to external factors such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, stress and ultraviolet rays, and it needs constant purification. And cleansing the skin helps get rid of dryness, greasy feeling or similar skin problems.
In recent years, antioxidants have become one of the important research topics in human nutrition due to their ability to scavenge and deter free radicals. They also act to reduce cell damage by preventing the formation of free radicals or by cleaning up those that already exist.
Antioxidants are produced by body cells and can also be obtained through food. Vitamins C, E, and A are found naturally in many fruits and vegetables, and carotenoids are best absorbed from the sources of fats and polyphenols found in most plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. .
It is becoming increasingly important to source these compounds from plants rich in natural antioxidants, as well as to use them as food additives or preservatives by extracting them as foods.
And in today’s skincare products, many antioxidants are used to better protect underlying skin structures from oxidation and to strengthen the antioxidant defense network.
vitamin C
When examining in detail the effects of vitamin C applied externally on the skin, it is noted that it prevents the formation of red cells and sunburn caused by ultraviolet rays of the skin. Due to this characteristic, vitamin C is specially added to sunscreen and facial care products. This vitamin is also known to stimulate collagen formation and improve the appearance of wrinkles when applied to the skin. In addition to all these benefits, it allows Vitamin E to restore its antioxidant properties in the antioxidant cycle.
Vitamin E
Another antioxidant often used in skin products is fat-soluble vitamin E, which relieves sunburn and can therefore prevent the formation of tumors. Studies also indicate that using vitamins E and C together provides better protection against the harmful effects of the sun than using them alone.
Niacinamide
Also known as nicotinamide, it is a biologically active form of vitamin B-3. In a clinical study, topically applied niacinamide was shown to reduce fine lines and skin discoloration and improve skin texture and tone. Another study also showed that, based on its antioxidant properties, in addition to its strong anti-inflammatory effect, it is effective in the treatment of acne.
retinoid
Retinoids are a class of chemical compounds that contain or are chemically related to vitamin A, and a retinoid is one of many related compounds that perform the functions of this vitamin and prevent deficiency symptoms. Vitamin A is a natural skin antioxidant and it increases blood flow and stimulates the production of collagen in the skin, thereby increasing the elasticity of the skin.
alpha lipoic acid
It is a powerful antioxidant that can be synthesized in the body and is found in certain foods such as spinach, broccoli and tomatoes. Lipoic acid, which prevents free radical damage, is the only antioxidant in terms of being water and fat soluble. Lipoic acid also protects the cell membrane by interacting with vitamin C and glutathione which reintegrate vitamin E into the antioxidant cycle and therefore aid in skin cell repair.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10, or ubiquinone, is a fat-soluble compound and powerful antioxidant found in fish, shellfish, and plant foods like spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower. And as an anti-aging and anti-wrinkle complex, it prevents damage to collagen and elastin, and it also stimulates collagen production. The production of coenzyme Q10, which can normally be made by animal cells, decreases over time. For this reason, it occupies a very important place in the composition of anti-aging products.
Phenolic Antioxidants
Antioxidants in this group have very powerful free radical scavenging properties.
In a future article we will talk about the foods we should eat and the products we should use in skin care, especially after it became clear to us the importance of antioxidants, and until then, to maintain our cleanliness and taking care of our skin.
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