Antioxidant skin products to fight aging

Antioxidant advertising focuses on the age-fighting qualities and benefits to the skin antioxidants can provide. Although these attributes are true, the science involved in antioxidants is more involved than what the marketing suggests. Understanding antioxidants and knowing the different variations can improve the understanding of this health science.

Antioxidants protect an individual from free radicals – cells that break down other cells in the body. Think of free radicals as aggressive oxygen molecules whose intent is to destroy cells. Free radicals are sometimes a natural part of the body’s life cycle, but other times, they are caused by external elements like pollution or medication. Generally, the body has a good balance of free radicals and antioxidants, but in the case of aging and even some diseases, the free radicals outnumber the antioxidants.

Free radicals work in the same way that oxygen works in high school chemistry. For example, iron begins to rust and rubber begins to loose its bounce because of oxygen, just as the body begins to age partly because of free radicals. In order to protect against an excess of free radicals, an individual can consume or apply antioxidants. Until recently, scientists thought that skin could not absorb vitamins; instead, absorption could only occur within the body. That belief, however, has changed, and now there are both topical and internal methods to use antioxidants.

A simple way to understand the two ways to use antioxidants is to look at the labels on a bottle of lotion and a bottle of multivitamins. Both labels will probably mention vitamin E. Read the label of a high-tech anti-aging cream, and it may mention other vitamins like A, or an enzyme the body naturally produces, Q10. So, antioxidants like vitamins can be applied and ingested.

Vitamins E and C are two examples of antioxidants that can be both applied and ingested. Vitamin E is probably the most well known antioxidant, in addition to it being the strongest in the vitamin family of antioxidants. Among other benefits, it increases the life span of red blood cells. Vitamin C works well with other antioxidants and performs similar functions to them all. The everyday use of both E and C has long suggested these anti-aging benefits since C has been known to ward off colds and E has always been topically applied to cuts and scars to improve healing.

Food-based antioxidants like grape seed, pomegranate juice, and garlic may even be more effective than the vitamin antioxidants mentioned above. For instance, garlic may protect against dangerous metals like lead or mercury. Seaweed is also becoming a well-known antioxidant, especially since its make up is almost exactly the same as human blood plasma.

Understanding what antioxidants do (protect against free radicals) and what forms they come in (vitamins and foods) can help guide an individual to the right anti-aging product. A well-known anti-aging product is alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). AHAs are antioxidants, but because of their anti-aging benefits, scientists and skin care companies have begun to manufacture AHAs in addition to finding them naturally. In nature, they are found in fruits and milk. In science, though, they are found in numerous creams and salves.

AHAs are used to treat fine lines and to increase the skin’s firmness and moisture. With these benefits, though, the treated skin becomes more sensitive to the sun (up to 50% more sensitive), so it is important to use a sunscreen along with AHAs. An AHA cream can be bought at any drugstore or supermarket, but the degree of acidity in it (10% or less) will be lower than what can be obtained from a dermatologist. Spas who offer facial peels also use AHAs that are slightly more acidic than what can be bought over-the-counter.

To have a truly well rounded anti-aging routine with antioxidant products, look to use a variety of antioxidants. Ingest foods that are naturally antioxidant rich, like fruits, vegetables and green teas, but do not eliminate vitamin supplements as a good source of common antioxidants. In fact, some vitamin supplements cater to certain needs, like hair, skin, and nails by including certain combinations of antioxidants and other vitamins.

In addition to foods, consider using antioxidant creams and lotions. Look for ingredients like vitamins A, B, C, and E, the enzyme Q10 and AHAs. If the body is being treated with antioxidants from both the inside and the outside, it will certainly begin to reap the benefits. Not only will skin tone and appearance improve, but the other health benefits of antioxidants will be generated as well.