What are antioxidants and what benefits do they have on the skin?
Posted by Ivatherm
Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or delay cellular damage, being key factors in the fight against free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that the body produces in response to environmental stresses (pollution, solar radiation), when subjected to physical exertion and when converting food into energy. If the level of free radicals is too high, oxidative stress occurs, a process that can trigger cell damage and has been associated with numerous conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, but also with premature skin aging.
However, the body is not defenseless against free radicals. Antioxidants, which can be both endogenous (produced by the body) and exogenous (assimilated from external sources), neutralize free radicals and are involved in mechanisms that repair DNA and maintain cell health.
In this article you will learn what antioxidants are, what their role is in the body, what benefits they have on the skin, and what are the most effective antioxidants used in skin care.
content
What are antioxidants and what is their role in the body?
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are substances that protect the body's cells from damage caused by free radicals, helping to maintain cellular health and biological balance.
Free radicals and their impact on the body
The body's cells face numerous daily attacks, such as poor nutrition, viral and bacterial infections, and environmental factors. One of the biggest threats is free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage cells and genetic material (DNA).
Free radicals can have different chemical structures, and their excess in the body leads to an imbalance called oxidative stress. This process can damage cells and is associated with the development of chronic diseases.
The role of antioxidants in maintaining cellular balance
The main role of antioxidants is to fight free radicals. The body must maintain a certain balance between free radicals and antioxidants. When this balance is disrupted, oxidative stress can occur, which, in the long term, can damage DNA and other important molecules in the body. Sometimes, oxidative stress is responsible for cell death.
Due to DNA damage, the skin aging process can be accelerated.
Free radicals are constantly formed in the body, under the influence of:
smoking and pollution;
ultraviolet radiation;
high blood sugar levels;
bacterial, viral or fungal infections.
However, free radicals also perform important functions in maintaining good health. For example, immune cells use free radicals to fight infections. This is one reason why there must be a balance in the body between free radicals and antioxidants.
The body naturally produces antioxidants, but they can also be obtained from food (especially fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices ), from nutritional supplements or by using cosmetic products that contain them.
The benefits of antioxidants for the skin
The skin is the largest organ of the body and fulfills the role of protecting the body, acting as a barrier against external factors such as pollution, chemicals, weather and ultraviolet rays.
Skin cells continuously produce free radicals, through cellular respiration, metabolic processes or as a result of external aggressions. These molecules are immediately neutralized by enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems. In situations where this balance is disrupted, various cellular structures, such as the cell membrane, nuclear or mitochondrial DNA, can undergo structural changes, triggering or aggravating skin diseases.
Antioxidants and ultraviolet radiation
Ultraviolet radiation promotes the production of free radicals. The sun is responsible for premature skin aging.
UVA radiation penetrates the skin more deeply and can induce cellular changes, degradation of the dermal matrix and fibroblasts (the most common cells in connective tissue, which secrete collagen and elastin proteins).
To prevent the skin effects caused by ultraviolet radiation, it is recommended to use cosmetic products rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, considered to be one of the best anti-aging ingredients. With antioxidant properties, vitamin C accelerates cell healing and reduces inflammation.
Antioxidants and intrinsic aging
Along with solar radiation and other environmental factors responsible for oxidative phenomena, skin aging, as well as all organs, is accompanied by the decline of endogenous antioxidant mechanisms.
Intrinsic or natural aging is known to occur through the morphological and functional degeneration of the skin layers. The level of collagen and elastin decreases, which is why wrinkles, age spots , fine lines and other signs associated with skin aging appear.
In the process of intrinsic aging, progressive damage to mitochondrial DNA occurs. The free radical theory of aging was developed in the 1950s. Later, it was observed that mitochondria, the cellular organelles that convert nutrients and oxygen into energy, generate free radicals during cellular respiration.
Studies have shown that a powerful antioxidant, coenzyme Q10, present in all cells of the body, prevents oxidative activity. Coenzyme Q10 is the only fat-soluble antioxidant that cells can synthesize and for which there is an adequate enzymatic mechanism to regenerate it, but which decreases over time. Coenzyme Q10 also influences the synthesis of key skin proteins, such as collagen.
Antioxidants and inflammatory conditions
Inflammatory skin disorders are common and range from occasional rashes accompanied by itching and redness to more serious conditions such as atopic dermatitis, rosacea , seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis.
There are several antioxidants that reduce skin inflammation, both by inactivating reactive oxygen species and by directly blocking the activation of intracellular inflammatory signaling pathways. Vitamin E is one of the most important lipid antioxidants, scavenging lipid peroxyl radicals.
The best antioxidants for skin
Antioxidants are used in skin care products primarily due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and protective properties.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most widely used and best-studied antioxidants for skin care. One of the main roles of vitamin C is to stimulate collagen production . The amount of collagen fibers in the body decreases with age, which is why fine lines and wrinkles appear . Collagen synthesis cannot occur without vitamin C.
Vitamin C is also the most widely used antioxidant for fading dark circles and age spotsaround the eyes. Hydrating the under-eye area, which is the most sensitive, helps reduce bags and increase skin firmness.
Last but not least, vitamin C protects healthy cells and neutralizes free radicals formed as a result of sun exposure , one of the main causes of premature skin aging.
Vitamin E
Studies have shown that vitamin Eprotects skin cells from free radicals , promotes cellular activity, and soothes sensitive skin . Vitamin E treatment can reduce sun damage, decrease the risk of developing skin cancer, and stabilize the skin barrier.
In skin care formulas, vitamin E helps increase the effectiveness of other antioxidants, especially vitamin C and coenzyme Q10.
In addition to being an antioxidant and providing skin protection, vitamin E also helps accelerate wound healing , including having a moisturizing role.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that improves skin firmness and texture and helps fade age spots. It is one of the ingredients used in anti-aging products .
Another important role of niacinamide is that it helps in the formation of skin cells. At the same time, it provides protection for the skin against environmental factors that can damage the cell structure.
Niacinamide also contributes to strengthening the lipid barrier , which, in turn, contributes to water retention.
Last but not least, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, niacinamide can be beneficial in controlling acne , rosacea, and age spots , while minimizing the effects that ultraviolet rays can have on the skin.
Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol is a natural ingredient used in skin care products. It is found in the leaves and seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant and works similarly to retinol , but is much better tolerated by all skin types .
With antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, bakuchiol stimulates collagen production and has proven effects in reducing wrinkles, improving skin firmness and diminishing the appearance of pores . At the same time, bakuchiol supports cell renewal, helps soothe and heal the skin from the inside out and contributes to acne management.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is one of the most effective antioxidants in neutralizing free radicals.
A compound found in grapes, berries, and peanuts, resveratrol works against the effects of ultraviolet rays and has anti-inflammatory properties. It can also stimulate collagen and elastin , two proteins that provide hydration and elasticity to the skin.
Therefore, resveratrol restores skin radiance, evens out the complexion, helps reduce the appearance of age spots , and prevents fine lines and wrinkles.
Polyphenols
Polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, helping, among other things, to combat the effects of free radicals formed as a result of sun exposure and high levels of pollution.
At the same time, polyphenols contribute to maintaining optimal collagen levels, which is why skin aging is delayed. Polyphenols are found mainly in plants, fruits, and vegetables.
Coenzyme Q10 is one of the antioxidants that the body produces. It is found naturally in the skin, but its levels decrease with age, which diminishes the body's ability to effectively manage inflammation and oxidative stress.
Some evidence shows that this natural antioxidant may help fight visible signs of skin aging because it plays a critical role in generating energy for skin to renew itself.
Decreased production of coenzyme Q10 has a significant impact on the skin's ability to repair damaged cells.
In addition to these substances, there are numerous other natural active ingredients used in dermatocosmetic products that have antioxidant properties. For example, plant stem cell extract protects the skin against free radicals and slows down the aging process, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and the extract from the Physalis fruit , used as a plant active ingredient in dermatocosmetic products, restores collagen fibers and protects the skin from the harmful effects of infrared radiation and blue light.
It is also worth mentioning the role that glycans play in preventing skin aging. Recent studies have shown that these oligosaccharides on the surface of cells are lost or undergo changes with age. Using cosmetic products containing glycans allows "aged" cells to behave like young ones, which makes the skin produce more collagen and heal more easily.
In conclusion, antioxidants play an important role in maintaining skin health, contributing to cell regeneration and neutralizing free radicals. However, it is important to remember that changes do not occur overnight and long-term use of cosmetic products containing antioxidants is needed for the skin to be protected and look bright and youthful.
Conținutul IvaStories este creat de echipa Ivatherm, brand romanesc de dermatocosmetice fondat de Dr. Rucsandra Hurezeanu. Produsele Ivatherm sunt formulate cu Apă Termală Herculane și sunt testate dermatologic, recomandate de medici specialiști.
What are antioxidants and what benefits do they have on the skin?
Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or delay cellular damage, being key factors in the fight against free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that the body produces in response to environmental stresses (pollution, solar radiation), when subjected to physical exertion and when converting food into energy. If the level of free radicals is too high, oxidative stress occurs, a process that can trigger cell damage and has been associated with numerous conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, but also with premature skin aging.
However, the body is not defenseless against free radicals. Antioxidants, which can be both endogenous (produced by the body) and exogenous (assimilated from external sources), neutralize free radicals and are involved in mechanisms that repair DNA and maintain cell health.
In this article you will learn what antioxidants are, what their role is in the body, what benefits they have on the skin, and what are the most effective antioxidants used in skin care.
content
What are antioxidants and what is their role in the body?
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are substances that protect the body's cells from damage caused by free radicals, helping to maintain cellular health and biological balance.
Free radicals and their impact on the body
The body's cells face numerous daily attacks, such as poor nutrition, viral and bacterial infections, and environmental factors. One of the biggest threats is free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage cells and genetic material (DNA).
Free radicals can have different chemical structures, and their excess in the body leads to an imbalance called oxidative stress. This process can damage cells and is associated with the development of chronic diseases.
The role of antioxidants in maintaining cellular balance
The main role of antioxidants is to fight free radicals. The body must maintain a certain balance between free radicals and antioxidants. When this balance is disrupted, oxidative stress can occur, which, in the long term, can damage DNA and other important molecules in the body. Sometimes, oxidative stress is responsible for cell death.
Due to DNA damage, the skin aging process can be accelerated.
Free radicals are constantly formed in the body, under the influence of:
However, free radicals also perform important functions in maintaining good health. For example, immune cells use free radicals to fight infections. This is one reason why there must be a balance in the body between free radicals and antioxidants.
The body naturally produces antioxidants, but they can also be obtained from food (especially fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices ), from nutritional supplements or by using cosmetic products that contain them.
The benefits of antioxidants for the skin
The skin is the largest organ of the body and fulfills the role of protecting the body, acting as a barrier against external factors such as pollution, chemicals, weather and ultraviolet rays.
Skin cells continuously produce free radicals, through cellular respiration, metabolic processes or as a result of external aggressions. These molecules are immediately neutralized by enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems. In situations where this balance is disrupted, various cellular structures, such as the cell membrane, nuclear or mitochondrial DNA, can undergo structural changes, triggering or aggravating skin diseases.
Antioxidants and ultraviolet radiation
Ultraviolet radiation promotes the production of free radicals. The sun is responsible for premature skin aging.
UVA radiation penetrates the skin more deeply and can induce cellular changes, degradation of the dermal matrix and fibroblasts (the most common cells in connective tissue, which secrete collagen and elastin proteins).
To prevent the skin effects caused by ultraviolet radiation, it is recommended to use cosmetic products rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, considered to be one of the best anti-aging ingredients. With antioxidant properties, vitamin C accelerates cell healing and reduces inflammation.
Antioxidants and intrinsic aging
Along with solar radiation and other environmental factors responsible for oxidative phenomena, skin aging, as well as all organs, is accompanied by the decline of endogenous antioxidant mechanisms.
Intrinsic or natural aging is known to occur through the morphological and functional degeneration of the skin layers. The level of collagen and elastin decreases, which is why wrinkles, age spots , fine lines and other signs associated with skin aging appear.
In the process of intrinsic aging, progressive damage to mitochondrial DNA occurs. The free radical theory of aging was developed in the 1950s. Later, it was observed that mitochondria, the cellular organelles that convert nutrients and oxygen into energy, generate free radicals during cellular respiration.
Studies have shown that a powerful antioxidant, coenzyme Q10, present in all cells of the body, prevents oxidative activity. Coenzyme Q10 is the only fat-soluble antioxidant that cells can synthesize and for which there is an adequate enzymatic mechanism to regenerate it, but which decreases over time. Coenzyme Q10 also influences the synthesis of key skin proteins, such as collagen.
Antioxidants and inflammatory conditions
Inflammatory skin disorders are common and range from occasional rashes accompanied by itching and redness to more serious conditions such as atopic dermatitis, rosacea , seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis.
There are several antioxidants that reduce skin inflammation, both by inactivating reactive oxygen species and by directly blocking the activation of intracellular inflammatory signaling pathways. Vitamin E is one of the most important lipid antioxidants, scavenging lipid peroxyl radicals.
The best antioxidants for skin
Antioxidants are used in skin care products primarily due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and protective properties.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most widely used and best-studied antioxidants for skin care. One of the main roles of vitamin C is to stimulate collagen production . The amount of collagen fibers in the body decreases with age, which is why fine lines and wrinkles appear . Collagen synthesis cannot occur without vitamin C.
Vitamin C is also the most widely used antioxidant for fading dark circles and age spots around the eyes. Hydrating the under-eye area, which is the most sensitive, helps reduce bags and increase skin firmness.
Last but not least, vitamin C protects healthy cells and neutralizes free radicals formed as a result of sun exposure , one of the main causes of premature skin aging.
Vitamin E
Studies have shown that vitamin E protects skin cells from free radicals , promotes cellular activity, and soothes sensitive skin . Vitamin E treatment can reduce sun damage, decrease the risk of developing skin cancer, and stabilize the skin barrier.
In skin care formulas, vitamin E helps increase the effectiveness of other antioxidants, especially vitamin C and coenzyme Q10.
In addition to being an antioxidant and providing skin protection, vitamin E also helps accelerate wound healing , including having a moisturizing role.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that improves skin firmness and texture and helps fade age spots. It is one of the ingredients used in anti-aging products .
Another important role of niacinamide is that it helps in the formation of skin cells. At the same time, it provides protection for the skin against environmental factors that can damage the cell structure.
Niacinamide also contributes to strengthening the lipid barrier , which, in turn, contributes to water retention.
Last but not least, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, niacinamide can be beneficial in controlling acne , rosacea, and age spots , while minimizing the effects that ultraviolet rays can have on the skin.
Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol is a natural ingredient used in skin care products. It is found in the leaves and seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant and works similarly to retinol , but is much better tolerated by all skin types .
With antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, bakuchiol stimulates collagen production and has proven effects in reducing wrinkles, improving skin firmness and diminishing the appearance of pores . At the same time, bakuchiol supports cell renewal, helps soothe and heal the skin from the inside out and contributes to acne management.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is one of the most effective antioxidants in neutralizing free radicals.
A compound found in grapes, berries, and peanuts, resveratrol works against the effects of ultraviolet rays and has anti-inflammatory properties. It can also stimulate collagen and elastin , two proteins that provide hydration and elasticity to the skin.
Therefore, resveratrol restores skin radiance, evens out the complexion, helps reduce the appearance of age spots , and prevents fine lines and wrinkles.
Polyphenols
Polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, helping, among other things, to combat the effects of free radicals formed as a result of sun exposure and high levels of pollution.
At the same time, polyphenols contribute to maintaining optimal collagen levels, which is why skin aging is delayed. Polyphenols are found mainly in plants, fruits, and vegetables.
Green tea is one of the most common sources of polyphenols , which is useful in reducing redness and inflammation in the skin.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is one of the antioxidants that the body produces. It is found naturally in the skin, but its levels decrease with age, which diminishes the body's ability to effectively manage inflammation and oxidative stress.
Some evidence shows that this natural antioxidant may help fight visible signs of skin aging because it plays a critical role in generating energy for skin to renew itself.
Decreased production of coenzyme Q10 has a significant impact on the skin's ability to repair damaged cells.
In addition to these substances, there are numerous other natural active ingredients used in dermatocosmetic products that have antioxidant properties. For example, plant stem cell extract protects the skin against free radicals and slows down the aging process, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and the extract from the Physalis fruit , used as a plant active ingredient in dermatocosmetic products, restores collagen fibers and protects the skin from the harmful effects of infrared radiation and blue light.
It is also worth mentioning the role that glycans play in preventing skin aging. Recent studies have shown that these oligosaccharides on the surface of cells are lost or undergo changes with age. Using cosmetic products containing glycans allows "aged" cells to behave like young ones, which makes the skin produce more collagen and heal more easily.
In conclusion, antioxidants play an important role in maintaining skin health, contributing to cell regeneration and neutralizing free radicals. However, it is important to remember that changes do not occur overnight and long-term use of cosmetic products containing antioxidants is needed for the skin to be protected and look bright and youthful.
Resources:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-do-antioxidants-do/
https://medlineplus.gov/antioxidants.html
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/antioxidants/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/multimedia/antioxidants/sls-20076428
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/antioxidants-in-depth
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antioxidants-explained#bottom-line
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/301506#food-sources
https://www.self.com/story/best-antioxidants-for-skin-according-to-dermatologists
https://www.verywellhealth.com/antioxidants-for-skin-health-4587778
https://henrytianus.com/blogs/news/the-5-best-antioxidants-for-your-skin
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5514576/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140807103638.htm
Echipa Ivatherm
Conținutul IvaStories este creat de echipa Ivatherm, brand romanesc de dermatocosmetice fondat de Dr. Rucsandra Hurezeanu. Produsele Ivatherm sunt formulate cu Apă Termală Herculane și sunt testate dermatologic, recomandate de medici specialiști.