The skin is the largest organ in the human body weighing approximately ten pounds and covering an area of about 16 square feet. People often take if for granted and tend not to take optimal care of it. Our skin is responsible for protecting our internal organs from the toxic external world. Our skin protects us from heat, cold and physical injuries. It also provides us with sensory information about the nature of the external world, and is our first defense against invasion by bacteria, viruses and other toxic elements. The skin is also an excretory organ, removing toxins from the body via perspiration.
The skin, as the outermost barrier of the body, is exposed to various sources of oxidative stress, in particular UV-radiation and environmental toxins such as cigarette smoke, air pollution. Internally the skin is attacked like any other organ, through processes involving glycation (protein cross-linking), collagen-elastin degradation and free radical induced injury.
Various animal and human studies have proven that topically applied antioxidants, especially vitamins C and E, as well as alpha-lipoic acid, exert protective effects against free radical damage (oxidative stress).
Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation from the sun damages human skin and causes premature skin ageing (photoageing). Acute and chronic photo-radiation damage depletes the body's natural antioxidant enzyme systems and increases oxidative protein modifications (cross links). These pathological effects are found in the upper and lower layers of the skin. Cross-linked (glycated) proteins are classic characteristics of skin ageing. Cross-linked proteins in the skin result in stiffening, wrinkling and a leathery appearance.
The structure of the skin is supported by collagen, the main constituent of connective tissue. The skin requires constant synthesis of new collagen to remain firm and youthful. Epidemiological studies strongly indicate an association between tobacco smoking and ageing. One study showed that collagen biosynthesis was reduced by 40.1% following topical application with tobacco smoke extract. When an antioxidant mixture that included vitamins C and E were applied, the destructive alteration of collagen induced by tobacco and UVA radiation was prevented.
A characterisitic of sun-damaged skin is the degradation of the supporting structure of the skin caused by reduced collagen synthesis. A study involving 72 individuals of varying age groups was done to see if the topical application of natural vitamin A could improve function in both natural aged, sun protected, and photo-aged skin. The overall findings indicated that naturally aged, sun protected and photo-aged skin share important molecular features including connective tissue damage, elevalted metalloproteinase levels and reduced collagen production.
Topical vitamin A treatment reduced matrix metalloproteinase expression and stimulated collagen synthesis in naturally aged and sun-protected skin, a it does in photo-aged skin. Besides being a precursor for retinoic acid, vitamin A also has free-radical scavenging potential.Vitamin A absorbed ultrviolet light to help protect the most delicate areas of the skin against damaging free radical attack. Natural vitamin A thus guards against normal and sun-induced skin structural alterations.
Skin damage may also be accelerated by chronic systemic inflammation, which is the underlying cause of common degenerative diseases. Scientists believe that the pro-oxidative factors that activate a self-maintained micro-inflammatory process may interfere with skin elasticity and thickness.One study shows that topical antioxidants decrease this inflammatory cascade and thus afford protection to skin structures.
Replacing moisture lost to agieng is a prime reason why people use face creams. Most commercial face creams are oil-based and work by blocking the release of water from the skin. As people grow older, however, they cannot rely on oil-based preparations to block the release of moisture. That is because older skin lacks the ability to attract moisture in the first place and becomes dehydrated. At this point, the skin needs to replenished with its natural moisturising complex.
Science now indicates that daily application of a variety of agents can have a positive effect on the health and appearance of the skin.
Warning
The information on our site is not intended as medical advice and you should always seek guidance from a medical doctor on supplements, particularly if you are on medication, as they can sometimes interact with certain drugs and medical conditions.
