 Antioxidants and skin
The role of antioxidants in enhancing skin care has become a
hot topic at the moment. If you are not yet familiar with this
term you should know that antioxidants are chemicals naturally
present in all our bodies. They serve to protect skin tissue
against harm that can be caused by compounds known by the
curious name of free radicals.
The free radicals are also naturally
present in the body as a by-product of an essential process
called oxidation. Although everyone needs the heat and energy
generated through this metabolizing of fats and glucose, the
free radicals it also creates are capable of causing serious
damage to body tissue and increase risks of disease as well as
hastening the pace of aging.
Free radicals can also be created through the impact of
environmental pollution and personal lifestyles, smoking in
particular.
Although the body absorbs antioxidants through a range of
foods and drinks, for example, broccoli, spinach, grape juice,
and teas, they can also be supplemented with vitamins E and C
formulas. Current research indicates that the skin is the last
bodily organ to benefit from our antioxidant intake and this
has opened up a market to producers of skin care products that
bring antioxidants directly into contact with our skin.
These creams are recommended for their role in providing
additional protection against the damage to skin tissue
resulting from climate and environmental factors. There
are indications that certain of these skin creams can actually
assist in the healing of damaged skin, and perhaps even hold
back the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging. They
also seem to have some effect in fighting bacteria-based skin
infections.
High in the ranks of antioxidants viewed as particularly
beneficial for the skin are the well known vitamins A and C.
The former is considered a valuable aid to slowing down the
effects of aging on the skin and improving skin condition while
the latter improves the appearance of skin and helps protect it
from over-exposure to sunshine. Vitamin E is seen as helping
guard the oily molecules found in skin against damage caused by
free radical attacks.
Although the scientific evidence available for specific
antioxidants and skin care links is as of yet inconclusive,
there appears to be sufficient indication that antioxidants and
skin health are linked in that by helping strengthen general
health they also help improve skin condition.
| 
