The Importance of Antioxidants

Antioxidants play an important role in the daily defence against free radicals. We should use a brigade of both oral and topical antioxidants to work in different phases so when a free radical develops, the antidote is right there.

What are free radicals?

Free radicals are molecules responsible for ageing, tissue damage and possibly some diseases. These molecules are very unstable; therefore they look to stabilise themselves through reaction with another molecule. This sets up a snowball effect which wreaks havoc on healthy tissue and causes many damaged chemicals.

The concept that free radicals were involved with the deterioration of human biochemistry was the biggest advance since the discovery of germs and goes beyond the ageing process. Damage by free radicals compromises collagen and elastin, causing skin to be less resilient and more wrinkled. Damage to the DNA of skin cells is responsible for mutations altering melanin production.

Free radicals are now known to be involved with cancer, heart disease, arthritis and perhaps as many as 80 diseases not caused by "germs".

Free radicals and antioxidants

The greatest free radical challenge occurs in our skin every day, as it’s our largest organ and it’s what protects us from our environment. Incorporating the right antioxidants into your diet and skin care routine will have a positive effect on your skin.

Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals) and enzymes (proteins inside your body) that can help prevent and repair damage to your body’s tissue. They do this by slowing or preventing the effect of free radicals. As they block the effects of free radicals, they end up being damaged themselves, so it is important to constantly replenish your supply of antioxidants.

Antioxidants – like beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, selenium and vitamins A, C and E – can be found naturally in many foods including fruits and vegetables, nuts, grains, some meats, poultry and fish. However, as we know from our previous blog Inside Skin Care, we cannot rely on food alone to supply the nutrients we need for health.

Vitamins A, C and E are particularly beneficial in skin care as not only do they fortify cells against free radicals, they encourage cell and tissue growth, helping the body to repair itself. Skin is constantly shedding and regrowing cells. Therefore, antioxidants which protect cells and encourage cell growth are helpful in preventing and repairing ageing of the skin. These vitamins are the key ingredients in Environ’s AVST creams.

The Advanced Nutrition Programme has recently launched Skin Antioxidant, an innovative supplement containing seven super nutrients found in plants – lutein, curcumin, bilberry extract, beta-carotene, grapeseed extract, lycopene and green tea. Including Skin Antioxidant in your skin care routine will complement your skincare creams. Skin Antioxidant works in synergy with vitamin A and is available as a duo pack with Skin Vit A+ to repair and protect.

Antioxidants help to protect the skin from the damaging effects of the sun. Unlike sunscreens and moisturisers, antioxidants can protect your skin from the inside out by guarding your cells from damage. Antioxidants don’t block UV rays entering the skin, therefore they should be used in conjunction with sunscreens. They’re beneficial when included within sunscreens as they stabilise free radicals.

Environ’s RAD was unique as it was the first sunscreen to contain antioxidants. It was developed in 1991 and it wasn’t until 2011 that another company brought out a sunscreen with antioxidants. The antioxidants mop up the free radicals created as the chemicals absorb UV rays as well as the free radicals created by UV rays themselves.

Skin Defender from the Advanced Nutrition Programme contains nine separate antioxidants together with immune system support to sustain and speed up growth, repair and renewal, and enhance natural sun protection. Used in conjunction with RAD, Skin Defender protects cells from radiation and protects against sunburn.

This highlights the importance of adopting a multi-faceted approach – feed your skin with the vitamins and antioxidants it needs, both topically and orally, protect your skin with both RAD and Skin Defender and, of course, practise safe sun!

Call us or pop in and see us and we’ll explain more about our feed, fortify, finish philosophy to skincare and select products specifically for you.