Skin Antioxidants

The most recent age-defying product on the market is antioxidants. Claiming that their products will diminish the signs of aging, companies sell volumes of antioxidants to consumers. Their claims offer the controversial questions: Can a drug stop the effects of aging? How many capsules does it take to eliminate facial wrinkles? Are these pills simply placebos?

Outline

Antioxidants and free radicals
How Do Antioxidants Work?
Claims about Antioxidant Products
The Scientific Foundation of Antioxidants
Antioxidants - The Real Hype
What Should You Do? Advice for the Consumer

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Antioxidants and Free Radicals

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are chemicals that protect cells by neutralizing external forces (such as damage from the sun, pollution, wind, and temperature) and internal factors (for example, emotions, metabolism, and the presence of excess oxygen). Common antioxidants are Vitamins A, C, E, and beta carotene. These special chemicals assist in skin repair and the strengthening of blood vessels.

Topical antioxidants provide some protection against environmental damage to the skin and may be somewhat effective in slowing down the skin aging. However, in general topical antioxidants are relatively unreliable. Their effect depends on skin permeability, other ingredients in the cream and many other factors.

It appears that increasing oral intake of some antioxidants may additionally protect skin from free radicals. Keep in mind, however, that relatively little solid research has been done specifically on skin benefits of oral or topical antioxidants and much of the supporting evidence is indirect.

Why do we need them?

Antioxidants are necessary because they combat free radicals. Free radicals are byproducts that are formed when oxygen is used by the body (http://ificinfo.health.org/antidox.htm) . Free radicals start a chain reaction under the skin's surface, and outlined below is the process of destruction.

They have an unpaired electron in their outer orbital, making the molecule unstable.
Free radicals attempt to gain an electron from natural proteins in the skin to acquire stability.
This sets off a chain reaction because all molecules want to form an octet, which is an atom with eight valence electrons.
In the aftermath of the reaction are free radical waste products of misshapen and broken molecules (http://antiox.com/).
Therefore, the structure of our skin is damaged and its cellular structure is weakened.
Free radicals also alter our DNA, which results in aging and illness.
Some forces that cause free radicals are air pollution, sunlight, alcohol, and cigarette smoke. Another factor is stress; stress produces adrenaline-related products, which not only restricts blood flow to our skin, but also generates potent, destructive free radicals (http:www.lifeplusvitamins.com/ facial). According to the free radical theory, aging is caused by the slow cumulative oxidation of body tissues over a lifetime (Gutteridge, 1994).

How Do Antioxidants Work?

There are many ways to take antioxidants; the most common way is by ingesting tablets. Companies sell pills with their own secret and special formulas; however, most tablets contain the antioxidant proanthocyanidin.

Proanthocyanidin, or OPC, is the most powerful antioxidant known. OPC's are found in many plants, are highly bioavailable and are active in the body as tremendous antioxidants and free radical scavengers (http://users.aol.com/lifeplus/opc85.htm l). These powerful antioxidants protect collagen, which is the foundation for blood vessels and all connective tissues.

A very important chemical property for an oxidant is its solubility in water and fat (or oil). Basically, living organisms have two types of internal media, watery extra- and intracellular space and oily membranes that serve as partitions enclosing individual cells and various intracellular compartments. Water-soluble antioxidants are effective mainly in extra- and intracellular fluid, whereas fat-soluble antioxidants protect biological membranes. Both types of antioxidants are needed to create an effective shield against free radicals for the entire body, and skin in particular.

Solubility of antioxidants

Water soluble	Fat soluble	Water and fat soluble
Vitamin C Cysteine Methionine Selenium Glutathione	Vitamin E Vitamin A Carotenes Lycopene Coenzyme Q10	Lipoic acid Melatonin Some polyphenols Some flavonoids

The Scientific Foundation of Antioxidants
Scientists have discovered that the metabolic rate of animals is related to their life span. Therefore, larger animals do not consume as much oxygen per unit of body mass as smaller animals, and larger animals live longer. Consequently, researchers believe that aging is connected with oxygen metabolism and involves free radicals. Thus, the faster oxygen is consumed by an organism, the more free radicals it might make (Gutteridge, 1994).

Gutteridge (1994) believes there is no convincing evidence that free radicals cause the aging process He states that antioxidants do not lose their effectiveness over time, nor do they increase life span. The inevitable deterioration of body tissues as an organism grows older may possibly lead to free radical damage. Thus, claims that antioxidants, royal jelly, or any other potion will make you live longer are without scientific foundation (Gutteridge, 1994).

Do Antioxidants Affect the Immune System?

Chandra (1992) studied 96 healthy men and women over the age of 65 in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to note a response (if any) to an antioxidant-enriched supplement. The supplement contained vitamin E and beta carotene. After one year, Chandra (1992) reported that the group with the supplement exhibited a significant improvement in immune function, including the number of T cells. This group also had 48% fewer days of infection-related illness than the control subjects and 56% fewer days of antibiotic use (Chandra, 1992).

Antioxidants and Macular Degeneration

Antioxidants can also play a role in the prevention of age-related maculopathy, which is the degeneration of eye tissue. Researchers held a study in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin using 2429 men and women aged 43 through 86. In this study, the observers conducted retrospective cohort study using data about the subjects' diets. The observers noted that the intake of vitamins C and E (antioxidant-containing vitamins) resulted in a lower risk of early age-related maculopathy (Mares-Perlman, J., Klein, R., Klein, B., Greger, J., Brady, W., Palta, M., Ritter, L., 1996).

Antioxidants and Acetaminophen-induced Toxicity

Silymarin, a powerful antioxidant, reduces the toxins produced by acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol). After injecting silymarin into human epidermal cells in vitro (outside of the body), scientists noticed a significant decrease in cytotoxicity (Shear, Malkiewicz, Klein, Koren, Randor, and Neuman, 1995). Silymarin accomplishes this feat by stabilizing the mitochondrial membranes in human epidermal cells.

Antioxidants - The Real Hype
Many people are confused about the hype over antioxidants. More and more people are taking antioxidant-based products, whether they are prescribed by a physician or not. One doctor reported that one of her patients had been taking antioxidants for several months. She had a five hour facelift surgery that routinely causes massive swelling and bruising. This woman had virtually no swelling or bruising and the plastic surgeon said that he was 'amazed' at the incredible healing (http://www.sports- medicine.com/pgantiox.htm).

Antioxidants can not eliminate wrinkles or other effects of aging simply because growing old is a natural process of life. Skin thickness increases with age, while skin elasticity decreases; this can not be avoided (Takema, Y., Yorimoto, Y., Kawai, M., Imokawa, G., 1994). Merely taking antioxidant supplements will not correct the loss of skin elasticity or make the facial skin look younger. Supplements of antioxidants will not replace a deficiency of iron or other vitamins (Halliwell, 1996).

The information available on antioxidants is contradictory. The studies on antioxidants are very misleading; the titles present the question of the myth of antioxidant supplements, but the answer is not found within the conclusions. However, most researches seem to agree that antioxidants do not prevent cancer or heart disease, and they do not increase the life span of a person. It has also not been proven that antioxidant supplements reduce or expunge facial wrinkles or make the skin look younger.

What Should You Do? Advice for the Consumer
Halliwell (1996) suggests that people have a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and avoid smoking (a major cause of free-radical buildup). Dietary supplementation with [antioxidants] should use only amounts close to the USA RDA (Halliwell, 1996). Exceeding the recommended level has not proved to be of extra benefit. However, the toxicity of vitamin E is low; . . . the toxicity of beta-carotene also is low (Diplock, 1995). Diplock's findings are based on circumstantial evidence that 15- 50 mg/d is without side effects. If a person ingests more than the advised amount, it should not cause harm to the person's body. Scientists believe that it is wise to get a sufficient amount of antioxidants in the diet to meet the RDA, but large doses have not yet been proven beneficial. In conclusion, taking antioxidants to save facial skin or prevent aging does not appear to be supported by scientific evidence.

A very important chemical property for an oxidant is its solubility in water and fat (or oil). Basically, living organisms have two types of internal media, watery extra- and intracellular space and oily membranes that serve as partitions enclosing individual cells and various intracellular compartments

BIOBALM ™ - A powerful antioxidant serum that inhibits free radical production and provides cellular and DNA protection from UV damage

Detoxifies the cells by removing cellular and DNA damaging materials that are responsible for adverse effects on the skin. Boosts the production of the water holding molecules present in the dermis and retains water. Induces the proliferation of antimicrobial peptides that keep skin infections at bay. Moderates inflammation. Relieves dryness and redness. Unclogs pores while replenishing the lipid barrier of the skin to block the penetration of allergens. Stimulates the regeneration of damaged cells.

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