Free Radicals | Free Radical Damage To Skin

Free Radicals | Free Radical Damage To Skin | Antioxidants

Free radicals are one of the key enemies of the skin. These free radicals are linked to the origins of cancer, illness, an aging. Free radicals initiate the deterioration of the skin’s structural support and decrease the elasticity of skin. Free radicals are also responsible for the cause of wrinkles.

Free Radical Damage To The Skin

Usually oxygen molecules lose one electron of their electrons, when they are involved in chemical reactions. In turn these molecules, which are now called free radicals, will take electrons from nearby molecules. This will set off a chain reaction that is summarily called free radical damage.

Causes Of Free Radical Damage To The Skin

Anything that contains oxygen – carbon monoxide, hydrogen peroxide can cause free radical damage to the skin. Often in the natural world, exhaust fumes, too much sunlight, and other sources that contain oxygen are causes of adverse free radical damage.

1. Radiation

Radiation may cause the build up of free radicals. X-rays, gamma rays and others may increase the presence of free radicals in the body.

2. Inorganic Particles

Inorganic substances like asbestos, quartz and silica can cause free radical damage.

3. Gases

Although ozone is not a free radical, it is a very powerful oxidizing agent. Ozone, which contains two unpaired electrons, decomposes under certain conditions. This suggests that free radicals can be formed when this decomposition happens.

4. Cigarette Smoking

Apart from cigarette smoking being hazardous to lungs, it can also cause dry, unhealthy skin, and pale, unhealthy complexion. The presence of free radicals in the body, further complicating the adverse affects tobacco brings.

The adverse effects of the free radicals can controlled with the help of antioxidants.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants prevents the interaction of free radical molecules with other molecules, thus preventing the free radical damage to skin, therefore stunting the chain reaction of the process.

We find large sources of antioxidants in our human body and in plant world. Antioxidants include ingredients such as vitamins A, C and E; flavonoids; beta-carotene; selenium; glutathione; superoxide dismutase; and zinc.

The skin cells of a person could break down and lose their ability to function well, if he does not get enough antioxidants from their diet and other sources.

Lotions And Moisturizers With Antioxidant Formula

Most lotions and moisturizers nowadays bandy an antioxidant formula particularly targeted to those who are worried about the free radical damage. Unfortunately, it is hard to prove if these compounds can actually show dramatic results, as it not practical to expect results overnight.

Some people even believe that with further scientific inquiry, free radical investigation could lead to startling advances against the effects of aging. It is however, still a good idea to splurge on antioxidants as the benefits of these compounds are well-known.

One may increase the intake of antioxidants in the diet, or may purchase topical applications of the vitamins A, C, E and the other antioxidant compounds to increase antioxidants in the body and thus, increasing the defense against free radical damage.

Free Radicals - Know about the free radical damage to the skin and also about the methods to prevent the free radical damage to the skin with the help of antioxidants.

Alien writes for acne skin care. He also writes for makeup tips and skin problems

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