5 Benefits of Antioxidants
One of the hardest-working ingredients in skincare is antioxidants. Antioxidants help in fighting against the effects of free radicals that damage the skin. Some examples of antioxidants are vitamins C and carotenoids which protect the skin from oxidative damage. Antioxidants brighten your skin, even out the fine lines and calm skin irritations. Capsicum, carrots, oranges, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, etc. are rich sources of antioxidants. With rising pollution and stress levels, the oxidation in our body damages the skin cells. Antioxidants are beneficial for good, glowing, and youthful skin.
Here are the five benefits of antioxidants for the skin.
1. Anti-inflammation:
Studies show that chronic inflammation reduces the lifespan of cells and inhibits the immune system. Inflammation obstructs the skin regeneration process. Antioxidants help in preventing this. Studies have proven that with the help of dietary changes and nutrients, you can reduce the effects of oxidative stress, and the formation of free radicals. It slows down skin damages, early signs of aging, prevent breakouts and fine lines. Vitamin C stimulates the production of collagen. Collagen is the substance that binds the skin cells together.
An increase in collagen helps the skin to repair itself, and you will notice visible changes. Antioxidants present in pine bark and green tea-like alpha-lipoic acid increases blood circulation and cell metabolism. Lower inflammation promotes an even skin tone with reduced acne and wrinkles. While fighting inflammation, use green tea extracts for a soothing skin effect. Supplement your diet with colored fruits and vegetables like blueberries, apples, and tomatoes. These foods contain powerful antioxidants and polyphenols that are suitable to maintain younger-looking skin.
2. Skin firming:
One of the most important benefits of antioxidants is that it prevents skin sagging. The antioxidants help in building up collagen that supports the skin from sagging. A common skin-firming antioxidant is Coenzyme Q-10 that is great as an under-eye cream and moisturizers that helps in skin firming. Vitamin A, retinoid, and retinol are powerful antioxidants that trigger the production of collagen and resists free radical damage.
Retin-A accelerates the cell turnover with a visible impact on the early signs of aging. It leaves a long term effect on the skin by treating the age spots and improves skin texture. Lycopene, present in red berries, is a carotenoid which is a powerful antioxidant that promotes collagen formation and restores skin DNA. When the DNA of the skin is in fine condition, the aging process slows down, and you can achieve a firm looking skin. Due to growing technology, skincare antioxidants are not just taken from food, but you can also apply them to the skin directly. For firm skin, you can choose from a wide variety of next generation antioxidants to apply to your skin.
3. Reduced appearance of wrinkles:
A well-effectual epidermis is vital for the protection of skin from free radicals. A stabilized epidermal lipid barrier is essential for the complete absorption of nutrients and vitamins from the skincare products for the best results. But aging is inevitable, and this slows down the skin’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. Aging makes the skin prone to wrinkles. Vitamin B3 or Niacinamide, is an antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory properties.
It enhances the skin’s tone, texture, and reduces wrinkles. This antioxidant is water-soluble, and you can use it for any skin type. To magnify the effects, you can combine this antioxidant with other vitamins like Vitamin C, hydroxy acids, and retinol too. It might not be possible to obliterate the wrinkles, but it can make your skin look fresh. Vitamin E, present in nuts and meat, is an antioxidant that absorbs faster into your skin through topical treatment compared to oral supplementation. Vitamin E is a crucial anti-aging antioxidant for skin that helps to prevent sagging skin.
4. Scar treatment:
Skin breakout leaves a scar behind once they are gone. According to a study, antioxidants are vital for treating and repairing burnt skin and scars. Vitamin E is another essential antioxidant that you must include in your skincare regimen. This antioxidant aids in the healing process of the skin. It reduces the appearance of a scar. In a scar, the cell membrane of the skin cells ruptures.
Oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids is one of the reasons for skin rupture. Vitamin E prevents the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, maintains a healthy cell membrane, and can help to heal scars. As compared to the cell structure of healthy skin, scar tissue has a different structure, which makes it hard. Allium, an antioxidant found in aloe and onion extract, minimizes the scar by increasing the blood flow to the scar tissue. It also helps in skin regeneration. There are scar treatment products that are rich in antioxidants in the form of creams, gels, and patches.
5. Repair of sun damage:
Too much sun rays are harmful to your skin. It can make your skin appear dull, dry, wrinkly, hyperpigmentation, and damage the cells. Hyperpigmentation of the skin can happen after any anti-inflammatory process like acne, rashes, ringworm, and eczema. Sun exposure has the probability of encouraging pigment-producing cells. The anti-inflammatory properties of antioxidants prevent sun damage by giving sun protection and promotes new cell growth. Lightening agents like Vitamin C, are excellent for pigmentations problemsa and damage.
Talk to your dermatologist to determine which treatment is the best for your type of hyperpigmentation. Including antioxidant-rich cleansers and moisturizers in your skincare routine will help in the regrowth of damaged skin cells. They help in revealing a younger-looking skin texture. Natural antioxidants are a safer alternative to applying artificial inorganic sunscreens to protect against UV rays. Chemical-based sunscreens are often metal-based and may be toxic to the skin.
Conclusion:
In today’s times when appearance has become necessary, following a healthy diet and skincare routine will help you achieve the same. Factors like pollution, sun rays, smoking, radiation are the leading causes that trigger free radicals. Including antioxidants in your skincare regimen helps to fight the damage caused by free radicals. In case of severe skin problems, consult a dermatologist for the right kind of treatment. They can help you with the right variety of antioxidants for healthy skin. Apart from applying natural antioxidant-rich skincare products, maintaining a diet rich in green leafy vegetables and colored fruits, essential fats from nuts, fish, and drinking lots of water are equally useful for young skin.
