Everybody knows that one of the most beneficial things for our skin is antioxidants. Antioxidants help keep our skin functioning optimally, protecting it from damage caused by free radicals. Reducing free radical damage keeps our skin younger and healthier.
There are a variety of free radicals that can exist in the human body, wreaking havoc to contribute to the formation of wrinkles, pigmentation irregularities, and worse, cancer. The most common free radicals are the following:
Superoxide
Now that the summer’s here, beware of superoxides. These are created primarily from UV exposure, and can contribute to the production of other free radicals (including those listed below). They can cause damage at the DNA level.
Reduce the amount of superoxides in your body by protecting your skin from the sun.
Singlet Oxygen
Another free radical that is related to UV rays, singlet oxygen can adversely affect lipids DNA and proteins.
Vitamin E and beta carotene are effective in reducing singlet oxygen levels.
Hydroxyl
Hydroxyl radicals have the ability to cause damage to almost all the types of molecules in our body, from carbohydrates to lipids and much more.
You can fight hydroxyl radicals by consuming Vitamin E and melatonin.
You can undergo a treatment to eliminate the effects of free radical damage, like fraxel. However, you can also prevent effects altogether by leading a healthy lifestyle and eating right.