Your Skin From Harmful Free Radicals

Skin From Harmful Free Radicals

A vitamin C cream can have a dramatic effect on aging skin, reducing premature aging caused by excessive exposure to sunlight. Every woman who is past the age of thirty and who has had excessive exposure to sunlight should incorporate a vitamin C cream into her facial skin care regimen.

As the skin ages, it loses elaticity and resiliency. This loss of elasticity and resiliency is caused by a decrease in the production of two major skin proteins, elastin and collagen. When there is a decrease in the production of collagen and elastin by skin cells, the skin wrinkles and sags.

For this reason, wrinkling and sagging of the skin are common physical changes associated with aging skin. A vitamin C cream can strengthen and repair damaged collagen fibers as well as boost the synthesis of collagen.

Splotching of the skin also becomes pronounced as one ages. Splotching of the skin is very visible and unattractive. The splotching of aging skin is due to an uneven deposition of pigment in the outer skin layer (epidermis).

The skin is no longer a uniform color as when compared to the skin of a healthy young adult. Some of the areas on the skin can become heavily pigmented, especially on the cheeks and the forehead. The darkened or hyperpigmented areas are more apparent in individuals who are fair-skinned.

Splotching can become worse when there is a build-up of dead cells on the surface of the skin. These dead cells are filled with pigment. These dead skin cells should be removed before a vitamin C cream is applied to the face. The dead skin cells can be removed with an exfoliating facial cleanser.

Severe splotching of the skin can be unsightly, and can have devastating social and psychological effects on an individual. Splotching appears to be more pronounced during menopause. It is thought that low blood levels of estrogen are partly responsible for splotcing associated with aging skin.

Unfortunately, excessive overexposure of the skin to sunlight can cause the same physical changes of the skin that results from natural aging. Depending upon the amount of exposure to direct sunlight, skin changes can be far more devastating than those associated with aging. Ultraviolet radiation (UV light) from sunlight is the major contributor to skin aging. The term for this is photoaging.

Photoaging is caused by the release of free radicals in the skin from UV exposure. Free radicals are negatively charged, unstable, highly reactive molecules. As free radicals careen throughout the body, they disrupt cell membranes, enter into cells destroying very important molecules essential for the building and maintenance of healthy skin. These free radicals destroy the major supporting proteins of the skin, elastin and collagen. As a result, the skin sags and wrinkles.

In addition, an overexposure to sunlight can increase the production of melanin by melanocytes. An increased production of melanin by melanocytes can result in splotching of the skin and uneven skin tones similar to those associated with natural aging. Cumulative daily sunlight exposure results in significant skin damage, splotching and premature aging.

A vitamin C cream can significantly improve the physical changes, wrinkling, sagging skin, and splotching resulting from natural aging and photoaging. Vitamin C has been proven to stimulate collagen synthesis, firming the skin and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. It also decreases the production of melanin by melanocytes, thereby reducing the increased pigmentation associated with aging skin.

Sometimes a vitamin C cream is referred to as a skin brightener because it lightens the skin, unifying skin color and enhancing the radiance and clarity of skin. Vitamin C is also also a potent antioxidant, and is effective in protecting the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals.

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