Our body naturally produces free radicals as a result of normal metabolic processes, but it also has a defense mechanism that needs help fighting harmful outside factors. These factors are exposure to harmful substances and irritants in form of sun radiation, cigarette smoke, or pollution etc. Those harmful factors produce a huge amount of free radicals in our body and its defense mechanism is just not powerful enough to prevent or repair all of the damage. That’s when our skin shows the first signs of aging like wrinkles, dullness and discoloration. Antioxidants not only combat the free radicals preventing any further damage, but they also play an important role in repairing the damage. A basic skincare for men – skin care tips for menBelow are some of the greatest benefits of antioxidants for the skin:
Anti-inflammation
Antioxidants like Vitamin C, Retinol (one of the animal forms of vitamin A), Resveratol (found in red wine, red grapes and berries) and Green tea are great anti-inflammatory agents that promote even skin tone, reduce wrinkles and fight against acne by increasing the cell metabolism and circulation in the skin. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an omega-3 fatty acid abundant in cold-water fish. It is another powerful antioxidant that plays a role in the anti-inflammatory response by inhibiting two inflammatory chemicals.
Minimize fine lines and wrinkles
Free radicals accelerate the natural process of aging by reducing the production of collagen and elastin which are proteins found in the connective tissue of the skin. Most of the antioxidants (especially Coenzyme Q-10 and vitamins C and E) help increase the production of collagen which can fight fine lines and wrinkles.
Reduce Age Spots
Sun exposure speeds up the production of melanin in the skin. Over time, the excessive melanin piles up in certain parts of the skin and that’s when age spots appear. Antioxidants, especially vitamin C help lighten the affected parts of the skin by reducing the production of melanin on the age spot.
Reduce Acne
One of the best antioxidants for treating acne is retinol, which is one of the animal forms of vitamin A (found in eggs, liver and dairy products). It reduces the skin oil production and prevents dead skin cells from sloughing off and clogging pores. Zinc (found in nuts, seeds, oatmeal, whole grains, lean meats and oysters) plays multiple roles in the treatment of acne, as a transporter for vitamin A and it also reduces the production of sebum. Selenium (found in grains, nuts, seafood) works synergistically with zinc and the other antioxidants and functions in glutathione peroxidase which helps combat acne.
Conclusion
Antioxidants are extremely important in supporting beautiful, youthful skin.
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