Antioxidant Craz: Why They Are So Important

Paul M. Graham, D.O.

Antioxidants are vital to protecting and regenerating the body’s natural collagen and should be a vital component to your daily skincare routine! For years, antioxidants have been extensively studied for their role in anti-aging and skin protection. Before I elaborate on how antioxidants work, we first need to look at why they are so important in your daily skin-care routine.

Nearly two million people are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer each year in the United States. The reason these statistics are so important is that skin cancer incidence continues to rise. This is largely due to significant sun exposure over the course of many years without proper sun protection. Unfortunately, many of us have already suffered a significant amount of solar damage from UV light, but this does not mean that we can not still protect ourselves from further skin damage and skin cancer development.

Following UV light exposure from the sun, molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in the skin. It is these molecules that cause damage to our skin’s natural collagen/elastic fibers and DNA. Skin cells that are repeatedly subjected to these damaging molecules will eventually develop mutations that increase the risk for skin cancer development. Additionally, the collagen and elastic fibers that make up the skin will be degraded causing the development of wrinkles, dark spots, and redness.

Antioxidants work against these damaging molecules by acting as the body’s own “Pacman scavenger”, consuming and detoxifying the ROS produced by UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds. They also have been scientifically proven to inhibit the initiation phase of cancer development by eliminating various carcinogens.  Furthermore, these scavengers prevent damage to collagen and elastic fibers, directly contributing to the anti-aging effects that are so often seen with routine use.

There are many antioxidants on the market today including vitamin A, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E (tocophenol), ferulic acid, coenzyme Q (CoQ), and polyphenols (green tea, resveratrol, and pomegranate). Vitamins C, E, and ferulic acid have been the most extensively studied over the past decade. For the sake of time and simplicity, we will discuss a product developed by SkinCeuticals called C E Ferulic.

C E Ferulic was first developed in 1999 by SkinCeuticals and contains a combination of vitamins C, E, and ferulic acid. Studies have revealed that this product yields approximately 8x the skin’s natural environmental protection (sun protection). Furthermore, this combination of vitamins works synergistically to provide more effective results than when compared to a single antioxidant formulation. C E Ferulic also provides more than twice the protection of current competitor products on the market. Not only is this product effective on sun protection, but also highly effective in producing increased skin firmness, elasticity, and wrinkle reduction. This product is suitable for all skin types and should be used as part of a daily skin care routine along with a good broad spectrum sunscreen.

C E Ferulic contains a synergistic antioxidant mixture of 15% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), 1% vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), and 0.5% ferulic acid. Vitamin C helps neutralize free radicals induced by UVA/UVB, infrared radiation (IRA), and ozone pollution (O3). Additionally, C E Ferulic improves clinical signs of aging and sun damage, fine lines/wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity, and skin dyspigmentation.

• Advanced environmental protection
• Clinically apparent anti-aging benefits
• Neutralizes free radicals on the upper layer of the skin to help prevent the impact of ozone damage to skin
• Remains effective for a minimum of 72 hours
• Paraben-free

References

1. Burns EM, Tober KL, Riggenbach JA, et al. Differential Effects of Topical Vitamin E and C E FerulicH Treatments on Ultraviolet Light B-Induced Cutaneous Tumor Development in Skh-1 Mice. Plos One. 2013;8(5):1-9.
2. Pinnell SR, et al. Topical L-ascorbic acid: percutaneous absorption studies. Dermatol Surg. 27;2:137-143.
3. http://www.skinceuticals.com

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