Can Topical Antioxidants Help Protect Your Skin?
Patients often ask me for a skincare regimen that helps preserve the youthful appearance of their skin. Of course, my number one recommendation is always—you guessed it—SUNSCREEN! Using a daily product with greater than SPF 30 is a key component to protecting the skin from ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Keep in mind that you will need to use a water-resistant sunscreen if you will be sweating or swimming.
But, is there anything else we can do to protect our skin from the sun?
Let’s talk about photoaging.
Over time, excessive sun exposure can result in skin wrinkling, redness, and brown spots. Whereas UVB directly damages DNA, UVA acts by creating reactive oxygen species (ROS), known as free radicals, which can accelerate the process of photoaging.
Our bodies have a built-in antioxidant defense system that helps to neutralize these free radicals. However, that reservoir can be quickly depleted. So that begs the question: Can supplementation with a topical antioxidant decrease the ROS caused by excessive UVA exposure?
Can topical antioxidants help?
SSDP Brightening C Serum
Several topical antioxidants have the potential to diminish the ROS generated from UVA irradiation, including Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, selenium, silymarin, green tea polyphenols, soy isoflavones, caffeic acid, apigenin, polypodium leucotomos extract, pycnogenol, and resveratrol.
Vitamin C, for example, has been shown to increase collagen production and reduce redness caused by sun exposure. Vitamins C and E work together to decrease oxidative stress. Compared with Vitamin C alone, the combination of Vitamin C and Vitamin E doubles the protection against UV-induced redness. Stabilizing agents, such as ferulic acid and phloretin, may possibly enhance vitamin uptake into the skin.
Why add topical antioxidants to my skincare routine?
While sunscreen is an essential part of a daily skincare routine, it offers more UVB than UVA protection, and may not provide sufficient protection against ROS. Therefore, adding a topical antioxidant has the potential to provide further benefit, and can be considered as another step in your daily skincare regimen.
Any questions? Consult one of our board-certified dermatologists. Please contact SSDP to schedule an appointment with any of our physicians.
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