You’ve probably heard the term antioxidants before. And in this context you may also have heard that they are healthy and contribute to beautiful skin. But what exactly is hidden behind these “miracle substances” and what makes them so beneficial for well wrinkle treatment so interesting? How do we get antioxidants? In the following article, we take a closer look at the topic.
Antioxidants: What are they?
Antioxidants are chemical compounds. As their name suggests, they ensure that other substances do not oxidize(anti = against, oxidare = oxidize). This means that they are directly involved in cell protection, as preventing oxidation also prevents a large number of free radicals and ultimately oxidative stress. This is very harmful to cells, as it can destroy the cell membrane, among other things, and thus also damage the function of the cells. Free radicals are considered to accelerate skin ageing and are also associated with numerous diseases.
How do antioxidants work?
Antioxidants are so-called radical scavengers. Free radicals are unstable molecules that are particularly reactive. They lack a negatively charged particle. The molecules want to compensate for this imbalance as quickly as possible, which is why they take a negatively charged particle from cells in the vicinity and bind it to themselves. As a result, the “stolen” particle is missing, which sets off a chain reaction.
Free radicals can be caused by external influences such as an unhealthy diet, nicotine, UV radiation or certain medications. Persistent stress is also considered a risk factor. The body can easily cope with a certain number of free radicals. However, if more and more of these free radicals accumulate, the aforementioned chain reaction (oxidative stress) can occur.
With the help of antioxidants, free radicals are bound in the body before they can damage the cells. They prevent the chain reaction by voluntarily releasing a negatively charged particle to the free radicals and thus protecting other cells.
Where do they occur?
The body itself produces antioxidants. They can also be absorbed through food and skin care. These are vitamins, trace elements, minerals, enzymes and secondary plant substances. The best-known antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, carotenoids and the trace elements zinc, iron and selenium.
If you want to take in antioxidants in a targeted way, it is best to eat vegetable oils such as wheat germ oil or coconut oil (caution is advised here if you already have heart disease) as well as vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables. Citrus fruits, sea buckthorn, peppers, blackcurrants and parsley, for example, have a high vitamin C content.
How do antioxidants beautify the skin?
The importance of antioxidants for aesthetic medicine can be found in their cell protection function. An appropriate amount of antioxidants in the body reduces the risk of cell damage and therefore also skin ageing. At the same time, however, care should also be taken to reduce the risk of free radicals by avoiding factors such as an unhealthy lifestyle, prolonged stress, lack of sleep, nicotine, environmental toxins and high UV exposure as far as possible.
Precious cosmeceuticals, among other things, are suitable for targeted care with antioxidants. These are products that fall somewhere between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals – i.e. care products with a very high degree of effectiveness.
In our practice we offer SkinCeuticals, skinbetter® and Dermalogica® products. We determine what your skin needs with the help of a deep skin analysis. Find out more about skin analysis with VISIA® Gen7 here .
Further treatments for young and radiant skin
Every skin is completely individual. The same applies to skin ageing. Despite a healthy lifestyle and the best possible avoidance of oxidative stress, sooner or later signs of ageing such as wrinkles, loss of volume or age spots will appear. If these interfere with the overall aesthetic appearance, these areas can be rejuvenated in a targeted manner. There are various methods of wrinkle treatment and skin beautification to choose from, which are selected or combined depending on the findings and the desired result. Two of the best known and most popular procedures are treatment with hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin (Botox®).
Dr. Kors is an experienced expert in the field of injection therapies with more than 20 years of expertise in aesthetic treatments. He is also a member of the DGBT (German Society for Aesthetic Botulinum and Filler Therapy). He will be happy to give you comprehensive advice on minimally invasive wrinkle treatment. Make an appointment here for a personal consultation with the expert.
last update: 7.11.2022