How to Prevent Premature Aging of the Skin
Aging of the skin is caused by several factors that fall into 2 categories; ‘Intrinsic’ Aging which is the natural aging process and ‘Extrinsic’ Aging which can cause the skin to age prematurely due to the effect of smoking, alcohol and especially environmental damage such as sun damage and pollution which causes oxidative stress to the skin from Free Radicals. In fact, 90% of premature ageing is caused by environmental damage and 78% of environmental damage is caused by incidental daily exposure. Whatever the weather!
90% of Premature Ageing is caused by Environmental Damage
Free Radicals are aggressive molecules that destroy healthy skin cells, leading to premature ageing in terms of wrinkles, laxity, inflammation & uneven skin tone. According to the British Skin Federation, 90% of lines & wrinkles and skin sagging are due to oxidative stress on the skin from these free radicals, like when an apple is cut, the brown wrinkling effect on the skin of the apple is caused by oxidation
The biggest cause of Free Radical damage to the skin is light, both from the sun and internally, especially from computer screens. This light is surprisingly just as harmful as the sun at aging the skin!
How to Prevent Premature Ageing
By taking certain preventive actions, premature ageing of the skin can be slowed and reduced. A combination of using an antioxidant and a broad spectrum sunscreen offers a powerful dual defence which specifically acts on different layers of the skin.
1st Line of Defence: Antioxidants
Oxidation of the skin can be prevented by using an antioxidant. Efficient Antioxidants neutralise Free Radicals and strengthen the skin’s internal defence against environmental aggressors such as UVA, UVB, IRA, and pollution allowing skin to self repair for visible anti-ageing correction.
Over the last 15 years, the SkinCeuticals scientific team has researched 100s of antioxidants, discovering only four get into the skin and effectively supplement it’s natural antioxidant reservoir. These include L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), ferulic acid, and phloretin.
SkinCeuticals Antioxidants are among the most effective in the world and are clinically proven to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
For Anti-Aging to be effective, you need to target the lower layers of the skin, specifically the lower Basal Layer as shown below. SkinCeuticals have formulated Antioxidant Serums such as C E Ferulic perhaps for a Dryer Skin and Phloretin CF for an oilier more pigmented skin type. Both of these potent antioxidant serums go deep into this lower layer due to the small size of the molecules.
