Anti Aging
Sunday, March 30th, 2008The use of anti-ageing skin care products has grown enormously over the last two decades; which is not surprising because we are all living longer and fuller lives so why shouldn’t we want to look younger? We achieve this with beauty products that synthesize the production of the protein collagen; with around a quarter of our skin protein being collagen, the importance of this substance has not gone unnoticed. Collagen is related to other natural substances which help to slow down the ageing process; this group is called antioxidants and apart from their cell repairing ability, they may be able to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.
Vitamin C is probably one of the better known anti-oxidants in use today but the debate about the daily quota required is ongoing. Unfortunately all skin care treatments that use vitamin C have the problem of atmospheric oxidization to contend with once the product is exposed to the air.
To overcome this problem, manufacturers use alternative skin care treatments that still provide the same benefits but not the high manufacturing costs. These alternative products are not as effective as vitamin C but vitamin E and lipoic acid are anti-oxidants and are now being used.
Vitamin E is found in the blood and is an antioxidant that is also used to increase the body’s defenses against other health problems; one particular disease it may help to prevent is certain types of cancer. Lipoic acid, which is found inside every cell of the body, helps generate the energy that keeps us alive and functioning; it can also help reduce the aging process which affects the skin.
Another group of products used to reduce the visible signs of ageing are phytochemicals which are compounds extracted from various plants and used in many anti-ageing skin care products. Another benefit of phytochemicals, like those of alpha-lipoic acid, is their ability to reduce the prevalence of certain cancers; examples of these are:
*Prostate Cancer in Men *Cancer of the Breast *Cancer of the Colon
These three types of cancer are also becoming a global problem.
For some time now it has also been known that the vitamins B5, B6 and B12 also have anti-ageing skin care properties. The field of anti-ageing skin care products is vast and needs a great deal more research. There is no doubt that what has been learned so far is only a small part of the jigsaw puzzle; with the number of genetic discoveries made in recent years, it is only a matter of time before conquering the effects of age is commonplace.
With the research that is now taking place, many people are confident that in time, more effective, cheaper anti-ageing skin care products will be discovered. A person should never accept that everything science devises in relation to skin care and anti-aging is always going to be the best; it is doubtful if science can replace natural skin care remedies. Drinking plenty of water, getting a good night’s sleep, exercising regularly, maintaining healthy eating habits and keeping stress at bay are an essential means of delaying the ageing process.
