The use of anti-ageing skin care products has grown enormously over the last two decades; as our lifespan increases so does our desire to remain active as well as look young and healthy. This group of beauty products generally works by enabling the synthesis of collagen, the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant in our body; approximately one quarter of the protein contained in skin is collagen.

This category of skin products is in fact related to another group of everyday products that help reduce the signs of aging; 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.

Probably the best known of these anti-oxidants is vitamin C although no-one really knows just how much we should have each day. 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.

Other skin care treatments which mimic the effects of vitamin C are being tried all the time which are hoped to be more stable in the atmosphere and also cheaper to produce. These new anti-oxidant products are not quite as good as vitamin C although other naturally occurring compounds, vitamin E and lipoic acid can achieve the same effect.

Vitamin E has many functions including inhibiting the formation of cancer cells. It is found in the blood it is an antioxidant that is also used to increase the body’s defenses against other diseases. Lipoic acid is found in every single human cell; it’s function is to provide energy and reverse much of the damage caused to the skin by ageing.

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. Phytochemicals prevent occurrence of certain types of cancer; these include prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancers.

Some B-vitamins like B5, B6 and B12 are also in use for anti-ageing skin care products. The use of anti-ageing skin care products is has far greater potential than just producing goods that reduce the visible signs of age and scientific research in this field will continue.

Whilst a great deal has been learned about this subject, it is only the tip of the iceberg and more long term effective methods need to be discovered to reverse or slow down the effects of time. Hopefully, these challenges will get resolved in due course and better and cheaper anti-ageing skin care products will be produced.

We must not forget however, that there are many more natural methods we can all use to reduce the signs of ageing on a regular basis. Natural methods are known, but few people actually follow them; what proportion of the population actually eats healthily, takes plenty of exercise, drink sufficient water and obtain restful and regular sleep?

Popularity: 5% [?]

Share This