Anti-Ageing Skin Care Products 101
The regular use of anti-ageing skin care products is becoming normal these days; the growth in popularity is due in no small part to the fact that we are all living and working longer. The skin care industry uses beauty products that increase the synthesis of the protein collagen, the main protein in skin which becomes less elastic as we age; approximately one quarter of the protein contained in skin is collagen. Collagen is a member of another family of substances that aid in reducing the signs of ageing. known as antioxidants, they are the body’s method of slowing down the ageing process.
Probably the best known of these anti-oxidants is vitamin C although no-one really knows just how much we should have each day. The problem with vitamin C derived skin care treatments is they can become oxidized when exposed to the atmosphere, often even before they are used.
To get around this some skin care treatments are based on derivatives of vitamin C, which are more stable and less expensive. 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 an antioxidant and component of human blood whose purpose is to help increase the body’s immune system against diseases including cancer. On the other hand, lipoic acid or alpha-lipoic acid is necessary for energy production which keeps us alive; it is in every human cell and another function is to repair skin damage caused by the normal ageing process.
Phytochemicals form the other category of anti-ageing skin care products which are special chemicals that are extracted from plants with a variety of that are used in skin care today. Another benefit, like that of alpha-lipoic acid, is their ability to reduce the prevalence of certain cancers like prostate, colon and breast cancer.
For some time now it has also been known that the vitamins B5, B6 and B12 also have anti-ageing skin care properties. This is a vast area that has the potential for many new anti-ageing skin care products and services in the future but research needs to 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. 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.
However, man-made skin care regimes should be used only as a supplement; they cannot replace natural skin care remedies. Simple things that can make a difference in slowing the signs of ageing; these include physical activity, restful sleep, maintaining good dietary habits and removing stress from your life.
