Ultimate Skin Repair For Men | Skin's Free Radicals

Dealing with Skin’s Free Radicals

By GroomingXpert

Mensxpert’s answer to ultimate skin repair! Read on to know about free radicals in your skin and how you can combat them.

Free radicals are chemicals that occur naturally in the body as a result of metabolic processes. These chemicals can be damaging to the cells if the natural defences are reduced or if there are just too many and the cells are swamped.

When the body is healthy, it can cope quite well with free radicals and has mechanisms in place to ensure destruction is controlled and that they can't wreak havoc. However, if additional free radicals are introduced either internally or externally then it's quite a different matter.

Additional free radicals can find their way into the body from pollution, either breathed in or absorbed through the skin from chemical additives or sprays in foodstuffs and water, through alcohol, smoking and Ultra Violet radiation. They can even be produced as a by-product of the body's reaction to stress.

When the cells are overloaded and the cell protection breaks down, serious illness can occur. The first sign of damage however is often to be seen in the skin with the appearance of wrinkles and sagging, discoloration and uneven texture.

So how can you protect yourself and your skin?

Firstly you need to look closely at your diet. Certain foods contain substances called anti-oxidants which effectively soak up free radicals and prevent them from doing their worse. The main Anti-oxidants are in vitamins A, C and E - all found in fresh fruit, vegetables and whole foods. Beta-carotene is also very important and this can be found in orange foods such as carrots, peppers and apricots.

Secondly if you smoke, STOP or at least cut down; try to limit your alcohol intake and drink plenty of filtered water. Keep your stress levels under control (where you can!) and get enough sleep. Then think about protecting your skin from pollution and UV radiation (sunlight).

Try a moisturizer that contains free-radical protection such as a sun filter. In the summer, wear sun protection factor 15 and if you work outside use factor 30 whenever you can. When on a holiday in the sun, try to use a factor 20–30, even if you do not tan easily. To help repair and rejuvenate damaged skin cells, try moisturizers that contain Vitamins A and E, as well as essential fatty acids to help strengthen cell membranes.

Taking a few small measures to protect yourself from free-radical damage can keep you healthier for longer and look better in the bargain.