Skin Care

The Anti-Aging Ingredient More Important Than Sunscreen

SPF is your best weapon in the fight against aging, right? Maybe not. New research shows that antioxidants in skin care may have sunscreen beat

by Dawn Davis

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What are free radicals? Infrared radiation damages your skin by producing free radicals. "A free radical is an unstable oxygen molecule with an uneven number of electrons," explains Miami dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD. "These free radicals are looking to steal electrons from your cells in order to complete themselves, and the result is damage to the cells in the form of inflammation, pigmentation, and even DNA damage." Basically, free radicals are the enemy -- the more they accumulate in our skin, the more they damage our healthy cells, and the faster we age. Antioxidants are the best-known way to neutralize those free radicals before they start attacking our healthy cells.

SEE NEXT PAGE: How antioxidants work

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Older comments

VEry informative article. And an interesting read. Definitely will have to start getting more antioxidants in my routine!!!

by smiley412 Friday, April 26, 2013 at 07:38AM Report as inappropriate

I loved the info in this story! In my 20's, I never paid attention to agin products or skin protection. After spending my first year in my 30's, that's my greatest concern. I've realized that products with health benefits/damage protection have greater beauty benefits!

by RaeRotondo Friday, March 22, 2013 at 06:42AM Report as inappropriate

Wonderful read. I keep seeing and hearing great things about this SkinCeuticals serum.. Maybe I'll fork over the money and give it a go?

by storrevillas Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 05:52AM Report as inappropriate

Good article very informative

by lil_show5 Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 09:26AM Report as inappropriate

One of the most well researched and written article on the website. Very informative. To summarize, antioxidants help PREVENT damage in the first place, but do not REMOVE damage. Great :)

by hiddenexpose Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 01:17PM Report as inappropriate

This is a great article and really found the info very helpful. Not that I am 37 I am really starting to think about this more and more and been sort of lost on all the stuff out there. Thank you

by Alana_Danes Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 03:01PM Report as inappropriate

Superb explanation of antioxidants and free radicals! Absolutely necessary.

by GigiSD Friday, February 15, 2013 at 10:34PM Report as inappropriate

amazing information!

by rayshaviolet Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 01:46PM Report as inappropriate

good info

by aishak55 Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 03:08PM Report as inappropriate

Shame antioxidants don't do anything for existing wrinkles but seems like they're still a necessary part of a daily routine. I got some good updates from this article

by EricaC123 Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 04:09AM Report as inappropriate