Skin Care
The ABCs of AcneEverything you need to know about the causes of and treatments for acne, your most mystifying skin issue |
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Antioxidants fight oxidation, which happens when free radicals form in your body. Free radicals are molecules that have lost one of their electrons. So they borrow electrons from other molecules to become stable, causing those molecules to borrow electrons from other molecules, and so on. This molecule-mooching leads to oxidative stress, which leads to inflammation, a major cause of blemishes.
If you have a high level of antioxidants in your body, this counteracts the inflammation caused by oxidative stress. However, acne-prone people are clinically shown to have more inflammatory markers in their blood as well as lower levels of antioxidants in their systems. Essentially, if you're pimple-prone, you're probably deficient in antioxidants.
Your Rx: Use antioxidant-infused skin care products; investing in high-quality products is key, since antioxidants quickly degrade when they're not properly stabilized. Common antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E, beta carotene and resveratrol. (We love SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E). Also make sure to eat antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables as well as "superfoods" like chia seeds and green tea.
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