Antioxidants Protect Aging Skin  

Scientists have been looking for ways to protect against skin aging. One study looked at antioxidant supplements and their effect on skin. The researchers found that taking antioxidants did indeed slow down the aging process. They compared three groups of subjects. The antioxidants given included: lycopene (3 mg/day for group one and 6 mg/day for group two), lutein (3 mg/day for group one and none for group 2), beta-carotene (antioxidant and vitamin A precursor—4.8 mg/day for both groups), alpha tocopherol (vitamin E—10 mg/day for both groups) and selenium (75 mcg/day for both groups). A third group (control group) was not given any supplements. Both groups receiving antioxidants experienced improvement in skin health [1].

Alpha-Lipoic Acid: More Than an Antioxidant

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant, but it does more than simply neutralize free radicals. ALA helps regenerate other antioxidants and supports glutathione, often referred to as the body’s master antioxidant. Because oxidative stress is believed to play a role in skin aging, researchers have investigated ALA as a way to help protect the skin from age-related changes [2].

Try This:

  • Roadmap to Health diet: This diet is high in natural antioxidants and helps reduce inflammation.
  • Take lipoic acid: 200 mg/3x/day
  • You could also take a good general antioxidant containing lycopene, vitamin A and vitamin E

 Selected Resources:

  1. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology (2006; 19(4): 224-231), Antioxidant supplements improve parameters related to skin structure in humans
  2. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 22;22(4):2160. doi: 10.3390/ijms22042160 Effect of α-Lipoic Acid on the Development of Human Skin Equivalents Using a Pumpless Skin-on-a-Chip Model