Free Radicals and Skin Aging
Vitamin E neutroalizes freee radicals. Free radicals – that’s what damages skin. We’re not talking about some extreme political group when we say “radical”. We’re talking about production of harmful molecules leading to premature aging of the skin and the body overall. Free radical damage (and other factors) leads to skin aging.
Free radicals are born when a molecule steals an electron from another molecule rendering that molecule unstable setting off a cascade of events leading to cellular and tissue damage.
Sun exposure (UV radiation) and environmental pollutants bombard the skin with free radical some times overwhelming the body’s natural antioxidant system that neutralizes free radicals.
Vitamin E protects the skin from free radical bombardment while enhancing skin quality.
The Uniqueness of Vitamin E
The E vitamin is unique in a couple of ways. First, it is one of the few fat-soluble vitamins. As a result it can penetrate the lipid cell membranes. The cell membrane is highly vulnerable to free radical damage.
Plus, it is really more than a single vitamin. There are actually 8 types of vitamin E.  There are 4 tocopherols and 4 tocotrienols. This is important to recognize because the body needs all eight. Unfortunately, many studies on vitamin E use on only form of this vitamin leading to the misinterpretation of study results.
Normally once an antioxidant neutralizes a free radical the antioxidant also become deactivated. Vitamin E, though, is different. Other antioxidants like vitamin C and alpha lipoic acid serve to reactivate vitamin E enhancing vitamin E’s protective effects.
3 Ways Vitamin E Protects and Improves Skin Quality
Tocopherols and tocotrienols protects skin neutralizes free radicals, reduces age spots, and improves skin hydration.
It is a potent antioxidant that can combat free radicals generated in the skin.
Vitamin E is broken down into 2 main categories each containing 4 forms of vitamin E. The 2 main categories of vitamin E are the tocopherols and the tocotrienols. There is an alpha, beta, delta, and gamma tocopherol and an alpha, beta, delta, and gamma tocotrienol.
Tocotrienols are more potent antioxidants that the tocopherols. Gamma and delta forms are smaller than alpha and beta forms. This makes it easier for gamma and delta tocotrienols to penetrate more easily into cell membranes.
Gamma tocotrienols have been shown to reduce the inflammation caused by UV radiation. Delta tocotrienols have been shown to reduce age spots by slowing the production of melanin, the skin pigment in age spots.
Skin serves as an important barrier to the environment but begins to breakdown as we age. Healthy skin prevents dehydration. Vitamin E improves the ability of skin to hold moisture by protecting the lipids or fats in the skin.
Most nuts and seeds are high in vitamin E as are the deep green vegetables like spinach, chard, and mustard green and plant oils like olive oil
When considering vitamin E for your skin it’s important to look for a supplement that contains those all-important gamma and delta tocotrienols. If you have difficulty finding such a product we suggest you contact AC Grace Company. AC Grace is a company that exclusively manufactures and sells vitamin E supplements and creams.
See related articles.
“The Role of the Sun in the Aging Process”
“Free Radical Theory of Aging”
“Skin Aging: Why and What to Do”
