title: Skin and antioxidants.
abstract: It is estimated that total sun exposure occurs non-intentionally in three quarters of our lifetimes. Our skin is exposed to majority of UV radiation during outdoor activities, e.g. walking, practicing sports, running, hiking, etc. and not when we are intentionally exposed to the sun on the beach. We rarely use sunscreens during those activities, or at least not as much and as regular as we should and are commonly prone to acute and chronic sun damage of the skin. The only protection of our skin is endogenous (synthesis of melanin and enzymatic antioxidants) and exogenous (antioxidants, which we consume from the food, like vitamins A, C, E, etc.). UV-induced photoaging of the skin becomes clinically evident with age, when endogenous antioxidative mechanisms and repair processes are not effective any more and actinic damage to the skin prevails. At this point it would be reasonable to ingest additional antioxidants and/or to apply them on the skin in topical preparations. We review endogenous and exogenous skin protection with antioxidants.
authors: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Studies, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Borut
authors: B
authors: Poljsak
authors: Raja
authors: R
authors: Dahmane
authors: Aleksandar
authors: A
authors: Godic
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants