Just about everyone seems to be familiar with the terms antioxidants and free radicals. But most of us only recognise them as the ‘good guys’ and the ‘bad guys’. So let’s be brave and embrace a short lesson on free radical chemistry to gain a better understanding of the enemy we face on a daily basis.
The Problem
Everything that we see around us is made up of spectacularly small building blocks known as molecules and atoms – this includes our skin cells. In turn, all atoms and molecules are surrounded by a cloud of even smaller particles known as electrons.
Electrons are negatively charged particles that spin around atoms and molecules at tremendous speeds. In an ideal world, electrons prefer to pair up with each other so they can remain energetically stable. However, due to external influences such as UV rays and pollution, this balance can be disrupted.
As a result, various molecules can end up with an unpaired electron in their orbit. This is what we all know as a free radical.
Free radicals are very unstable. They vigorously search for an electron to complete their pair by stealing them from other molecules. When a molecule loses an electron to a free radical, it becomes a free radical itself and must now find an electron from another molecule to stabilise itself. It’s a vicious cycle that results in severe damage to skin cells as well as our stores of collagen and elastin. This is how free radical damage can induce premature skin ageing.
The Solution
Fear not, we are not completely defenceless against free radical attack. On the contrary, we have a large selection of free radical fighting allies known as antioxidants.
Antioxidants are like the martyrs of skincare. They selflessly donate one of their own electrons to free radicals ending the electron-stealing cycle. Remarkably, antioxidants never become dangerous free radicals themselves. Their unique structure allows unpaired electrons to keep their stability without attacking other molecules. This helps to neutralise the damage caused by free radicals, preventing visible signs of ageing.
Our body has its own supply of antioxidants, but this can often be depleted by the sheer volume of pollution and UV-derived free radicals that we face on a daily basis. That’s why it is essential to keep your antioxidants topped up via your skincare.