Using topical antioxidants to protect against photodamage and improve skin care

Scientists know that extrinsic factors cause approximately 90% of skin aging including wrinkles, roughness, mottled pigmentation, and loss of elasticity. Sunlight and cigarette smoking primarily are responsible for generating harmful oxygen free radicals that damage and destroy skin. New methods to protect skin are necessary if we are to conquer skin cancer and photoaging. Sunscreens are useful, but their protection is not ideal because of inadequate use, incomplete spectral protection and toxicity. Skin naturally uses antioxidants to protect itself from photodamage. This article summarizes what is know about how photodamage occurs; why sunscreens are inadequate; how key antioxidants (vitamin C and vitamin E) help prevent and repair skin damage; and how physicians use topical antioxidants to improve their patients’ surgical results, prevent further damage, and help correct a variety of skin conditions including acne rosacea, wrinkling, mottled pigmentation, purpura, and melasma.