Flawless Skin in Summer and Beyond
Chris D. Meletis, ND (with permission from cpmedical.net, access pin: 587556)
Summertime can pose a number of challenges to achieving healthy skin. Although getting outdoors and enjoying the sunshine does increase vitamin D production, at the same time that we’re being exposed to this health-promoting vitamin, we’re also exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, which can cause damage to the skin.
The sun’s rays promote the production of large amounts of highly-reactive free radicals in the upper skin layers, primarily in the epidermis. Free radicals are the main cause for premature skin aging and may impact immune function in the skin, resulting in less than optimal skin health. The body protects the skin against free radical damage by quenching these free radicals with antioxidants.1 These free radicals react immediately with antioxidants contained in the skin, thus depleting the antioxidants, which must be replaced. Free radicals also react with other structural and functional molecules in the skin, resulting in their damage, disorganization and destruction.