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What functions does the skin perform in our body?
The skin is undoubtedly the largest organ of the human body, representing as much as one sixth of the total body mass, and its main role is to act as a chemical and physical barrier protecting the body from harmful external environmental factors such as pathogenic microorganisms, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, chemical hazards, temperature changes, and even dehydration. The skin consists of three main layers with different basic structures, namely the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. As a consequence of a number of external environmental hazards, the skin can suffer from changes such as photoaging, immune dysfunction, and inflammation, which can have a significant impact on human health.
Can skin aging be avoided?
Skin aging is a complex biological process resulting from two synergistic mechanisms of internal and external factors. On the one hand, internal or endogenous aging is an inevitable phenomenon that involves several factors, such as cellular metabolism, genetic predisposition, hormonal activity and the passage of time, and is clinically associated with increased sensitivity and loss of skin elasticity. On the other hand, external or exogenous skin aging can be avoided or delayed, which is caused by repeated exposure of the skin or the body to harmful factors, in particular UV radiation (photoaging), poor nutrition, pollution, chemicals and toxins. It is worth emphasizing that regular and intensive exposure to ultraviolet radiation causes the formation of reactive oxygen species, which leads to a state of oxidative stress, and also increases the expression of the so-called metalloproteinases in human skin, which are responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins, including collagen, fibronectin, proteoglycans, and elastin, which provides functional support, therefore photoaging of the skin is characterized by an imbalance in the accumulation and degradation of extracellular matrix proteins, loss of elasticity, irregular pigmentation, dryness, and wrinkling. In addition, the aforementioned metalloproteinases also play an important role in the carcinogenic process, influencing several processes related to the development of cancer, such as growth, angiogenesis, i.e. the formation of capillaries, and metastasis.
What bioactive compounds support skin protection and care?
It has been proven that numerous biologically active compounds naturally found in food or found in dietary supplements with scientifically proven effects are a promising strategy for preventing, delaying or minimizing premature skin aging, as well as for alleviating some skin diseases. Among the most commonly used ingredients with potential effectiveness in alleviating the symptoms of skin aging and some dermatoses (skin diseases) are bioactive peptides (mainly derived from collagen), oligosaccharides, plant polyphenols, carotenoids (including β-carotene), vitamins (especially C and E) and polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. Several studies conducted with the participation of humans have shown that the bioactive substances presented above have a beneficial effect on the signs of skin aging and protection against skin photoaging resulting from ultraviolet radiation. Among other things, it has been found that an adequate supply of vitamins, especially C and E, is particularly important for the condition of the skin, because they exhibit photoprotective properties due to increased skin elasticity, hydration and antioxidant capacity along with an increase in the minimum erythemal dose, which determines the lowest dose of radiation that causes a clear erythema (redness) of the exposed skin after 24 hours. Interestingly, several scientific publications have also observed that carotenoids such as β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, or lycopene in the amount of 30-90 mg per day as a complex of ingredients can also lead to an increase in the minimum erythemal dose, reduced lipid oxidation and protection of the skin from UV radiation. Finally, it is worth emphasizing that there is a ban on introducing cosmetic ingredients or products tested on animals to the market, therefore the only options for verifying the actual effectiveness of a specific cosmetic ingredient are either in vitro skin cell models or tests involving humans.
Literature:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5946188/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6023352/
Mateusz Durbas
Clinical and sports dietitian, author of numerous articles on nutrition and supplementation.
Official website : www.mateuszdurbas.pl
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