Skin Aging

Skin aging has been a popular topic nowadays. We often see new lines of beauty products being released promising the consumers that they will make you look 10 years younger.

How does the aging process occurs? At what age should a person start using anti-aging products? This section will discuss the process of aging and how to deal with it... gracefully.

Free Radicals

Microaccidents are damages that are caused by free radicals, mutagens and many harmful chemicals. Free radicals are chemicals with an unpaired electron, which are extremely and randomly reactive with whatever cellular structures present, inflicting damage as a result. A free radical is an unstable molecule that steals an electron from a stable molecule in order to satisfy its need for repair. When this free radical destabilizes the stable molecule it creates another free radical in a vicious chain reaction of cellular destruction. A single free radical can cause damage to millions of other molecules in you body, preventing your body from functioning properly. This molecular destruction is continually occurring in your body. Free radicals attack us from many different environmental sources every day. There are many researches demonstrating that free radical damage accumulates with age. People often ask: if free radical damage is one of the key mechanisms of aging then taking antioxidant supplements must have a major impact on longevity. The simple answer is: not all the time. Studies show that supplemental antioxidants generally do not increase maximal lifespan in mammals but were shown to increase average lifespan.

The Culprits

Toxins in the diet and environment wear down the organs. Excess consumption of fat, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine; by the ultraviolet rays of the sun; and by the many other physical and emotional stresses to which we subject our bodies all contribute to this wear and tear. Everything we eat, breathe and touch causes some type of oxidation or free radical damage. Particularly abusive is alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, smoked and barbecued food, harmful chemicals and additives in the foods we eat, sun bathing and pollutants in the air we breath.

Stress and Aging

Stress response is a biological overdrive mode which helps escape from a tight spot, but at a high cost of wearing down the body. If stress response in emergency is too weak, the organism either dies or suffers additional damage, which manifests itself in diseases and accelerated aging. However, if stress response is excessive or prolonged it becomes a damaging force itself, and also causes disease and accelerated aging. In particular, excessive or prolonged stress response increases levels of free radicals, accelerates breakdown of proteins in many organs (including the skin), suppress the immune system, promotes the burnout of neurons and so forth.

Lack of proper sleep is also one of the culprits of aging.

Anti-aging

A number of researchers believe that aging can be slowed and even reversed. Anti-Aging refers to the delaying or lessening the effects of aging. There are a lot of nutritional supplements needed to combat early signs of aging. Click here http://www.drlam.com/book/chapter3.cfm for more info.

When is the best time to take anti-aging supplements?

Based on research, after the age of 28, the major source of aging is the production of free radicals. According to experts, it is best to use anti-aging supplements even if you're still in your early 20's.