The appearance of our skin figures prominently in our sense of personal attractiveness and overall wellness. It is no surprise that we go to great lengths to keep our skin looking healthy and youthful. According to the latest science, however, we are doing only half the job. We focus primarily on external skin care. Equally important, but frequently ignored, are inner health and wellness.

A new, holistic approach to beauty is now emerging. This approach links lifestyle and nutrition directly to external skin care. In order to understand this link, it is important to understand the roles free radicals and antioxidants play in the aging of the skin.

The skin is a complex and sophisticated barrier which protects the body from the external environment. Like every other tissue in the body, skin ages. But, unlike other tissues, the aging of the skin is affected directly by our environment. UV rays, pollutants, stress, aging and disease cause excess production of free radicals, which have been implicated in cellular damage and cancer. Free radicals damage lipids, collagen and proteins and cause the skin to lose elasticity, moisture and firmness—damage of cellular DNA can lead to cancer.

Antioxidants reduce free radical damage to the skin in several ways—by preventing the formation of free radicals, scavenging free radicals before they inflict damage and by repairing damaged cells.

As an antioxidant, vitamin E plays an important role in wellness and beauty both as an essential part of the diet and as a component of specially designed skin care products. In addition to reducing damage by free radicals, vitamin E can boost the immune system, reduce inflammation and help reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Like all tissues and organs in the body, the skin receives nourishment from the diet, through the bloodstream. Because it is difficult to get optimal amounts of vitamin E from even a well-balanced diet, supplements and skin care products containing natural vitamin E are an essential part of a “from the inside out” health and beauty regimen.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Maintaining the health of your skin as you age involves more than just your appearance. Skin cancer affects one out of every seven Americans each year, making it the most common form of cancer. Take advantage of the antioxidant power of nutrients such as vitamin E to make your approach to health and “ageless beauty” as complete as possible.

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