Acne & Premature Skin Aging

Acne and Premature Skin Aging:  To completely understand the science of this topic it is beneficial to read the Free Radical Damage section under the Acne and Skin Damage Section in the column on the left.  It will explain the chemistry involved with skin aging.  This same chemistry involved with the aging process is involved with acne, however, the speed of aging caused by acne can be significantly greater, causing the patient to need skin rejuvenation techniques when they are in their late 30s rather than their late 40s.   

The skin produces hydrogen peroxide to fight each acne infection and this may continue for weeks, until the infection is resolved.  Hydrogen peroxide is a free radical which causes skin damage and skin aging.  Over a period of time the volume of hydrogen peroxide acts just like continual sun exposure, damaging skin components such as collagen and causing the skin to sag and wrinkle.

Additionally, the healing process of acne infections involves thousands and thousands of chemical processes.  These chemical processes produce more free radicals as a natural by-product and add to the volume of free radical damage (aging). 

The skin has a supply of antioxidants that reduce the volume of free radicals and their damage.  It is believed that moderate to severe acne literally depletes the skin's level of antioxidants, leaving it nearly defenseless against free radicals that are created by normal skin functions.

Control of acne is not only important to the appearance of the skin today, it is an important strategy to prevent the premature aging of the skin.  If skin damage has already become a problem,  the patient should achieve control of the acne first and once this is accomplished, address the issue of skin rejuvenation.

Benzoyl Peroxide and Premature Skin Aging:  Benzoyl peroxide creates free radicals and is known to cause premature skin aging, just like repeated sun exposure or persistent acne.  Damage is determined by the concentration of benzoyl peroxide and the frequency and duration of use.  While moderate to severe acne will cause the skin to age quickly, the use of benzoyl peroxide will significantly increase this speed.

Skintactix does not use benzoyl peroxide or any other ingredient that might damage or prematurely age the skin.  For more information see the Benzoyl Peroxide Skin Damage section under the Acne and Skin Damage heading to the left.

Skin Care Products:  Some skin care products contain free radicals and the use of products with these ingredients actually promotes skin aging.  Many "oxygen creams" contain hydrogen peroxide.  While hydrogen peroxide is a free radical, marketers of these products claim the hydrogen peroxide converts to oxygen within the skin.  It may convert to a stable oxygen molecule in the skin, however it can only do so by stealing an electron from another molecule, which starts a free radical cascade and skin damage. 

The rosy glow in the skin from applying these oxygen creams is the same rosy glow caused by elevated free radical activities following unprotected sun exposure as elements of the skin are damaged by free radicals.  Application of products to the skin that contain free radicals or generate free radicals, increase the speed of skin damage or more commonly called skin aging. For products dealing with Anti-aging and skin rejuvenation you can visit www.apresia.com.

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