Transcript Antioxidants in Dermatology

A Presentation
By Group 2:
Zara Hammonds
Linda Jones
Erika Kline
Katherine Konnert
Key Terms
1. Aging: process of progressive decrease in functioning and reserve capacity of all organs,
including the skin
• Intrinsic Aging- aging that is naturally occurring and chronological
• Extrinsic Aging- aging that is compounded and accelerated by environmental factors (ex.
exposure to UV radiation and smoking)
2. Free Radicals: compounds formed when an oxygen molecule combines with other
molecules, yielding an odd number of electrons
• Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)- oxygen-centered molecules
• Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS)- nitrogen-centered molecules
3. Antioxidants: molecules capable of inhibiting oxidation of other molecules
• Exogenous Antioxidants- obtained from our diet
• Endogenous Antioxidants- made by our body
4. Oxidative Stress: phenomenon in which the balance between free radicals and
antioxidants is lost
Theory of Aging and Free Radicals
• In the 1950’s, Denham Harman theorized that the generation of free radicals
leads to cellular damage when free radicals take electrons from DNA and other
biomolecules.
• This cellular damage can cause aging and diseases of numerous systems of the
body, including the integumentary system.
• Sources of free radicals can be exogenous (ex. Smoking and pathogenic
microorganisms) or endogenous (ex. Inflammatory cells).
Skin and Free Radicals
• Even healthy skin has free radicals, which are neutralized by antioxidants. This
neutralization process prevents cell damage by maintaining homeostasis.
• Oxidative Stress results when that homeostasis is lost. Chronic oxidative stress
may be a cause of many disorders of the integumentary system, as well as other
systems of the body. Some of these dermatological disorders are
aging of the skin and deep wrinkles,
melanomas,
psoriasis,
atopic dermatitis, and
acne vulgaris.
Antioxidants and Their Distribution in Skin
• Antioxidants that inhibit oxidation of free radicals and prevent oxidative stress
are classified as endogenous and exogenous.
• The skin naturally contains many endogenous
antioxidants because it is exposed to numerous
environmental free radicals.
• The epidermis and dermis contain large amounts
of ascorbic acid, uric acid and glutathione.
• The viable layer of the epidermis contains vitamin
E, catalase, superoxide dismutases, and
glutathione.
• The cornified envelope (the outermost layer of the
skin) contains glutathione, vitamin C, uric acid,
and coenzyme Q10, with the highest
concentration in the deepest layers.
Antioxidant Activity and Conclusion
• Exogenous Antioxidants are mostly obtained from our diet, but research is being
conducted on combining antioxidants with creams (ex. sunscreen).
• Pomegranate juice has the highest antioxidant activity out of all of the beverages
that were studied for their potency.
• In conclusion, free radicals and oxidative stress
damage DNA, membrane, and collagen
structures, possibly contributing to aging and
other dermatological disorders.
• Research suggests that exogenous (oral and
topical) antioxidants may provide benefits from
the damage, but long term studies are needed to
validate these findings.
Work Cited
Kikkeri, N. N., Pai, V. V., & Shukla, P. (2014, April-June).
Antioxidants in dermatology. Indian Dermatology Online
Journal, 5(2), 210-214. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4030358/