After an exciting time spent in Brazil, Paris and Frankfurt for a variety of Plastic Surgery conferences, I returned to London at the weekend to participate in the Cosmetic News Expo 2012. In association with SkinCeuticals, I presented on the importance of anti-oxidant use in the combat of free radicals that trigger part of the aging process resulting in damage to the skin.

Free radicals are the end point of a number of different pathways triggered by a variety of factors – UV rays, smoking, poor diet, pollution and chemicals, among others. Infrared light has been shown to generate free radicals and are therefore an important cause of skin damage, aging and skin cancers. Until recently the focus has been on protecting against UVA and UVB damage, but Infrared light has been omitted. However, research now shows that anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E can help combat the effects of these free radicals generated by Infrared and UVA and UVB.

Phloretin is another powerful anti-oxidant – it is found in apple skins and is exactly why apples don’t go brown until they are peeled. SkinCeuticals combine Phloretin, Vitamin C and ferulic acid to give an optimum anti-oxidant protection for the skin.

Use of anti-oxidants is very important to help protect the skin and allow it to regenerate. It is also highly important to protect the skin using a high factor sun screen, such as SkinCeuticals Sheer Mineral UV Defense.