What are free radicals (oxidants) and why are they so bad for our skin?
Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause irreversible damage to our bodies and skin. Our diet and the environment are the primary causes of skin damaging free radicals. Poor diet, meats, alcohol, cosmetics, household cleaners, cigarette and cigar smoke, pollution, pesticides, radiation, and even paint are all sources of skin damaging free radicals. Because free radicals come from so many sources, there is virtually no way we can avoid them. And free radical damage accumulates as we age. Age spots, those brown unsightly spots that form under the skin as we age, are accumulations of lipofuscin, which is the result of free radical damage.
