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

Theory of Aging and Free Radicals

In the 1950s, 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,

Antioxidant Activity and Conclusion

Exogenous Antioxidants are mostly obtained from our diet, but
research is being conducted on combining antioxidants with
creams (ex. sunscreen).
wereantioxidant
studied for activity
their potency.
Pomegranate juice has thethat
highest
out of all of
the beverages
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

Work Cited
Kikkeri, N. N., Pai, V. V., & Shukla, P. (2014, AprilJune). Antioxidants in dermatology. Indian
Dermatology Online Journal, 5(2), 210-214.
Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC40
30358/