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What are Free Radicals

Thu, 25 May 2023 14:31:19 GMT

Skincare lovers and health enthusiasts alike are sure to have come across the term ‘free radicals’. But what are they? How do they affect us? And how can we manage them?

The science

To understand the causes and effects of free radicals, we need to understand the science behind them. Free radicals are unstable atoms. All atoms are surrounded by layers, or shells, of electrons. Each of these shells needs to be filled with a certain number of electrons to be stable. If an atom’s outer layer isn’t full, it can bond with another type of atom - a free radical - and use its electrons to complete the shell.

However, while the atoms with full outer shells are stable, free radicals are not. They have an uneven number of electrons, which means they react quickly with other substances. In their attempt to bond with other atoms or molecules to become stable, they start a long chemical chain reaction called oxidative stress, or oxidation. Oxidation is something we all notice on a regular basis. For instance, when we leave a piece of fruit out in the kitchen for too long, we’ll see it turn brown and deteriorate. This is a perfect example of oxidative stress.

Free radical damage

In the body, it’s oxidative stress that leads to cell damage and illness, especially when we get older and become less efficient in fighting back. When our bodies become overwhelmed, and there are too many free radicals for us to regulate, they start to attack and adversely alter our lipids, proteins and DNA ¹ . This can trigger diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer and degenerative conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Free radicals also have detrimental effects on the skin. They can damage our skin cell DNA which can stop them from functioning correctly – for example the cells that form our skin’s immune system or fibroblasts which generate our collagen.

They are not only detrimental to our skin health but are also responsible for premature skin ageing leading to lines and wrinkles, pigmentation and an uneven skin tone. You won’t see the effects of free radicals immediately. But over the long-term, you’ll notice real damage to the skin.

How to stop free radicals

Free radicals are released for lots of reasons, with some of the main causes being sunlight, pollution, smoking, alcohol and pesticides. But reassuringly, there are ways to stop them in their tracks.

First of all there are steps you can take to reduce free radicals in the skin. Adequate sun protection, every single day is essential in limiting the damage caused by radiation. Smoking is a big no-go, as well as excessive alcohol consumption. Limiting high glycemic and processed foods will also help to limit free radical damage.

Another key player in the fight against free radicals is anti-oxidants. These molecules have the unique ability to donate an electron to a free radical and stabilise it without becoming unstable themselves. One way to obtain anti-oxidants is through an anti-oxidant rich diet. Some of the best anti-oxidant ingredients are berries, citrus fruits, leafy greens, nuts, figs, dark chocolate, olives, turmeric, cinnamon and garlic ² . You can also enjoy a great dose of anti-oxidants through herbal teas, green juice, pomegranate juice and coconut water.

Anti-oxidant rich skincare

What’s more, anti-oxidants can be applied topically, absorbing into the skin to protect skin cells from free radicals. Some of the best anti-oxidants in skincare include vitamin C, vitamin E and green tea extract, all of which are present in our award-winning Heliocare 360° range, along with the powerful plant extract Fernblock®.

Fernblock features in every Heliocare product. It’s a powerful and unique anti-oxidant that’s proven to help protect the skin against sun damage and environmental stressors, as well as offering DNA protection and repair, immunological defence, protection for our collagen and pigmentation control.

Heliocare

Heliocare provides high-level broad-spectrum protection against the damaging effects of UVA, UVB, visible light – including blue light from digital devices – and infrared-A.

Every product contains Fernblock ^Ⓡ to protect our skin cells and their DNA from within. There’s a product for every skin type including spot prone skin, dry and sensitive skin.

It’s a daily essential in every skincare regime – contact us to find the Heliocare that you’ll love to use every day.

References:

Lobo, V., Patil, A., Phatak, A. and Chandra, N. (2010). Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health. Pharmacognosy Reviews, [online] 4(8), p.118. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249911/ .

‌ Dix, M. (2017). Everything You Should Know About Oxidative Stress. [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/oxidative-stress .

Anti-oxidants - what are they, and why are they so great for our skin?

Thu, 25 May 2023 13:53:12 GMT

Anti-oxidants are a must-have in any skincare regime, helping us to protect, replenish and prevent premature skin ageing. While one of the best ways to consume anti-oxidants is through our food and drink, we can also apply them topically within our regular skincare routine.

But what makes anti-oxidants so special? It’s all about balance.

The oxidant/anti-oxidant balance

Just like all healthy organisms, our bodies experience multiple oxidative reactions every single day. This is a normal part of how we function. We protect against harmful reactive oxygen species (or free radicals) by maintaining a delicate balance of oxidants and antioxidants, and most of our oxidative reactions are swiftly neutralised by the body. However, sometimes the equilibrium is compromised by free radicals.

Free radicals are everywhere, generated by the food we eat and the air we breathe. Fried food, alcohol and some medicines all cause free radicals, along with environmental stressors like pollution and cigarette smoke. UV exposure is perhaps the biggest trigger of free radicals in the skin, thought to contribute to up to 80% of skin ageing.

The problem: free radicals

So what are free radicals, and why are they wreaking havoc?

Free radicals are unstable atoms with an unpaired electron that will stop at nothing to find an electron to couple up with. This means scavenging the body for electrons to steal from healthy cells, which leads to oxidative stress. It’s this stress that can cause DNA damage and contributes to a number of cardiovascular and inflammatory health conditions. Free radicals are also responsible for premature skin ageing, causing symptoms like fine lines, wrinkles and dull, discoloured skin. Fortunately, there’s a way to fight free radical damage and help the oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium, creating a healthier, more balanced body and skin. The key is anti-oxidants.

The solution: anti-oxidants

Anti-oxidants are molecules that can help to delay or prevent cell damage. They do this by stabilising free radicals, counteracting oxidation and helping to maintain healthy cells. Anti-oxidants have a unique ability to donate an electron to unstable cells without becoming unstable themselves. By offering electrons to free radicals, they appease their desire to be paired up, making them less reactive. This helps to slow down or completely stop damage.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of anti-oxidants that are available from different sources. Some examples include vitamins A, B3, C and E, as well as the minerals selenium and manganese. Many of these anti-oxidants are naturally occurring and we can find them in fruit, veg, nuts and seeds. Natural anti-oxidants are also present in flowers, leaves, roots and barks.

Anti-oxidants in skincare

In terms of skin health, the anti-oxidant ingredients you’ll often come across in your products include niacinamide (vitamin B3) and retinol (vitamin A). These ingredients are highly effective in creating a complexion that looks and feels brighter and healthier. For instance, niacinamide helps to give the skin luminosity and strengthen the skin’s surface. Meanwhile, retinol increases skin cell turnover, improves collagen production and stimulates new blood vessels.

Other popular skin-boosting anti-oxidants include vitamin E, which improves the skin’s protective barrier; vitamin C, which softens pigmentation and makes the skin firmer and plumper; and green tea extract, which reduces inflammation and slows collagen breakdown. Of course, no single anti-oxidant can do all the work. But certain anti-oxidants stand out from the crowd, including FernblockⓇ.

Fernblock, the anti-oxidant powerhouse

Fernblock ^Ⓡ , the anti-oxidant powerhouse, is present every product in our award-winning Heliocare 360° range.

Fernblock ^Ⓡ is an extract of the fern Polypodium Leucotomos, an aquatic plant that developed a natural sun protection ability and evolved to flourish on land. This power has been harnessed by the geniuses behind Heliocare, creating products that protect like never before. Fernblock ^Ⓡ offers multiple levels of protection, preventing immediate sun damage as well as protecting against the long-term effects of sun exposure. Its anti-oxidant properties help to increase collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production, which in turn help to prevent wrinkles and pigmentation. What’s more, Fernblock ^Ⓡ protects our skin’s Langerhans cells, which play a vital role in our skin’s immune system. Clinically proven and backed by science, Fernblock ^Ⓡ is available exclusively from Heliocare, which is developed by Cantabria Labs, a world leader in dermatology.

Heliocare

Heliocare provides high-level broad-spectrum protection against the damaging effects of UVA, UVB, visible light – including blue light from digital devices – and infrared-A.

Every product contains Fernblock ^Ⓡ to protect our skin cells and their DNA from within. There’s a product for every skin type including spot prone skin, dry and sensitive skin.

It’s a daily essential in every skincare regime – contact us to find the Heliocare that you’ll love to use every day.

REFERENCES

1. Sharifi-Rad, M. et al (2020). Lifestyle, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidants: Back and Forth in the Pathophysiology of Chronic Diseases [online] Frontiers. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00694/full

2. Szalay, J. (2016). What Are Free Radicals? [online] Live Science. Available at: https://www.livescience.com/54901-free-radicals.html .

3. Poljšak, B. and Dahmane, R. (2012). Free Radicals and Extrinsic Skin Aging. Dermatology Research and Practice, 2012, pp.1–4.

4. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2013). Antioxidants: In Depth. [online] NCCIH. Available at: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/antioxidants-in-depth .

How does skin cancer start

Thu, 25 May 2023 13:53:12 GMT

This Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we want to raise awareness about the causes of skin cancer and how you can protect yourself, your family and your friends from this incredibly preventable disease.

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. In the UK alone, around 147,000 people are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer every single year ¹ .

There are two main types of skin cancer – non-melanoma, and melanoma skin cancer. Non-melanoma cancer includes basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It is these cancers that tend to develop on sun-damaged skin. Fortunately, there is a high cure rate for non-melanoma cancers and most patients require minor surgery with no further treatment ² . With melanoma cancers, it is highly likely that sun exposure is a leading cause, however, other environmental and genetic factors are also at play. While melanoma only contributes to around 1% of skin cancers, it leads to the most deaths. That’s because it can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes and vital organs. Fortunately, many people suffering with melanoma are cured by their initial surgery ³ .

Of course, prevention is ALWAYS better than cure. So how can be protect our skin from cancer?

How skin cancer starts

Skin cancer is the abnormal growth of skin cells. It is usually caused by overexposure to UV radiation – the sun’s rays. Every time our skin is exposed to the sun (and other sources of UV radiation, like sunbeds), changes take place within the skin cell DNA. Too much radiation and too many changes will permanently damage the skin and lead to cancerous growths. Every decade that we spend exposing our skin to the sun further increases our risk of skin cancer ⁴ .

When the sun’s rays hit the skin, they perform in several different ways. High-energy UVB rays are almost completely absorbed by the outer layers of skin (the epidermis), causing direct DNA damage that can be observed in sunburn. Meanwhile, lower-energy UVA rays penetrate the deeper layers of skin (the dermis), causing long term DNA damage, which we can observe in premature skin ageing. Infrared-A and visible light also damage deep skin cells, an effect that is compounded by the presence of UV rays ⁵ .

All types of solar radiation have a damaging effect, the worst of which is DNA damage. This can lead to an uncontrollable growth of cells which becomes cancerous. UV radiation is the proven cause of BCC and SCC, as well as being contributing to melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer ⁶ .

What does skin cancer look like?

Non-melanoma cancers grow slowly in the upper layers of the skin, while melanoma skin cancers are faster growing, spreading downwards into deeper layers of skin ⁷ . They mainly appear in areas of the body that are exposed to the sun, such as the face and legs.

Most often, the first sign of skin cancer is a new or changed lump, mole or freckle. This may grow and change over the course of months, or even years. If you are worried about a mole or freckle, we recommend following the ABCDE ⁸ rule:

Asymmetry: one half doesn’t match the other
Border: the edges are ragged, uneven or blurred
Colour: there are shades of black, brown and tan
Diameter: it is more than 6mm in diameter
Evolving: it continues to change over time

If you have any concerns about your skin and skin cancer, it’s vital that you speak to your GP as soon as possible.

Who is at risk?

The more often you expose your skin to the sun, and the more often you get burnt, the higher your risk of skin cancer. However, you don’t need to get sunburn for your skin cells to be damaged. Darker skin types may never experience sunburn, but that doesn’t mean skin cell DNA hasn’t been impacted by sun exposure.

You are at an increased risk of skin cancer if you’ve had it before or if you have a family history of skin cancer. You are also more likely to get it if your skin is pale, you have red or blonde hair, or you have a moley or freckley skin type ⁹ .

How to protect your skin against skin cancer

The single best way to protect yourself from skin cancer is to stay out of the sun and seek shade, especially during the peak hours between 11am and 2pm. You should also keep the skin covered; this could be with a light layer of clothing, a sun hat or a scarf. Finally, you should apply a high factor, broad spectrum sunscreen such as Heliocare 360°, every single day. What makes Heliocare 360° stand out from other sun products is Fernblock, a powerful, patented plant extract that protects the skin in so many ways.

Fernblock comes from the tropical fern Polypodium leucotomos. Over time, this aquatic plant developed a natural sun protection ability, evolving to grow and thrive on land. Its natural photoprotective properties allow it to absorb and scatter UV rays, as well as helping to repair tissues after sun exposure. The scientists behind Heliocare 360° harnessed this unique power within Fernblock, creating an incredible blend of anti-oxidants that provides multi-levels of protection from the full radiation spectrum: UVA, UVB, visible light and infrared-A.

As well as defending the skin’s structure and saving it from immediate sun damage, like sunburn, Fernblock’s anti-oxidant properties also protect us from the long-term effects of solar radiation. This is achieved by protecting against and repairing DNA damage, neutralising the free radicals that are generated by the sun, and protecting our Langerhans cells, which are crucial in the skin’s immune system. Fernblock also protects our collagen which helps to prevent signs of premature skin ageing, like wrinkles, and helps to prevent the appearance of pigmentation.

Over the last three decades, numerous clinical studies have confirmed the benefits of Fernblock, including its ability to prevent and repair DNA damage. Protect your skin every single day with Heliocare 360°, an award-winning range of sun protection products that’s loved by skin experts across the globe. Every Heliocare product is packed with deeply nourishing and intelligent ingredients, including the incredible Fernblock. Choose from our range of products and bundles today. Shop now, and don’t forget to share this information with your friends and family – after all, prevention is always better than cure.

References:

NHS Choices (2019). Overview - Skin cancer (non-melanoma). [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-melanoma-skin-cancer/ .

‌www.cancerresearchuk.org. (n.d.). What is skin cancer? | Cancer Research UK. [online] Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/skin-cancer/about-skin-cancer .

‌ Cancer.net. (2019). Melanoma - Statistics. [online] Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/melanoma/statistics .

‌ The Skin Cancer Foundation (2019). UV Radiation - The Skin Cancer Foundation. [online] The Skin Cancer Foundation. Available at: https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/uv-radiation/ .

‌ ScienceDaily. (n.d.). New light shed on damaging impact of infrared and visible rays on skin. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200123095834.htm [Accessed 29 Apr. 2022].

‌ Skin Cancer Foundation. UV radiation and your skin. [online] Available at: https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/uv-radiation/ [Accessed 29 Apr. 2022].

NHS Choices (2019). Overview - Skin cancer (melanoma). [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/melanoma-skin-cancer/ .

‌ Cancer.net. (2012). Melanoma - Symptoms and Signs. [online] Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/melanoma/symptoms-and-signs .

Worldwide Cancer Research. (n.d.). How does the sun cause skin cancer? [online] Available at: https://www.worldwidecancerresearch.org/news-opinion/2022/march/how-does-the-sun-cause-skin-cancer/ .

3ed10d48

What are Free Radicals

Skincare lovers and health enthusiasts alike are sure to have come across the term ‘free radicals’. But what are they? How do they affect us? And how can we manage them?

The science

Free radical damage

How to stop free radicals

Heliocare

References:

Anti-oxidants - what are they, and why are they so great for our skin?

Anti-oxidants are a must-have in any skincare regime, helping us to protect, replenish and prevent premature skin ageing. While one of the best ways to consume anti-oxidants is through our food and drink, we can also apply them topically within our regular skincare routine.

But what makes anti-oxidants so special? It’s all about balance. ﻿

The oxidant/anti-oxidant balance

The problem: free radicals

The solution: anti-oxidants

Anti-oxidants in skincare

Fernblock, the anti-oxidant powerhouse

Heliocare

How does skin cancer start

How skin cancer starts

What does skin cancer look like?

Who is at risk?

How to protect your skin against skin cancer

References:

But what makes anti-oxidants so special? It’s all about balance.