There are numerous enemies of our skin in our living environment. You may know some of them and not notice others. The hottest and most well known enemy to our skin is probably free radical. Free radicals are molecules and atoms produced during normal metabolism, which are highly unstable. The unstable molecules tend to combine with stable substance.
The effect of the combination of unstable free radicals to skin cells can be “disastrous”. Skin cells become injured and irritated and different cell parts, cell walls ad collagen fibres may die. But, young and healthy defence system can scavenge and neutralize these free radicals.
Though our natural defense system can neutralize the free radicals, there is a limit. That means such natural defense system cannot neutralize all the free radicals if there are too many. The free radicals from air pollution, cigarette smoke, pesticides, poor diet, illness and stress finally cause our skin to be dry, sensitive, inelastic and unhealthy.
Sunlight is not only a source of free radicals, but also UV radiations and heat. UV radiations from the sun cause significant damages to protein fibers. It may also thicken the epidermis and cause skin cancer (under severe exposure). Heat from the sun draws away moisture and making skin sensitive and dry.
There are many other sources of heat (e.g. central heating) other than heat from the sun. Heat from the whole environment causes moisture loss when water is evaporated. Not only heat, cold air (e.g. from outdoor and air conditioning) may also cause dehydration in skin. Skin’s normal sebum and moisture production cannot compensate this type of moisture loss. Therefore, special skincare may be required.
Internal factor, for example hormone can sometimes be an enemy of skin. Hormone affects the production of sebum and moisture level of skin. O estrogen, a sex hormone acts as a natural humectants of skin. When O estrogen decreases with age, our skin becomes dry and sensitive. The use of poor skincare products may also strip the natural sebum off from our skin. This causes dry, irritated and scratchy skin.
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