Chemistry on anti-aging

THE ELEMENT

It is well known that everyone wants to ‘stay young’ forever. There are millions of products out there that claim to supply you with the elixir of eternal youth, however is it even scientifically possible to erase/prevent signs of aging?

To discuss this question let’s start off by looking at anti aging creams: Most anti-aging creams will tend to advertise themselves as reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Now let's dive deeper into what these products contain.

1. Retinoids: The definition of a retinoid is any of a group of compounds having effects in the body like those of vitamin A. They are used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen which is an insoluble fibrous protein found all over the body, it gives skin its strength and elasticity. Collagen production usually decreases with age leading to wrinkles , so if production is increased then skin will maintain its elasticity and strength decreasing the appearance of aging. Retinoid containing products such as retinol can be purchased in a drugstore but they won’t decrease the signs of ageing as much as tretinoin would and that has to be prescribed by a doctor. 2. Another Common thing that anti aging products contain are AHAs , these are typically used to exfoliate the top layer of your skin (unclogs and continued use prevents future clogs from forming).

Now how does it work?: AHAs work by slowly breaking down the intracellular ‘glue’ that makes old dead skin cells stick to the epidermis and as a result the outermost layer of your skin will look more smooth and bright. Below is an example of an AHA:

14

THE ELEMENT

3. Other popular ingredients include VItamin C and E. These are antioxidants, they help to prevent damage from the sun. This is vital to prevent aging as Ultraviolet radiation causes DNA changes in the skin that can lead to premature aging and skin cancer! Formula of Vitamin C :

4. Finally but most importantly we come to sunscreen (UV protection) this is a vital component of few skincare products. So how does sunscreen work?: It works by blocking and absorbing dangerous UV rays through a combination of physical and chemical particles. Physical particles , such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are usually used as they have the ability to reflect UV radiation from the skin. It is important to wear sunscreen everyday and remember to reapply as this will prevent the aging effects of the sun! In conclusion it is possible to prevent and lessen the signs of aging , however this mostly applies to the face and neck region as most skincare products are directed towards those areas. I disagree with the suggestion that ‘staying young forever’ is possible, aging is natural and shouldn’t be feared or viewed as negative. In my opinion instead of focusing on not aging, you should instead focus on aging gracefully.

By Hannah Goldin

References and further reading: https://www.compoundchem.com/ 2017/03/06/anti-aging/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/ staying-healthy/do-retinoids-reallyreduce-wrinkles

https://www.healthline.com/health/ beauty-skin-care/alpha-hydroxyacid#_noHeaderPrefixedContent

https://www.thehealthy.com/beauty/ anti-aging/how-to-use-alpha-hydroxyacids-to-reduce-wrinkles/

15