CoQ10 skin care can help reverse damage and aging caused by over-exposure to the summer sun.
Enjoying the great outdoors is part of summer, but if you’ve spent a lot of time in the sun it’s possible that your skin could be paying a price. Though reasonable sun exposure enhances health by stimulating the production of vitamin D, prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet or UV rays can actually be very damaging to skin.
Too much UV exposure can lead to extensive changes in the texture of the epidermis, or top layer of skin. In some areas, such as the back of the neck, skin that’s overexposed to the sun tends to become thickened and coarse, leading to the development of deeply furrowed wrinkles. At the same time, skin in other areas such as the face tends to become thin and fragile when exposed to UV rays for long periods. This leads to wrinkling, bruising, dryness, and discoloration.
In recent years dermatologists have discovered that most of the skin changes associated with aging can actually be traced back to UV exposure, which breaks down the basic structure of the skin. In extreme cases, this can even lead to cancers of the skin.
A growing body of research indicates that CoQ10 can play a powerful role in maintaining skin health and elasticity, and perhaps even helping repair damage that already exists. A natural compound manufactured by the body itself, coenzyme Q10 is crucial to the production of energy at the cellular level.
Studies have shown that keeping optimum blood levels of the coenzyme strengthens the collagen framework that is structural foundation of the skin. In addition, it can help prevent thinning of the skin and aid in the retention of vital moisture.
CoQ10 is also a powerful antioxidant, which means it can neutralize potentially damaging molecules called free radicals. These unstable molecules scavenge and damage the cells with which they interact, and it is believed that free radical damage plays a substantial role in many diseases, including most age-related health problems. Exposure to UV rays is known to create free radical damage in the skin, which makes sufficient levels of the coenzyme even more important.
Research indicates that the coenzyme plays an increasingly important role as we age, but the body’s production of it drops sharply as we get older. There is no specific RDA for the coenzyme and there are diverse opinions on the amount needed, with typical dosage recommendations ranging from 50 to 200 mgs per day. Studies have tested much higher dosages, but consulting with a physician before adding CoQ10 supplements is suggested.
