Health Tips

Prepared by Nutritionist Chen Yin

The skin is our body’s largest organ, and skin protection is one of the top concerns especially for people who reside in a tropical country. Two things we can always take note of are skin protection from UV radiation as well as free radical damage.

Free radicals can damage the skin and accelerate aging, leading to fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. PhytoflORAL®, a proprietary ingredient derived from non-GMO tomatoes, rich in carotenoids such as Phytoene and Phytofluene, demonstrates beneficial antioxidants properties that help protect the skin by reducing free radical production. Antioxidants such as lycopene, found in non-GMO tomato extract also help shield the skin from UV radiation. Lycopene exerts photo-protective properties, protecting the skin from UV light-induced sunburn.

Vitamin C is a well-known nutrient which must be acquired through supplement or our diet such fruits and vegetables. It demonstrates strong antioxidant effects that protect the skin from any damage caused by the UV rays from sun exposure and toxins. The vitamin is also a powerful ingredient that is essential for collagen synthesis from our genetic material and protein synthesis that makes up the extracellular matrix collagen. Apart from oral consumption, topical vitamin C is strongly recommended to be included in our skincare regimen in order to protect the skin and delay aging.

In addition to topical vitamin C, applying sunscreen is also a very crucial step to help maintain our skin health and to keep it glowing. Sunscreen provides physical protection against the UV rays in term of reflecting, scattering and absorbing the sunlight which will help prevent premature skin aging. Sunscreen that contains zinc protect against UVA while sunscreen with microfine titanium dioxide protect against UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen with vitamin C help combat the damage caused by the sun exposure. Take note of the sun protection factor (SPF) when looking for sunscreen. A sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher is recommended when spending significant time outdoors to protect against sunburn.

Above all, practising a healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables (rich sources of antioxidants), drinking plenty of water and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will be the best thing that we can do for our skin!

References

1. Meléndez-Martínez AJ, Mapelli-Brahm P, Benítez-González A, Stinco CM. A comprehensive review on the colorless carotenoids phytoene and phytofluene [published correction appears in Arch Biochem Biophys. 2017 Oct 1;631:30]. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2015;572:188-200. doi:10.1016/j.abb.2015.01.003
2. Aust O, Stahl W, Sies H, Tronnier H, Heinrich U. Supplementation with tomato-based products increases lycopene, phytofluene, and phytoene levels in human serum and protects against UV-light-induced erythema. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2005;75(1):54-60. doi:10.1024/0300-9831.75.1.54
3. Telang PS. Vitamin C in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2013;4(2):143-146. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.110593
4. Gabros S, Nessel TA, Zito PM. Sunscreens And Photoprotection. [Updated 2020 Sep 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537164/