In the quest for radiant and youthful skin, we often hear about the importance of collagen and elastin production. These proteins, produced by specialized cells called fibroblasts, form the foundation of our skin's structure. However, there's an aspect of protein health that is often overlooked - preserving their structure from modifications like glycation. In the words of Dr. Hannah Sivak, the founder of Skin Actives, "Changes in protein structure are definitely going to change how the skin functions and how it looks, and it’s never for the better!"

Glycation and Its Impact

Glycation, a chemical process where sugars attach to amino acids within proteins, might sound harmless, but it has far-reaching consequences for our skin. As Dr. Sivak explains, "These sugars will affect amino acid charges and how the proteins fold in space, characteristics that are essential to how the protein behaves. You definitely don’t want that!" This disruption can lead to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are implicated in the aging process and various degenerative diseases.

AGEs not only alter the physical and biological properties of skin proteins like collagen but also trigger oxidative stress and inflammation. In essence, glycation sets off a chain reaction that contributes to skin problems like wrinkles, pigmentation, and loss of elasticity. Dr. Sivak highlights, "AGEs interact with their specific cell receptors, altering the levels of soluble signaling molecules, such as cytokines, hormones, and free radicals."

The Role of Glycosylation

In contrast to glycation, glycosylation is an enzymatic process that attaches sugars to proteins or lipids at specific sites. This programmed modification is essential for the proper functioning of mature proteins. Glycosylation is beneficial, while glycation is detrimental - a critical distinction to understand in the battle against skin aging.

Sunless Tanning and Glycation

Sunless tanning, often hailed as a safer alternative to traditional tanning, isn't exempt from the glycation effect. The process of sunless tanning involves the formation of melanoidins through the glycation of epidermal amino acids by reactive sugars. While it might offer a temporary tan, over time, glycation contributes to the accumulation of AGEs, leading to skin problems like wrinkles, dullness, and loss of function.

Fighting Glycation: A Multi-Faceted Approach

Dr. Sivak provides valuable insights on how to combat glycation and its adverse effects:

1. Control Diabetes: Managing diabetes is crucial, as high glucose levels can accelerate glycation, leading to more severe skin aging.
2. Avoid Sun-Less Tanning: Steer clear of chemical tans that contribute to glycation and skin damage.
3. Protect Skin Proteins: Invest in effective skincare products that help prevent glycation. Skin Actives' collagen serums, containing ingredients like carnosine, are designed to preserve protein structure and combat glycation.
4. Sun Protection: Shield your skin from harmful UV rays that can exacerbate glycation and oxidative stress.

Harnessing the Power of Carnosine

Carnosine, a naturally occurring dipeptide, emerges as a potent ally in the fight against glycation. It slows down the formation of harmful protein carbonyl groups, mitigating sugar-induced crosslinking. Skin Actives offers carnosine-infused products, like our Collagen Serums, to provide your skin with the defense it needs.

Exploring Solutions The Skin Actives Way

Nature also offers a range of ingredients to combat glycation. Compounds such as phenols, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, carotenoids, and unsaturated fatty acids show promise in preventing AGE formation. Ingredients like resveratrol, quercetin, and extracts like pomegranate fruit extract offer effective anti-glycation activities.

Dr. Sivak recommends our Collagen Serum or Collagen Serum with ROS BioNet and Apocynin to combat the effects of glycation. There is a reason why Collagen Serum has been our number one selling product since its launch. It is made with a multitude of ingredients necessary to maintain healthy skin and fight signs of aging. And with over 230 reviews with an average 4.8 stars, if you haven’t tried it yet, now is the time. You can see by looking at the ingredient list how many active ingredients there are in this one serum. 

Skin Actives’ Collagen Serum

• Water, Seakelp (Lactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate) Bioferment, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Boswellia Serrata Extract, Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) Extract, Carnosine, N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine, Niacinamide, Betulinic Acid, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Epigallocatechin Gallate, Glutathione, sh-Polypeptide-2, sh-Oligopeptide-1 (Epidermal Growth Factor), Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Sorbic Acid.

Understanding glycation is pivotal in maintaining youthful and healthy skin. As Dr. Sivak advises, a holistic approach that combines proper skincare, sun protection, and diabetes management is crucial. With innovative products like collagen serums enriched with carnosine, Skin Actives empowers you to take charge of your skin's vitality. Remember, by safeguarding your skin's proteins from glycation, you're investing in a radiant and resilient future.

Reference: Zheng W, Li H, Go Y, et al. (2022). Research Advances on the Damage Mechanism of Skin Glycation and Related Inhibitors. Nutrients, 14(21), 4588.