¶ … aging gracefully. There are eight references used for this paper. Introduction number of people are obsessed with fighting the affects of aging on the skin and finding ways to age gracefully. It is important to look at methods such as antioxidants, wrinkle fighters and nutritional supplements, as well as aging and tissue/muscle loss and interventions for slowing the aging process in order to gain a better understanding of treatments available.

Free Radicals

Free radicals are "highly reactive molecules with an unsatisfied electron valence pair. Free radicals are produced in normal and pathological processes, and are proven or suspected agents of tissue damage in a wide variety of circumstances including radiation, damage from environment chemicals, and aging (http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?query=free+radicals)."

One of the main defenses against free radicals is the proper use of antioxidants.

Antioxidants

Researchers theorize that an "increase in some antioxidants - especially those applied to the skin - helps protect the skin from cell-damaging oxidants, whether the aging is due to intrinsic or extrinsic stressors (Hilton, 2002)." While studies have been promising on tests involving animals and in vitro, there have been few human studies to confirm this theory. A recent study provided the concept that "extrinsic aging, the result of exposure to ultraviolet light and environmental toxins, and intrinsic aging, or metabolic aging, have a like cause: reactive oxygen species, which is the modern-day term for free radicals, and the broader name for substances that are reactive and oxidize other molecules. They cause molecular damage to proteins, lipids and nucleic acids during the aging process (Hilton, 2002)."

The body can normally defend against oxidants however, when there is an overload to the system, it can not sufficiently fight against the aging process. About "2% of the oxygen that a person uses goes into reactive oxygen species and these 2% are a constant threat (Hilton, 2002)." Researchers recently examined a "human skin equivalent and how UV radiation depletes antioxidants and causes oxidative, and concluded that levels of at least 1 MED were needed to deplete...

While "safe for the most part, excessive use can have a negative effect on patients' health. Not all antioxidants work, and those such as beta-carotene can do more harm than good. The most important considerations about over-the-counter skin creams are that the antioxidant contained in the cream penetrates the skin and is in its active form (Hilton, 2002)."
Aging and Tissue/Muscle Loss

As the body ages, the cells, organs, and tissues undergo changes which affect the various systems.

There are 4 "basic types of tissue: connective tissue, epithelial tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue. General tissue aging changes include an accumulation of waste products in the tissue, stiffness of connective tissue, difficulties with receiving oxygen and nutrients and getting rid of carbon dioxide and wastes, and the loss of tissue mass- known as atrophy (http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/004012.htm)." While there is no known cause for the changes which occur during the aging process, there are a number of theories which include "accumulated injuries from ultraviolet light, 'wear and tear' on the body, and byproducts of metabolism (http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/004012.htm)." Studies have also found that the decline in the Human Growth Hormone (HGH) may play a significant role in the loss of tissue and muscle loss as the body ages.

Slowing the Aging Process

There are a number of interventions which are being studied to slow the aging process. These interventions include the restriction of caloric intake by at least one-third, and "drinking more red wine which contains a natural chemical called resyeratrol - believed to turn on and off genes that drive aging (unknown, 2004)." Scientists are working to develop "genetic or drug interventions to tame diseases and slow the aging process (unknown., 2004)."

Wrinkle Fighters

Fighting wrinkles is a major concern for many people. Alpha hydroxy acids…