JOYCE BLOK ULTRA CARE SERUM C-10
Using a vitamin C formulation topically can be one of the most effective ways to prevent premature aging and environmental damage to your skin.

When sun shines on skin, the epidermis absorbs UVB rays. These generate oxygen free radicals that can destroy and mutate cells and even cause cancer. The longer UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin's dermis (30-40 times deeper than UVB) and also generate oxygen free radicals, which can mutate collagen, elastin, proteglycan, cells and even DNA. In time these changes may result in visible breakdown in connective tissue. Visible signs of damage include wrinkles, solar lentigines, actinic keratoses and skin cancers.

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is the major antioxidant in the aqueous phase of tissues, both within and between cells. It neutralises the oxygen free radicals, which are so destructive to the skin. Measurements of skin exposed to UV light show that two-thirds of the .L-ascorbic acid in the skin is destroyed or used up. L-ascorbic acid's antioxidant role is essential in protecting the skin from the oxidative damage of UV radiation, as well as the resultant inflammation (sunburn).

Smoking and Wrinkles
Cigarette smoking also generates oxygen free radicals. In fact, smoking has an even greater effect on premature skin wrinkling than extensive sun exposure. Smoking depletes L-ascorbic acid, resulting in lower blood serum levels and less vitamin C reaching tissues.

Oral Intake Not Enough
Taking more vitamin-rich food, drink, or supplements is one way to try and get more antioxidant vitamins into the skin. But the body's own control mechanisms tightly regulate the levels of ingested vitamins and the skin only receives limited amounts. Further, most people don't get adequate amounts of antioxidant nutrients through their diet.

Applying oxidants topically is a way to increase skin levels to help protect against free oxygen radicals and combat cutaneous damage - provided the antioxidants get into the skin and are in a form usable by the body. Joyce Blok offers the superb 'ultra care' SERUM C-10 as the perfect way of doing this, with 10% L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

L-Ascorbic Acid Benefits to the Skin
Providing pharmacological levels targeted directly to skin, L-ascorbic acid provides the following key effects:

	Neutralises free oxygen radicals
	Protects against UVB and UVA damage
	Regenerates vitamin E (another antioxidant)
	Stimulates collagen growth
	Prevents UV immunosuppression
	Anti-inflammatory
	Reverses some of the changes due to sun damage

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