Are you one of those people who would like to look as young as you feel? Then you might be interested in how you can get through your best years of life with as few wrinkles as possible. Can amino acids work against wrinkles?
For many people, pronounced
facial expression or forehead wrinkles are still the most noticeable signs of increasing age.
Therefore, their formation has long been the subject of research. The main question is how the premature development of these prominent signs of aging can be delayed.
The aim here is to find an “
antidote ” that is as natural as possible and which reduces the formation of
eye wrinkles and other furrows in the
skin .
Can the
amino acid complex help you maintain an appearance that is as wrinkle-free as possible? We address this question in this article.
Amino acids: effect on the skin
Did you know that your body is made up of 20% proteins? Protein is another word for protein.
The
amino acids , the smallest building blocks, are the basis of proteins. Proteins and their smallest building blocks not only influence a variety of metabolic processes in the human organism. They are also literally building materials for all body tissues. This is certainly true for some types of them.
For example, so-called collagens form the structure of our connective tissue and various
skin layers such as the subcutaneous tissue.
Proteins are therefore indispensable for the skin. But why does the
elasticity and smooth appearance of our skin change as we age?
Wrinkling of the skin over the course of life
From a scientific point of view, the formation of
wrinkles and expression lines is primarily a natural phenomenon of aging.
The dreaded skin lines arise when the epidermis (the top layer of skin) becomes less well nourished as we age.
You should know that the epidermis is supplied with blood via wave-like contact surfaces in the dermis.
The contact surfaces become flatter with age, so that contact is no longer complete.
Now the blood no longer reaches every part of the skin. Since the blood is responsible for
supplying nutrients throughout the body, the skin there increasingly lacks proteins, vitamins and other nutrients.
These
amino acid deficiency symptoms can be recognized, among other things, by the fact that your skin becomes thinner. In addition, more and more fine and pronounced lines are forming.
Stages of skin aging and amino acids work against wrinkles
You may have already noticed that age-related
skin changes occur individually in each individual.
Overall, different areas of
skin aging could be identified at different ages:
- Between the ages of 30 and 50, our skin in the nose and lip area in particular ages.
- Around 40, many people develop fine wrinkles in the corners of their eyes, which we know as crow's feet. The first lines often appear on the forehead. The mouth and neck are also increasingly affected. The first changes in the cheek area usually occur during this period. There the skin loses fat and elasticity, so that the cheeks sink slightly.
- From the age of 60 onwards, fat loss also progresses in other areas such as the chin. The skin around the eyes wrinkles more intensely. Due to shrinkage of the skull bone, more loose skin forms in the head area.
According to current scientific knowledge, these periods correspond to the typical and average
changes in the skin as we age. Nevertheless, these
signs of aging occur very individually in each individual person. Some people still look 30 in their 50s, while others show occasional
crow's feet and deepening skin lines in their 30s.
So are there other factors that determine the intensity and progression of skin aging?
Factors that promote skin aging
In fact, according to current knowledge, various other factors have an effect on wrinkles and skin aging.
Among other things, the following play a role here:
- intense sunlight ( UV radiation ).
- Smoke.
- Alcohol.
- certain dietary habits such as increased sugar intake.
- possibly genetic factors.
The negative effect of UV radiation and smoking on the condition of our skin has one cause. In both cases, so-called free radicals are increasingly active.
Free radicals are aggressive
oxygen molecules that are very willing to bind. This means that they move around our body systems trying to form chemical bonds with other molecules.
Free radicals are considered, among other things, to be a motor for aging in general. They attack cells in order to create an appropriate bond with cell molecules. The cells are damaged. This also applies to the skin cells.
When it comes to alcohol and sugar, there is another negative effect on
skin health .
Sugar combines with certain proteins in our body. In this context we speak of
glycation . Sugar molecules also attach to the collagen fibers. A defective collagen molecule is created and causes the collagen fibers to lose their flexibility and elasticity. This is evident, among other things, in the formation of lines and furrows. Remember that sugar is also found in many alcoholic drinks.
It has not yet been conclusively clarified whether the
formation of wrinkles also depends on hereditary components. However, there are many indications that this is the case because every person ages to an individual extent. This applies even if external factors and living conditions are similar.
Amino acids for the skin
Protein building blocks form the basis of every body tissue. That's why our skin benefits from a sufficient supply of these natural building blocks at any age.
In addition, an
amino acid mix can also have a particularly positive effect on skin health. The focus here is not just on the essential representatives of the protein building blocks.
You may know that a distinction is made between
essential amino acids and
non-essential amino acids . The human organism cannot produce the essential representatives itself, so they must be supplied regularly with the diet. The non-essential types are produced by the body itself. Semi-essential protein building blocks are essential in certain life situations.
The following protein building blocks are particularly important when it comes to
reducing and maintaining skin aging.
L-arginine
Semi-essential amino acids , such as L-arginine, together with other building blocks form creatine. It plays a major role in the nitrogen metabolism of the human organism. Among other things, it also affects the elasticity and health of our blood vessels. L-arginine is therefore considered an important amino acid for
skin health and the repair of skin damage.
L-carnitine
L-carnitine, together with L-arginine, is essential for the formation of creatine. This substance also has an important function in the processing and metabolism of fatty acids.
L-Carnitine could therefore help to delay aging processes by increasing the fitness of the body and skin. The exact connections are not yet known in detail.
Methionine, glutamine, lysine and others
Various other
protein building blocks such as methionine, lysine, glycine, proline or glutamine are increasingly the subject of research in the context of skin aging.
For example,
glutamine has an important function in regulating the acid-base balance. This in turn has negative effects on the firmness of the skin and the complexion in general if it is not in balance. The exact connections must also be further scientifically substantiated here.
The various processes involved are very complex because, among other things, glutamine plays a role in the formation of various hormones. The hormonal balance also has an impact on
aging processes in general and in the skin. Women who go through menopause notice many skin changes due to the lack of sex hormones.
Creatine
Creatine is produced by the body itself from various other
amino acid proteins . It has several functions in the area of cell metabolism and cell renewal. That's why the substance is generally considered a kind of miracle weapon for combating skin aging. This connection has not yet been clearly scientifically proven. This is mainly because creatine interacts with many other factors and substances.
The diet in general
The older we get, the more important it is to have a
diet that provides us with all the nutrients we need. According to current knowledge, proteins play a key role. Together with various vitamins and other micronutrients, the proteins act as a building substance to maintain youthful-looking skin. Together with other substances, they fight free radicals. In addition, proteins are the engine for many different
metabolic processes .
The need for protein supply can increase with age. This is due, among other things, to the natural aging process. As we get older, various reactions and processes in the human organism become less straightforward than they were when we were younger.
If you want to maintain a
youthful appearance for longer, consider an additional intake of protein building blocks.
Anti-wrinkle foods
To give you inspiration about which foods promote skin health and may also be effective against wrinkles, we have put together the following list for you:
- tomatoes
- carrots
- Walnut oil
- rapeseed oil
- Dairy products
- spinach
- Green tea
- Dark berries
The latter is rich in antioxidants and prevents free radicals.
Amino acids for the skin
It is still too early to say that
protein building blocks have a direct effect on wrinkles. However, there is increasing evidence in studies and experience reports that protein building blocks can generally counteract skin aging. This topic will continue to be
the subject of research among scientists and doctors for a long time.
At this point in time, one thing is already clear: amino acids are important for the skin.
An adequate supply of protein is even more important in old age than in younger years.
Skin health definitely benefits from an adequate intake of protein. There is no need for intensive, premature formation of skin lines and furrows. Pay attention to your lifestyle and diet.
Get more protein !
