Have you ever heard the term Glycation?

This is an age accelerating condition that limits the skin’s ability to produce and regenerate high quality collagen.  When glycation is present – once firm, healthy collagen strands now give way to wrinkling, dryness and looseness of the skin.  There are other consequences in the body of glycation, but we will just focus on the skin here today.

Although glycation is most definitely caused by too much sun exposure, one of the biggest culprits is glucose driven.  In other words – eating sugar!  All processed sugar, even in small amounts, will increase the rate at which your skin ages through glycation.  The higher your blood sugar levels, the more glycation and the faster the aging process.   And it isn’t just what you eat, but how you cook your food that matters.  Grilling, broiling, frying and caramelizing your foods also creates glycation.

The building blocks of the skin are collagen and elastin.  When sugar enters the bloodstream, it attaches to your collagen proteins to slowly rearrange their youthful structure and create Advanced Glycation Endpoints (AGE’s).  AGEs are destructive to collagen fibers and makes them lose their elasticity, becoming rigid, brittle and prone to breakage.  Glycation also increases the release of an enzyme that breaks down your precious collagen.  It also causes a vicious cycle of oxidative stress which causes inflammation in the body which then produces more free radical formation which results in more oxidative stress.  All of this leads to wrinkles, sagging skin, dark circles, and dehydration and dryness of the skin.

So what can we do about glycation.

The best cure is prevention.  The younger you are when start to apply daily SPF, the better.  Eating a healthy diet with lots of antioxidants and low sugar will always give you the healthiest looking skin.  Cooking foods at low temperatures is also a good preventative.

If you are concerned about glycation, along with keeping sugar intake low, we have a new product specifically formulated to combat all stages of the multi-phase glycation process. 

AGE Interrupter Advanced –  a next generation formula to help reverse visible signs of aging impacted by glycation and collagen decline.  Blueberry, Pomegranate, and proxylane are some of the active ingredients that make this product do it’s magic.

AGE Interrupter Advanced can help smooth visible wrinkles, restore firmness, and enhance skin’s radiance.  Can be used on all skin types and tones and can be used alone or with your other corrective treatments and moisturizers.

DID YOU KNOW

That Environ Defence Cream and Defence Cream plus have had an upgrade.  Now featuring blueberry extract.  Blueberries posses supercharged antioxidants and anti-inflammatory powers.  The anthocyanins (what give them their deep blue color) have been found to naturally avert glycation-induced damage by stabilizing the collagen matrix, improving microcirculation and promoting collagen production.

Contact us here if you would like to learn more about these products!