Ferulic Acid Explained in Simple Terms
Now why is it that so much of what's written online about chemicals like ferulic acid is presented by people who seem to assume that all who read it will have a college degree in chemistry? Can't they dumb it down just a little bit?
Ferulic Acid has many Uses with Anti- Aging Being One of them
Anyway they won't, so I went ahead and did it. You see as it turns out, ferulic acid is a very complex chemical in how it functions. Also because it's so complex, it has multiple uses with ant-aging being just one of them. So then let me start out with where it comes from.
It's a Phyto Chemical Which Means It's Produced By Plants
It's a phyto-chemical and “phyto” means that it's produced in plants. As it turns out plants produce multitudes of chemicals that they use to maintain and operate their cells and their many internal processes, such as reproduction and self-protection from the harsh elements.
It is a Very Powerful Antioxidant
So then let’s keep it simple and just focus on how ferulic acid functions in anti-aging products. In short, ferulic acid is a very powerful antioxidant. Also because ferulic acid is such a complex chemical it can do things that other antioxidants can't.
Just What are Free Radicals Anyway??
You see free radicals come in various forms and types. In simple terms, free radicals are oxygen atoms that are connected to various types of molecules. Now lots of atoms have oxygen molecules in them but you should think of free radicals as “hungry” or activated oxygenated atoms.
They're Unstable Oxide Atoms that are looking for Trouble
So while stable oxygenated or oxide atoms are content to mind their business and enjoy life, free radical oxide molecules are chemically unstable and as a result want to take a bite out of some living tissues in your body. They can even damage DNA, which can lead to cancer.
Antioxidants Neutralize Free Radicals Before they Can Cause Damage
So the best thing you can do is somehow introduce antioxidants into your living skin tissues, to actually neutralize free radicals. Antioxidants basically attach themselves to unstable oxide molecules before the free radicals can damage skin cells and vital substances like collagen.
What Makes Ferulic Acid So Special??
So now that you have a good picture of what free radicals and antioxidants are and how they react with each other under your skin let’s focus back on ferulic acid and what makes it so special. For instance what can it do that other antioxidants can't do?
It turns out that it Pulls Double Duty Protecting Your Skin
Well to start out with, aside from being a powerful antioxidant recent scientific studies have given indications that ferulic acid goes beyond just neutralizing free radicals. These studies have shown that ferulic acid also forms an actual protective barrier around certain types of skin cells.
Ferulic Acid Just Keeps on Going!
This would be a barrier that in essence deflects free radicals. You see a standard antioxidant molecule commits suicide when it neutralizes a free radical. It's a one shot deal. However; when ferulic acid forms a protective barrier in this way its life span expanded. Just like the Ever Ready Bunny, it just keeps on going.
A Little Bit About UVA and UVB Rays
Now you by now know that UVA and UVB rays from the sun are bad for your skin. These rays actually penetrate into your skin and permanently damage skin cells, shut down your skins vital micro-biological functions and even damage DNA. That in turn can lead to cancer. These rays harmful also lead to the formation of free radicals.
The Sun’s Rays Also Change Ferulic Acid Atoms
You see the sun’s rays are in fact energy and any time you inject energy into a big pot of chemicals, “which is what your body is”, things are going to change. So now would you believe that when the sun’s rays hit ferulic acid atoms in your body they also change them as well? It’s true!
Would You Believe that They Become Super Antioxidants?
The good news is that it actually activates ferulic acid atoms by zapping “activating” certain molecules contained in its matrix. The net result is that these altered ferulic acid atoms then become super antioxidants. That's right! At the same time that the sun is creating some of the worst kind of free radicals, it’s also “activating ferulic acid super antioxidants” to neutralize them.
Written byAndrew Scherer. Find more info on Skinceuticals CE Ferulic