Collagen is a major component of our skin’s Extra Cellular Matrix. Many of us accept that fine lines and wrinkles are inevitable with age, but cross-hatching of the skin is something entirely different, caused by glycated collagen.
Glycation is a result of sugars, which circulate in our blood and body fluids, binding with lipids and proteins, creating Advanced Glycation End Products, ironically known as A.G.E. AGE products are associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.
Glycation damages the collagen and elastin throughout our bodies by cross-linking collagen proteins and altering their structure and function. Glycated collagen is stiff and less flexible. Glycated collagen can lead to inflammation and destroy a functional collagen matrix, contributing to an aged skin appearance.
This altered collagen is also resistant to degradation by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which inhibits its removal and replacement by newly synthesised and functional collagen.
Non-enzymatic glycation is particularly apparent in diabetes patients, whose condition relates to high sugar levels in the blood, which is why it is not surprising that diabetes patients often look older than their chronological years.
So how can we avoid glycation?
The first step is to maintain a healthy diet, low in sugar and high in antioxidants.
But the good news is that rooibos has been shown to weaken protein glycation and is even used in the pharmaceutical industry to treat diabetes! So, why not make drinking rooibos tea and topically applying rooibos to your skin part of your daily anti-aging armoury?
Maysama skincare heroes’ green rooibos extract as a potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-glycation agent. Whether you use Maysama’s Green Rooibos Pressed Serum Brightening Mask, or Gentle Resurfacing Toner, our green rooibos extract attaches to glucose, preventing it from attaching to collagen and helping prevent the formation of A.G.E. products.
Grab yourself some Maysama Green Rooibos skincare today! Click here to shop.
