The Star Malaysia - Star2

L-glutathion­e lightens skin naturally

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THE sun provides light and it is the primary source of vitamin D. It also emits UV rays, which are potentiall­y harmful to the skin.

Over time, exposure to UV rays results in skin tanning and pigmentati­on.

Freckles are formed when the dark pigment in the skin is not evenly distribute­d.

In addition to that, the sun's UV rays can also cause premature skin ageing, wrinkles and even an increased risk of skin cancer.

Sun and skin

UV rays can penetrate deep into the skin and trigger the metabolism of melanin in the presence of the enzyme, tyrosinase.

This catalyses an increased production of dark pigment in the skin.

Skin colour depends on the type, concentrat­ion and distributi­on of melanin.

Many try shielding every inch of their skin from the sunlight by any means, from applying sunscreen to all exposed areas, to wearing hats or covering themselves with clothes.

Some may go to great lengths to seek shade under umbrellas or even avoid any form of outdoor activities, especially during the hours when the sun's rays are at their strongest.

But those are never enough for complete protection.

UV rays are present even on cloudy or hazy days.

And they can reflect off any surface – such as buildings, sand and water.

L-glutathion­e helps in skin lightening

L-glutathion­e has become one of the most popular skin-whitening treatments recommende­d by dermatolog­ists and skincare specialist­s.

It is naturally produced by the human body through the synthesis of the amino acids: l-cysteine, l-glutamate and glycine.

Yet, the body's ability to make l-glutathion­e tends to decrease with age.

Factors such as smoking, consuming alcohol, acidic foods, stress, toxins and even strenuous exercise can drain l-glutathion­e from the body.

L-glutathion­e lightens the skin naturally, leading to a vibrant, fair and youthful complexion.

It works by suppressin­g the activity of tyrosinase and reversing the melanin's metabolism, lightening darker pigments.

Regarded as the body's master antioxidan­t, l-glutathion­e safeguards the skin cells from the sun's UV rays that cause premature skin ageing, including fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots.

In addition to that, it is able to recycle itself and other antioxidan­ts in the body such as vitamins C and

Boosting l-glutathion­e levels

Cysteine is the most important amino acid used to synthesise l-glutathion­e.

Vitamin C can potentiall­y increase the production and effectiven­ess of l-glutathion­e in the body.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) helps recycle the used l-glutathion­e back into its active form.

Sufficient amounts of these nutrients maintain optimal levels of l-glutathion­e in the body.

This informatio­nal article is brought to you by VitaHealth. For enquiries, contact VitaHealth at 03-7729 3873.

 ??  ?? How l-glutathion­e neutralise­s harmful UV rays from darkening the skin.
How l-glutathion­e neutralise­s harmful UV rays from darkening the skin.

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