Most women come to see me about their health. But a lot of them ask about the health of their skin, too. And their top concern seems to be aging skin.
“I use a good cleanser,” they say. “I moisturize and tone. But is there something else I should be doing to keep my skin looking younger?”
My answer is yes, because your skin needs more than moisture. It needs nourishment.
My top choice for younger looking skin is better known for its heart health benefits. In fact, it’s so powerful, it can even improve the condition of people who need heart transplants.1
I’m talking about CoQ10. And it has some remarkable properties that can leave your skin looking years younger. Best of all, CoQ10 can work directly through your skin.
Outside of its heart benefits, CoQ10 is best known as an antioxidant.
Toxins, pollutants, sunburn and even exercise create rogue molecules – called free radicals. These free radicals damage your cells – including your DNA. And when your DNA is damaged, cells will often “commit suicide” – called apoptosis. This keeps the damaged DNA from replicating and making new, mutant cells.
CoQ10 helps mop up the free radicals that do this damage. So fewer of your skin cells die and your skin remains healthier and more vibrant.2
But that’s not all CoQ10 can do for your skin. It’s good for wrinkles, too.
In a Japanese study, doctors applied CoQ10 directly to volunteers’ skin. The volunteers showed lower levels of enzymes – called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) – in their skin.
MMPs are involved in tissue rebuilding. But your body may release too many of them under certain conditions – such as sunburn. Then, the extra MMPs act like a wrecking crew in your skin, resulting in wrinkles.
Dermatologists examined the volunteers in this study before and after applying CoQ10 for six months. On the “after” side, they found a noticeable reduction in wrinkles.3
Less wrinkled skin looks more youthful. So does skin that’s firm and toned. And scientists at Japan’s Shisedo Research Center discovered CoQ10 supports production of several elements that help your skin stay firm and toned.
When the researchers added CoQ10 to skin cultures, the cells produced more components of what’s called your skin’s “basement layer.”4 This layer is a little like the cement that holds tiles to your bathroom wall. Except it keeps your outer and inner skin layers together, enhancing firmness and better skin tone.
In other words, CoQ10 may be the master anti-aging supplement for your skin. It helps your skin look and feel more youthful. And it helps your skin act more youthful, too.
You see, inside your cells are tiny structures called mitochondria. These mitochondria make ATP – the fuel your cells use for energy. And they need CoQ10 to do their job.
But by the time you’re 40, your body is making less and less CoQ10. Without enough CoQ10, the mitochondria can’t make ATP. And without ATP, your cells begin to starve.
Eventually, your skin cells die faster than your body can replace them. Your skin begins to look old and worn.
In an interesting experiment, a German team applied CoQ10 to skin biopsies from mature adults. And something amazing happened. The mitochondria sprang into action again… and the old skin cells started acting like much younger cells.5
It’s almost like CoQ10 “woke up” the mitochondria. And once the skin cells had their energy source back, it was as if they had a new lease on life.
Finally, there’s one other reason I recommend CoQ10 as part of your beauty regimen.
Your skin uses several antioxidants to protect itself – including vitamins C and E, glutathione and CoQ10. But studies show that CoQ10 is the first antioxidant that’s depleted.5
That tells me it’s probably your skin’s first line of defense… so it’s important to make sure you have plenty of CoQ10 in reserve. Applying a toner or moisturizing cream with CoQ10 every day can help keep your skin looking smoother, healthier and more youthful.
Sincerely,
Kamila Fiore, ARNP, NP-C
1. Berman, M; et al. “Coenzyme Q10 in patients with end-stage heart failure awaiting cardiac transplantation,” Clin. Cardiol. May 2004; 27(5):295-9
2. Hoppe, U; et al, “Coenzyme Q{10}, a cutaneous antioxidant and energizer,” BioFactors 1999; 9 (2-4): 371-378
3. Inui, M; et al, “Mechanisms of inhibitory effects of CoQ10 on UVB-induced wrinkle formation in vitro and in vivo,” Biofactors 2008;32(1-4):237-43
4. Muta-Takada, K; et al, “Coenzyme Q10 protects against oxidative stress-induced cell death and enhances the synthesis of basement membrane components in dermal and epidermal cells,” Biofactors Sept-Oct 2009; 35(5):435-41
5. Baumann, L; “How to Prevent Photoaging?” Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2005; 125: xii–xiii.