Skincare Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is ultraviolet radiation?
A high energy form of light present in sunlight
What can exposure to UV light provide?
Sufficient energy for bonds to be broken within molecules
What does UV light cause?
Sunburn
Accelerates ageing of the skin
How can you prevent UV light reaching the skin?
Sun-block products
What’s formed when UV light breaks bonds?
Free radicals
What are free radicals?
Atoms or molecules which are highly reactive due to the presence of unpaired electrons
What are the three steps in free radical reactions?
Initiation
Propagation
Termination
What happens in initiation?
UV light breaks bond generating free radicals
What happens in propogation?
Radical is lost but another radical is formed
Termination
Two free radicals combine to form stable covalently bonded molecules
What are free radical scavengers?
Molecules that react with free radicals to form stable molecules and prevent chain reactions from occurring
What are some natural free radical scavengers?
Vitamin E, melatonin
What are free radical scavengers added to?
Cosmetics
Food
Plastics
