FIGURE 2.

Skin is exposed to the environmental impact of challenges such as ultraviolet irradiation, smoke and pollutants as well as topical irritants. These challenges lead to generation of free radicals (ROS: reactive oxygen species) which can deplete the inherent reservoir of antioxidant system of skin thereby leading to release of a cascade of inflammatory mediators such as interleukins and arachidonic acid. Inflammatory response leads to various changes that disrupt the barrier including incorrect differentiation that changes ceramides of the stratum corneum, increase in fluidity of lipid bilayers as well as peroxidation of stratum corneum lipid and oxidation of stratum corneum proteins including keratin. The inflammatory response leads to degradation of collagen and elastin in the dermis which over time leads to unhealthy skin that looks prematurely aged. Treatment with carotenoids results in its accumulation in the skin, so it is available to quench the free radicals thereby preventing the inflammatory cascade from disrupting the barrier. Such protection leads to reduction in the aging process of skin thereby displaying a healthy look with reduced signs of age