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Oxidative stress in skin

UV radiation, pollution and normal generate . Cells buffer them with enzymatic systems (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and small-molecule , with the KEAP1-NRF2 axis coordinating the transcriptional response.

100%
Oxidative stress in skinNFE2L2KEAP1HMOX1SOD1CATGPX1Detoxification of reactiv…KEAP1-NFE2L2 antioxidant …Respiratory electron tran…Oxidative stress responseLipid peroxidation control

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IngredientMoleculeTargetGenePathwayProcessOutcome
Text alternative for this network
  • Oxidative stress in skin associated with NFE2L2 — high confidence
  • Oxidative stress in skin associated with KEAP1 — high confidence
  • Oxidative stress in skin associated with HMOX1 — high confidence
  • Oxidative stress in skin associated with SOD1 — high confidence
  • Oxidative stress in skin associated with CAT — high confidence
  • Oxidative stress in skin associated with GPX1 — high confidence
  • NFE2L2 participates in Detoxification of reactive oxygen species — high confidence
  • KEAP1 participates in Detoxification of reactive oxygen species — high confidence
  • HMOX1 participates in Detoxification of reactive oxygen species — high confidence
  • SOD1 participates in Detoxification of reactive oxygen species — high confidence
  • CAT participates in Detoxification of reactive oxygen species — high confidence
  • GPX1 participates in Detoxification of reactive oxygen species — high confidence
  • NFE2L2 participates in KEAP1-NFE2L2 antioxidant response — high confidence
  • KEAP1 participates in KEAP1-NFE2L2 antioxidant response — high confidence
  • HMOX1 participates in KEAP1-NFE2L2 antioxidant response — high confidence
  • SOD1 participates in KEAP1-NFE2L2 antioxidant response — high confidence
  • CAT participates in KEAP1-NFE2L2 antioxidant response — high confidence
  • GPX1 participates in KEAP1-NFE2L2 antioxidant response — high confidence
  • NFE2L2 participates in Respiratory electron transport — medium confidence
  • KEAP1 participates in Respiratory electron transport — medium confidence
  • HMOX1 participates in Respiratory electron transport — medium confidence
  • SOD1 participates in Respiratory electron transport — medium confidence
  • CAT participates in Respiratory electron transport — medium confidence
  • GPX1 participates in Respiratory electron transport — medium confidence
  • Detoxification of reactive oxygen species associated with Oxidative stress response — high confidence
  • KEAP1-NFE2L2 antioxidant response associated with Oxidative stress response — high confidence
  • Respiratory electron transport associated with Oxidative stress response — medium confidence
  • Detoxification of reactive oxygen species associated with Lipid peroxidation control — high confidence
  • KEAP1-NFE2L2 antioxidant response associated with Lipid peroxidation control — high confidence
  • Respiratory electron transport associated with Lipid peroxidation control — medium confidence

Genes & proteins

  • NFE2L2high confidence

    Nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (NRF2)

  • KEAP1high confidence

    Kelch like ECH associated protein 1

  • HMOX1high confidence

    Heme oxygenase 1

  • SOD1high confidence

    Superoxide dismutase 1

  • CAThigh confidence

    Catalase

  • GPX1high confidence

    Glutathione peroxidase 1

Pathways

  • Detoxification of reactive oxygen species

    high confidence

    Enzymatic and small-molecule handling.

    Reactome R-HSA-3299685

  • KEAP1-NFE2L2 antioxidant response

    high confidence

    Transcriptional programme.

    Reactome R-HSA-9755511

  • Respiratory electron transport

    medium confidence

    Mitochondrial source of endogenous .

    Reactome R-HSA-611105

Ingredients studied here

Processes

  • response —
  • peroxidation control — Cell membranes

Research on this topic

ReviewJournal of Cosmetic Dermatology (review) · 2019

Topical resveratrol formulations and photoprotection endpoints: a narrative review

Concludes that human topical data remain limited and heterogeneous despite consistent antioxidant activity in cell models.

Limitations — Review of small, mostly non-randomised studies; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCResveratrol · Ferulic acid
ReviewJournal of Pineal Research (review) · 2018

Melatonin in human skin: local synthesis and antioxidative protection

Summarises evidence that skin expresses melatonin-pathway enzymes and receptors, and that melatonin scavenges reactive species in cutaneous models.

Limitations — Review; controlled cosmetic endpoints in humans are sparse.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCMelatonin
ReviewJournal of Pineal Research (review) · 2018

Melatonin, MT1 receptors and cutaneous antioxidant defence

Summarises melatonin receptor expression in skin and reported antioxidant and mitochondrial protective activity.

Limitations — Review; topical human endpoints sparse; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCMelatonin
ReviewBiofactors (review) · 2015

Coenzyme Q10 and mitochondrial respiratory-chain support in aged skin cells

Summarises declining CoQ10 with age and reported restoration of respiratory-chain activity in supplemented cell models.

Limitations — Review of cell and supplementation studies; topical penetration uncertain; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCCoenzyme Q10
In-vitroInternational Journal of Cosmetic Science · 2013

Stability of L-ascorbic acid in topical formulations

Reported rapid oxidative degradation of L-ascorbic acid at neutral pH, mitigated by low pH and antioxidant co-formulation.

Limitations — Formulation chemistry only; no biological endpoints.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCL-Ascorbic acid · Ferulic acid · Tocopherol
Randomised controlled trialAnnals of Internal Medicine · 2013n = 903

Daily sunscreen use and skin ageing: a randomised trial

Reported no detectable increase in skin ageing over 4.5 years in the daily sunscreen group compared with discretionary use.

Limitations — Sunscreen formulation was not zinc-oxide-specific; outcome assessed by microtopography of the hand.

PMID 23732711Zinc oxide
In-vitroInternational Journal of Cosmetic Science · 2012

Stability and skin delivery of ascorbyl phosphate derivatives

Reported improved formulation stability for magnesium ascorbyl phosphate but slower and variable conversion to free ascorbate in skin models.

Limitations — Formulation and ex-vivo delivery only; no clinical endpoints.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCMagnesium ascorbyl phosphate · L-Ascorbic acid
In-vitroPhotochemistry and Photobiology · 2011

Green tea polyphenols and UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase expression in human skin models

Reported reduced UV-induced MMP-9 expression in treated skin equivalents.

Limitations — Skin equivalent model; identifier not verified; human endpoints lacking.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCEpigallocatechin gallate
In-vitroExperimental Dermatology · 2011

Resveratrol and SIRT1-dependent responses in cultured human dermal fibroblasts

Reported SIRT1-associated changes in oxidative-stress markers in fibroblast culture after resveratrol exposure.

Limitations — In-vitro only, supraphysiological concentrations; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCResveratrol
In-vitroJournal of Biological Chemistry · 2010

Resveratrol as a sirtuin activator: assay dependence and interpretation

Reported that apparent SIRT1 activation by resveratrol depends on the fluorophore-labelled substrate used in the assay.

Limitations — Biochemical; cautions against over-interpretation of resveratrol as a direct sirtuin activator.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCResveratrol
ReviewBiophysical Chemistry (review) · 2010

Ectoine as a compatible solute: membrane and protein stabilisation

Summarises preferential-hydration mechanisms by which ectoine stabilises membranes and proteins under stress.

Limitations — Biophysical review, not cutaneous; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCEctoin
In-vitroJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · 2010

Avenanthramides and NF-kB dependent cytokine release in keratinocyte culture

Reported reduced IL-8 release and NF-kB reporter activity in stimulated keratinocytes exposed to purified avenanthramides.

Limitations — Purified compounds at defined concentrations, unlike commercial extracts; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCAvenanthramides (colloidal oat)
In-vitroSkin Pharmacology and Physiology · 2007

Ectoin as a protective compatible solute in keratinocyte models

Reported reduced UVA-induced signalling and membrane damage in ectoin-treated keratinocytes.

Limitations — Cell model; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCEctoin
HumanPhotodermatology, Photoimmunology and Photomedicine · 2007n = 16

Green tea polyphenols and UV-induced inflammatory markers in human skin

Reported reduced UV-induced erythema and inflammatory infiltrate markers in biopsies from polyphenol-treated sites.

Limitations — Small, short-duration, single-centre; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCEpigallocatechin gallate
In-vitroInternational Journal of Cosmetic Science · 2007

Ascorbyl glucoside stability and enzymatic release of ascorbic acid in skin models

Reported greater aqueous stability than L-ascorbic acid and glucosidase-dependent release of free ascorbate in skin homogenates.

Limitations — Homogenate model may overstate in-vivo conversion; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCAscorbyl glucoside · L-Ascorbic acid
HumanJournal of Investigative Dermatology · 2005n = 9

Ferulic acid stabilises a solution of vitamins C and E and doubles its photoprotection

Reported improved formulation stability and increased measured photoprotection for a C/E/ferulic combination on human skin.

Limitations — Very small sample; surrogate photoprotection endpoints; industry-affiliated.

PMID 16297196Ferulic acid · L-Ascorbic acid · Tocopherol
In-vitroJournal of Applied Microbiology · 2004

Oxidative decomposition of benzoyl peroxide in skin and follicular microbiology

Reported rapid decomposition to benzoic acid with radical-mediated, non-selective antibacterial activity and no observed resistance selection.

Limitations — Microbiological models; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCBenzoyl peroxide
Randomised controlled trialBritish Journal of Dermatology · 2003n = 33

Alpha-lipoic acid cream and photoaged facial skin: a randomised controlled trial

Reported modest improvement in photoaging scores versus vehicle on half-face assessment.

Limitations — Small sample; identifier not verified; subjective grading.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCAlpha-lipoic acid
Randomised controlled trialBritish Journal of Dermatology · 2003n = 33

Alpha-lipoic acid cream and photoageing endpoints: a randomised controlled trial

Reported modest improvement in photoageing severity scores versus vehicle over 12 weeks.

Limitations — Single trial, partly subjective endpoints; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCAlpha-lipoic acid
Randomised controlled trialDermatologic Surgery · 2002n = 19

Topical vitamin C and photoaging: a double-blind half-face study

Reported improvement in investigator-assessed photoaging scores on the vitamin C treated side.

Limitations — Very small sample; identifier not verified during curation; formulation stability not reported.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCL-Ascorbic acid
In-vitroFree Radical Biology and Medicine · 1999

Coenzyme Q10 in the epidermis: distribution and antioxidant function

Reported measurable CoQ10 in epidermal layers and reduced oxidation markers after supplementation in vitro.

Limitations — In-vitro; identifier not verified during curation.

Identifier not curated — search Europe PMCCoenzyme Q10

Community evidence

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Reader submissions appear here only after review. They are not part of the curated dataset and do not affect the Skinceptor Evidence Index.

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Sources