Lorna Bowes examines the concept of glycation and reviews the evidence behind various topical ingredients shown to inhibit accumulation of Advanced Glycation Endpoints (AGEs
As we, aesthetic practitioners, cosmetic dermatologists and cosmetic scientists, learn more about the ageing process, we uncover new and improved ways to target the many signs and symptoms of ageing skin. Sometimes, these new understandings pave the way for new ingredients, and at other times we discover that existing proven technologies have actions previously not described or fully understood.
Glycation and AGEs
There are many processes implicated in ageing, however one generating increased interest in both general and aesthetic medicine is glycation. AGEs, or Advanced Glycation End products, is the name given to the irreversible damage caused to proteins by sugar molecules, i.e. glycation. This is a negative process that is not exclusive to the skin, but is found throughout the body where proteins are present. Glycation differs from glycosylation, as glycosylation is a normal process…
