ABSTRACT
ANTIOXIDANTS-THE PROTECTION SYSTEM OF HUMAN SKIN AGAINST THE INFLUENCE OF FREE RADICALS Human skin as a boundary organ between the environment and the organism is constantly in contact with solar radiation and environmental substances, which provoke the production of free radicals in the skin. Free radicals have a powerful oxidative activity, which means that they immediately interact with the surroundings and oxidize DNA, lipids, and proteins of living cells (1-4). As a result of such attacks, the membranes of living cells can be destroyed, which in turn gives rise to cell death and disorganization in the living bio-media (2,5). Additionally, oxygen free radicals are constantly produced in the organism as a result of metabolic processes. It is well known that approximately 2-3% of oxygen on the mitochondrial level is transferred to the oxygen free radicals. Some of these radicals are useful for the living organism, acting as weapons against viruses and bacteria. The remainder are harmful for living cells and should be neutralized before the harmful interaction can take place.
