Study Confirms That Consuming Silica can help Improve Your Sun Damaged Skin

Summer is now behind us.  We're you diligent with daily sunscreen application?  If not, there's a chance that photodamage from the sun is lurking just below your skin's surface.

As we age, the sun damage from the past eventually surfaces causing premature aging.  Sunspots, wrinkles and scaly skin are just some of the negative consequences. Sunscreen can certainly help prevent some of the negative side effects of the sun but it's just as important to try to reverse the damage if possible. 

And, yes, it is possible.  According to a study conducted in Belgium, oral intake of silica can positively affect the hair, skin, and nails compared to a placebo group (especially in aging skin).  The women who participated in the study all had sun-damaged skin. A selected group of the women were instructed to consume 10 mg of silica per day for 20 weeks. 

Over the course of the 20 weeks, the women in the placebo group experienced an increase in skin roughness. The silica intake group, however, measured improvements in brittleness in the hair and nails.  The silica intake group also demonstrated greater silica levels on the skin's surface which helped to decrease roughness and increased hydration.  Because silica intake had the ability to improve skin's smoothness while decreasing brittleness of the hair & nails, it's safe to label silica as a true hair, skin and nail supplement.  

Silica is a natural occuring element in our body that declines due to factors such as aging and sun damage.  The good news is that supplementation is an effective strategy to restore silica levels and restore your skin back to its healthy self.