CoQ10’s ‘Face Lift’ on Skin

Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10) has antioxidant properties and undertakes activities crucial to health on a cellular level; it is made in the body and is available in supplement form. However, compared to similar nutrients, CoQ10 is unique in its prevalence in the body and its limited content in foods. This ingredient also lives up to its name origins when it comes to benefits, as its role in energy production and antioxidant protection apply to many different areas of health, including skin.

The sexiness of CoQ10, since it’s typically popular for its role in energy and heart health, is reflected in its ability to protect and improve skin. Used in skin care products for its antioxidant properties, CoQ10 is ultimately thought to limit production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that can damage collagen fibers. MMPs are enzymes that break down matrix proteins, such as collagen and elastin. The skin matrix is the structural foundation of the skin and is responsible for skin’s strength, suppleness, elasticity and firmness. The key to the life cycle of these skin matrix proteins is balance. In healthy skin, old or damaged matrix is broken down, and new matrix is formed; aging can disrupt this harmony, as declining matrix production makes way for excessive matrix breakdown. Further, oxidative damage from UV radiation and other environmental hazards such as smoking and pollution can also stimulate MMPs. In such cases, topical CoQ10 can help restore a healthier balance.