What is oxidative stress and what does it do to your skin?
Het Nieuwsblad, 22 July 2025
Dr Griet Voet in Het Nieuwsblad on oxidative stress: what free radicals do to your skin and how sun protection and lifestyle help.
More and more skincare products promise protection against oxidative stress. In Het Nieuwsblad, Dr Griet Voet explains what that means: an imbalance between free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage cells, and antioxidants that neutralise them. Sunlight, smoking, air pollution and stress contribute to the formation of free radicals.
In the skin, that imbalance can lead to loss of firmness, pigmentation spots, redness and inflammation, and through UV damage, in the worst case, to skin cancer. Using sun protection consistently is therefore the first step. Skincare with antioxidants can help, provided it comes in airtight packaging.
She also stresses the importance of a healthy lifestyle: not smoking, getting enough sleep, exercise and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Key advice
In full sun, use SPF50 and reapply every two hours.
Choose antioxidant products in an airtight pump dispenser.
Limit ultra-processed food and eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Not smoking, getting enough sleep and exercise also help.
“Prolonged exposure to oxidative stress can have a major impact on our body” — Dr Griet Voet