UNDERSTANDING ANTIOXIDANTS WITH DR JOSEPH HKEIK
Dr Joseph Hkeik, Par Olives Medical Director shares a simple guide to oxidative stress - how it accelerates skin ageing, and why internal antioxidant support matters for long-term skin health.
What is oxidative stress, and how does it affect the skin as we age?
Oxidative stress is something we’re all exposed to daily. It happens when free radicals, generated by sun exposure, pollution, stress and even normal metabolism, accumulate faster than the body can manage them.
For the skin, this gradual build-up can affect collagen, elasticity and overall resilience. Over time, it contributes to changes such as dullness, loss of firmness and uneven tone. It’s not the only factor in ageing, but it’s one of the key internal processes that influences how the skin evolves.
What are antioxidants and How do antioxidants help protect the skin from oxidative stress over time?
Antioxidants help neutralise free radicals before they can disrupt healthy skin cells. Think of them as part of the skin’s defence system.
Rather than creating instant cosmetic change, antioxidants support the skin’s ability to maintain balance and structural strength over time. They help preserve function, which ultimately influences how the skin looks and feels.
Why is consistency important when taking internal antioxidants for skin health?
Skin health is built through consistency. Supporting the skin internally is not about chasing short-term results, but about maintaining function and resilience over time.
The changes people notice are usually reflective of improved skin function rather than dramatic cosmetic shifts, skin that feels more balanced, less reactive, and better hydrated. With steady support, cellular renewal and collagen integrity are better maintained, which allows the skin to respond and recover more predictably from treatments and maintain longer-lasting results.
How do internal antioxidants support the skin barrier and overall skin resilience?
The skin barrier is not simply a surface layer, it is the outward expression of cellular health. It relies on well-functioning cells, intact structural proteins and balanced repair processes. When oxidative stress accumulates, that internal stability can gradually weaken.
Internal antioxidant support contributes to preserving that foundation by helping to reduce ongoing cellular stress. When the skin is well supported from within, it tends to feel calmer, more balanced and better able to tolerate environmental exposure as well as professional treatments.
Why does skin ageing start at a cellular level before we see it on the surface?
Collagen decline, slower cellular turnover and cumulative oxidative stress all begin beneath the surface.
By the time we notice lines, laxity or changes in tone, those internal shifts have often been occurring for years. That is why I focus on supporting skin function early, not just addressing what is already visible.
Who should be thinking about internal antioxidant support — and when should they start?
Oxidative stress affects all of us, particularly in modern urban environments where sun exposure, pollution and lifestyle factors are constant.
There is no single age to begin. Rather, it becomes relevant when someone is thinking about maintaining and prioritising their long-term skin health rather than reacting to visible change.
How do antioxidants help protect the skin from oxidative stress over time?
Antioxidants help neutralise free radicals, limiting their impact on our healthy skin cells.
Rather than producing dramatic cosmetic change, their role is protective. Over time, consistent support helps preserve collagen integrity, reinforce the barrier and maintain overall skin quality. The objective is not transformation, but preservation of strength and balance as the skin matures.
Dr Joseph Hkeik is the Par Olive Medical Director and Founder of All Saint Clinic in Sydney and Le Petit Saint in London.
