**10.4 Regenerator of oxidized vitamin E**

In our body, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are being generated continuously, to avoid their negative effects, we need them to be neutralized, and this work is carried out by two different families of scavengers:


Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant composed of 4 tocopherols and 4 trienols, alpha-tocopherol being the most abundant form. Its function is to protect cell membranes from oxidative stress. The transport of vitamin E to the deeper layers of the stratum corneum is done through the secretion of sebaceous glands.

A single suberythematogenic sun exposure can deplete these skin vitamin E levels. Many human and animal trials support that topical use of vitamin E reduces lipid peroxidation, photoaging, immunosuppression, and photocarcinogenesis [19].

We know that both vitamin C and vitamin E have an antioxidant effect on the skin and reduce oxidative stress, interacting with each other, in such a way that vitamin C regenerates oxidized vitamin E, favoring the maintenance of the skin's antioxidant reservoir [40].

The combination of 15% L-ascorbic acid and 1% tocopherol provides significant protection against postexposure erythema and sunburn, much greater when they act synergistically than separately [41].
