‌A Miracle Molecule For Younger-Looking Skin

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No one will ever confuse hydrogen (H2) or hydrogen water with creamy, perfumed skin creams. But while molecular hydrogen may not have the cachet of an expensive cosmetic, it does have science on its side.

Hydrogen(H2) is the smallest molecule in existence. It’s also a tasteless, odorless, flammable gas. As an antioxidant health supplement, there are now hundreds of studies linking hydrogen (H2) to more than five dozen diseases.
It works primarily by reducing oxidative stress, one of the major causes of most lifestyle-related illnesses, cancers, and the aging process. Simply put, oxidative stress happens when there is an imbalance at the cellular level favoring the bad guys (reactive oxygen species including free radicals) over beneficial antioxidants.

Numerous studies also suggest that H2 should be an integral part of your anti-aging arsenal because of its amazing skin health benefits.

“Our skin is our largest organ encompassing all other organs of our body,” says author and certified integrative nutritional holistic health coach Connie Rogers. “It’s constantly exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the environment, pollution, radiation, and more. Molecular hydrogen acts as an antioxidant, reduces oxidative damage in the skin, and fights inflammation.”

The Free Radical Theory of Aging
‌In the 1950s, biogerontologist Denham Harman first proposed the free radical theory of aging. The idea is that our skin loses its elasticity and we age because cells accumulate free radical damage over time. Exposure to ultraviolet light can increase concentrations of ROS and free radicals dramatically.

“By taking an antioxidant such as molecular hydrogen, you could help mitigate some of the damage caused by this increase in ROS,” says health care writer and editor Claudia Rallis.

Rallis says H2 shouldn’t be a substitute for organic sunscreen or other UV protection, but reducing oxidative stress through the use of molecular hydrogen “should help slow down the aging process and help give you younger, healthier-looking skin.”

Sunburn: A Hot Topic
Several studies extol hydrogen’s curative powers after skin cells suffer UV damage. One animal study involved hairless mice with sunburns. Group A was bathed in tap water while group B was bathed in hydrogen water.
The skin of the mice bathed in hydrogen water showed significantly lower indices of skin injury and lower inflammatory cytokine (harmful protein) levels. Then a similar study was done and found that bathing mice in hydrogen water reduced the level of skin damage as well as increased the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase, and lowered inflammatory cytokines.

This research was further validated in yet another study where hydrogen water was shown to be very beneficial for UV induced skin cell damage. The study showed that Type-1 collagen (important structural protein found in the skin) was synthesized about twofold more in the cells treated with hydrogen water. It also prevented DNA damage, cell death, and decreased levels of intracellular free radicals.

Speaking Of Wrinkles
The desire to have healthy, elastic, wrinkle-free, and young looking skin dates back to primeval times. One popular skin rejuvenation method has been bathing in springs and mineral waters. Unlike unproven lotions, creams, oils, powders, and other cosmetics, bathing in waters that have reductive characteristics appear to provide great therapeutic potential. One study tested mineral water and a prepared water containing H2. The results revealed that bathing in both of these waters decreased the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of human skin. Essentially this means a reduction of free radicals at the cellular level.

The Skinny On Diseases
Skin-related diseases are also getting a look to see if H2 can help. A 2015 study showed that psoriasis and skin lesions associated with arthritis can show improvement with H2 treatments. Three different methods of administering molecular hydrogen were used, and in all cases the lesions nearly disappeared at the conclusion of the treatment. This led the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) to report that H2 may indeed “be considered as a treatment strategy for psoriasis-associated skin lesions and arthritis.”

NCBI also says that H2 “shows significant therapeutic potential” for rheumatoid arthritis, especially in the early stages by reducing oxidative stress in patients

Hydrogen is the smallest and lightest of all elements. When two hydrogen atoms combine, H2 (molecular hydrogen) is formed.

Being the first element and the most abundant in the universe, H2 has better cellular bioavailability than most nutrients.

The ability to rapidly enter organs, cells, mitochondria, and fluids allows H2 to provide its numerous health benefits instantly.
All life is dependent on hydrogen; it is the base for all matter in the universe. Thus, adding an extra boost of pure hydrogen greatly improves our health.

Hydrogen is already present in our gut. Certain bacteria produce hydrogen from non-digestible fiber. In fact, this is why diets rich in fiber support anti-inflammation, cardiovascular health, diabetes, various cancers, and numerous other health benefits.

Oxygen therapy has shown extensive benefits for supporting health, but a balance between both oxygen and hydrogen is necessary to truly support and enrich the body.

Hydrogen has been noted as having therapeutic effects in the body since the 18th century. Not until 2007, in a Nature Medicine article, has Medicine truly accepted the numerous health benefits, such as antioxidant and anti-apoptotic (anti-cell death) properties of molecular hydrogen. Molecular hydrogen has become so important in medicine.