The skin contains a number of antioxidants that can be depleted by sun exposure and environmental insults, resulting in an overload of oxidation products.

The application of topical antioxidants has the capacity to replenish the antioxidant capacity of the skin and prevent oxidative damage to the skin.

A number of natural antioxidant ingredients also have anti-inflammatory properties, and can be used in the treatment of oxidative damage such as photoaging and perhaps even skin cancer.

Ultraviolet radiation influences the proliferation of melanocytes and the production and secretion of paracrine and autocrine factors that stimulate melanogenesis. UV radiation can also produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skin that may induce melanogenesis, DNA damage, melanocyte proliferation and/or apoptosis. The constant exposure of the skin to oxidative stress results in damage to cellular DNA and cell membrane lipids and proteins.  Redox agents capable of scavenging ROS generated in the skin can inhibit second messengers that may stimulate melanogenesis.

Redox agents can also influence skin pigmentation by interacting with copper at the active site of tyrosinase or with o-quinones to impede the oxidative polymerization of melanin intermediates.

Some of the popular skin whitening antioxidants include Vitamin C, N Acetyl Cysteine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Niacinamide, Glutathione and Ubiquinol (CoQ10). Here we will review Glutathione,vitamin C and vitamin E.