Introduction

With many influencers and celebrities boasting treatments and products targeted towards reversing ageing effects and improving skin health, it can take time to find treatments that work. Guava is a fruit in many tropical regions containing antioxidant properties that help maintain skin health. Incorporating guava into your diet reduces the risk of cancer and infectious diseases and can lead to healthier-looking skin. By looking at the composition of Guava and its chemical properties, we can understand how to use it for health and wellness. This article aims to explain what antioxidants are, why they’re essential, and why the antioxidant properties of guava can leave your skin feeling more radiant and healthier. 

Causes of skin ageing

Our skin comprises multiple layers, each with different cell types with various functions and processes (Immunology). The outer layer of skin is naturally thin, but with age it becomes thinner from the cells in that area, dying more rapidly, leading to water loss and dryness. Some contributing factors from the American Academy of Dermatology are listed below: 

• UVB exposure
• Smoking 
• Environmental pollution 
• Diet high in sugar and carbohydrates
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Perspiration (sweat) without washing your face
• Skincare products that irritate your face

Free radicals, oxidants, and antioxidants

Free radicals and oxidants, dubbed ROS, form in our cells through various processes and, at low concentrations, protect our bodies against diseases. When excess ROS is formed, however, it can lead to many destructive effects, such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cataracts, cancer, and numerous other diseases. Skin cells exposed to excessive amounts of free radicals may experience lesions leading to damage at a cellular level and mechanisms of skin ageing, particularly wrinkling, loss of elasticity, dryness, uneven pigmentation, discolouration, and slower wound healing. Antioxidants are essential for anti-ageing mechanisms because they protect the skin cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. They comprise various compounds, such as flavonoids and vitamin C, in fruits like Guava. 

Guava composition

Different parts of the Guava fruit will contain differing levels of antioxidants and other essential nutrients. In traditional East Asian medicine, guava leaves are crushed into a paste and applied to wounds because the flavonoids speed up the healing process. People have known for years that this fruit has regenerative powers, but now we have large amounts of scientific proof for why Guava has so many health benefits. The plant also contains significant amounts of protein, essential cell building blocks. They also contain important minerals and vitamins such as calcium, potassium, sulphur, and Vitamin C. Vitamin C maintains the immune system and blood vessels, which help circulate blood to the surface of our skin (MDPI). 

Importance of vitamin C

Vitamin C deficiency causes many problems, including scurvy, deteriorating skin strength and producing a sickly appearance. In aged or damaged skin, it is commonly noted that the epidermal layer is deficient in vitamin C. Some essential functions of vitamin C include: 

• Reduces oxidative stress in tissues
• Stimulates biochemical pathways required for collagen synthesis
• Stimulates collagen mRNA production
• Increases strength of underlying cellular structures
• Neutralises ROS and prevents excessive cell death
• Disposes toxic oxidants
• When combined with oxidised vitamin E, it reduces oxidative damage and regenerates vitamin E
• Decreases melanin synthesis, which helps treat hyperpigmentation in cases of melasma or age spots (MDPI)

Importance of Vitamin E

Vitamin E is another anti-oxidant found in guava similar to vitamin C, which works against excess free radicals and in various topical skincare products. Some functions of vitamin E include:

• Inflammation Reduction
• Protects against UVA radiation
• Antimicrobial activity – fights off foreign pathogens on the skin surface, preventing skin damage and promoting wound healing 
• Increased moisture and elasticity 
• Prevents vascular disease development

Antibacterial properties of guava

Guava leaves have also been used for hundreds of years by different indigenous cultures to fight bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract. Extracts from these leaves penetrate the cell membranes of foreign bacteria, eventually killing them and preventing their growth. If applied topically, for example, on the face, it may help fight acne, giving off a more radiant appearance (Millones-Gomez). 

Uses in skincare

There are many ways guava can be incorporated into your regular skincare routine, depending on your skin type and what you want to achieve. If you’re looking for an exfoliator to remove dead skin cells and even your skin tone, you can make a face scrub: Mash some guava with a whipped egg yolk, then apply it on the face for 20 minutes. Massage it into your face before rinsing off. If you’re looking to fight off signs of ageing, simply incorporating it into your diet, either on its own or in a smoothie, provides detoxifying benefits. Washing your face with unrip guava helps tighten loose skin, eliminating redness and blemishes. If you’re trying to get rid of blackheads, you can blend the leaves with water, create a scrub, and then place it on your nose and cheeks. Other uses of Guava are listed below: 

• Create a face mask using mashed guava, yoghurt, banana, and honey 
• Guava leaf tea – best on an empty stomach

Guava recipes

Finding a good recipe is hard, but yummy has a whole list that depends on your dietary preferences. They range from smoothies to shaved ice and salads. Here are a few:

Pomegranate guava smoothie that takes 6 minutes

• 1 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 cup frozen raspberries 
• one medium guava 
• ¼ cup coconut milk
• ¼ cup ice

Strawberry guava smoothie that takes 5 minutes

• 1 cup strawberries 
• ½ cup guava
• 6 oz strawberry yoghurt 
• one banana 
• five ice cubes 

Lightly poached ice cream that takes 30 minutes

• 800g guava
• 2 cups water
• one vanilla pod (no seeds) 
• ¾ cup sugar
• 3-star anise 
• ½ cup sugar 
• two large eggs 
• 1 ½ cups double cream 
• ¾ cup syrup 
• 1 cup milk 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 2 cups guava 

Safety and precautions

Guava has been consumed as a regular fruit, and more research needs to be done into its side effects when used for medicinal purposes. Additionally, the health effects mentioned are not guaranteed since other lifestyle and environmental factors come into play. If you incorporate guava into your diet, consume it in moderation to mitigate any potential side effects. 

Importance of good skincare

According to the skincare center of South Miami, these are some reasons you should care about your skin: 

• Gets rid of dead skin cells that are shed throughout the day, preventing acne and giving off a radiant glow
• Makes you look younger
• Prevention is more accessible than treatment: many dermatological problems can be prevented with good skin practices 
• Protects from environmental pollution 
• Improved self-confidence 

Summary

One of the main reasons our skin deteriorates and starts to look older and less vibrant and experiences acne breakouts more frequently is a buildup of excessive free radicals and oxidants. Antioxidants are found in various fruits, vegetables, and commercially available skincare products. Antioxidants are compounds that attack excess free radicals and prevent them from activating early cell death, which is the leading cause of wrinkle development and ageing skin. Skin ageing is caused by environmental pollution, excessive alcohol consumption, a sedentary lifestyle, diets high in sugar and carbohydrates, UVB exposure and more. Incorporating natural antioxidants may be a cheap yet effective preventative measure to counteract some signs of ageing. Many fruits and vegetables are high in nutritional value, but guava, in particular, has a high antioxidant composition. It has been used in traditional medicines for many years as a medicinal agent to treat many things ranging from wounds to illness. This article reviewed the antioxidant properties of guava and its benefits for skin health. 

Guava is high in minerals and vitamins, particularly vitamins C and E, and it also has a significant protein composition, which is required for cell structural integrity. Vitamin C has been by various dermatologists and skin experts have used Vitamin C for skin health, and many companies have incorporated it into their products. This is due to its role in our cells’ biochemical pathways. Vitamin C reduces oxidative stress, promotes collagen synthesis, stimulates mRNA production, neutralises ROS, disposes toxic oxidants, and works with vitamin E to decrease melanin synthesis. Vitamin E performs similar functions, it is beneficial for increasing skin moisture, fighting bacterial infections, and protecting against UVA exposure. The antimicrobial properties of guava help fight off skin infections and reduce acne breakouts.

Rather than just consuming guava, consider making a DIY facemask, scrub, or soap. Different sources provide unique recipes to incorporate guava into our diets, whether fruit smoothies, salads, or healthy homemade ice cream. Overall, guava has been around for hundreds of years, and now there is a vast range of scientific evidence showing its health benefits.