Lipotec presents a new active ingredient for complete skin protection from urban pollution

Published: 22-Jan-2016

The continuous research and commitment with personal wellness has taken Lipotec to develop POLLUSHIELD functional ingredient, the latest incorporation to Aimtec peptides and synthetic molecules, that is born in response to the raising concerns of consumers about pollution and its effects on the skin.

Being in direct contact with air and water pollutants, the skin is our first line of defence against the harmful elements in the environment. Premature skin ageing and inflammation are associated, among other things, with the exposure to pollutants, which trigger the generation of oxidative stress and thus protein and DNA damage as well as lipid peroxidation. Skin irritation or allergies as well as a dry, wrinkled and dull skin are among the most undesired macroscopic effects.

POLLUSHIELD functional ingredient provides a barrier between the skin and pollutants as well as boosts the anti-oxidative defence of the skin. This active offers two complementary effects: binding of toxic metals by a polymer with metal chelating properties to prevent their interaction with the skin as well as a strong anti-oxidative action by a potent free radical scavenger to avoid oxidative damage within the skin.

Several tests were performed to prove the effectiveness of this new anti-pollution active ingredient. To highlight a few key findings:

In vitro, epidermal cells treated with the ingredient presented statistically significantly higher cell viability of keratinocytes in the presence of urban dust, maintaining close to normal levels and indicating its protective effect.

Ex vivo, the treated skin exposed to pollution preserved normal epidermal and dermal morphology as well as showed reduction in several markers of damage.

Finally, an in vivo test was also performed on female volunteers that applied a placebo cream and a cream containing 5% POLLUSHIELD functional ingredient to half the face twice a day for 30 days and were regularly exposed to air pollution in Beijing (China). After 6 hours of exposure, the skin treated once with the active showed significantly reduced levels of metals when compared to placebo, demonstrating the ingredient’s ability to prevent metal build up in the epidermis. At the end of the study, the skin´s anti-oxidative capacity against damage was improved with higher anti-oxidative power and decreased lipid peroxides.

ANTIOXIDATIVE DEFENCE

Increase in anti-oxidative power                        Reduction of lipid peroxidation

POLLUSHIELD functional ingredient can help prevent accumulation of pollution particles in the epidermis and replenish the skin with antioxidants, increasing its capacity to resist the harm caused by heavy metals, particulate matter (PM) and other harmful elements found in big cities and other polluted areas.

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