08-Jul-2008 - US and Canadian interest groups and environmental agencies are once again lobbying against the personal care anti-bacterial chemical triclosan.

Citing an ongoing risk assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the opposition groups, headed by the Beyond Pesticides organization, highlight concerns associated with the chemical’s impact on the environment.

The group, along with Food and Water Watch, Greenpeace US, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and a significant number of public health and environmental groups, is lobbying the risk assessors to use their authority ‘to cancel non-medical uses of the chemical’.

The EPA’s public comment period closed today, July 8.

“The nonmedical uses of Triclosan are frivolous and dangerous, creating serious direct health and environmental hazards and long-term health problems associated with the creation of resistant strains of bacteria,” said Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides.

Triclosan in deodorants and soaps
Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarbon (TCC), two chemicals that are used in anti-bacterial soaps and deodorants, have been identified in estuary sediment samples that date back to the 1960s, according to a recent study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Further to this researchers at the Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have voiced concerns about the risks exposure to these chemicals can have on aquatic organisms.

Likewise the chemical is said to bioaccumulate in humans, which has in turn been linked to bacterial resistance that rendered triclosan and antibiotics ineffective in treating certain critical medical conditions.

The lobby groups have also pointed to the fact that scientific studies have linked the chemical and its degradates to endocrine system disruption, cancer and increased dermal sensitization.

The issue of Triclosan has proved to be highly dividing within the industry, with many natural and organic personal players, including Aveda and Whole Foods, condoning the action of lobby groups such as Beyond Pesticides.

Targets biochemical pathways
Triclosan works by targeting a biochemical pathway in the bacteria that allows the bacteria to keep its cell wall intact.

This unique function means that demand for Triclosan continues to rise, fuelled by its continued popularity in personal care products.

Indeed, a recent report by the Freedonia Group says that demand for anti-bacterial ingredients for personal care products is set to rise 5 per cent annually to reach a market value of $930 million by 2009.

But despite the lobbying, personal care industry groups have continued to condone the use of Triclosan, claiming that there is no conclusive evidence that it is harmful to humans, as well as pointing to the fact that it can play an invaluable role in protecting against potentially pathogenic organisms.

Courtesy of CosmeticsDesign.com

08-Jul-2008 - New research into the skincare role of cannabis-like substances suggests the belief that marijuana cleans the body and mind may be more than just a pipe dream.

Taking a leaf out of the Rastafarian book, scientists have suggested that cannabis-like substances may hold the key to healthy skin.

Researchers from Hungry, Germany and the UK say the human body produces compounds that resemble the active ingreident in marijuana, THC.

Body produces cannabinoids for protection
Not only are they similar but they also play an important role in the maintenance of good looking skin.

“Just as THC is believed to protect the marijuana plant from pathogens, our own cannabinoids may be necessary for us to maintain healthy skin,” said researcher Gerald Weissmann.

The study into the properties of “endocannabinoids” will be published in the October issue of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASB) journal.

Endocannabinoids regulate lipid production

The team of scientists said “endocannabinoids” are important in regulating lipid production and may therefore be useful in the management of problems such as acne and dry skin that are associated with sebaceous gland dysfunction.

They hailed the paper as the first evidence that human sebocytes use an endogenous cannabinoid signaling system for the control of lipid production and death.

“Our preclinical data encourage one to explore whether endocannabinoid system-acting agents can be exploited in the management of common skin disorders,” said Tamás Biró, a senior scientist involved in the research. “It is also suggested that these agents can be efficiently applied locally to the skin in the form of a cream.”

Cannabis has already made its mark in the cosmetics industry especially as the natural and organic markets light up.

Oil derived from the hemp plant is increasingly being used for its moisturizing properties in creams, cosmetics and deodorants.

Big natural players such as Burt’s Bees in the US and Neal’s Yard Remedies in the UK have both launched products containing hemp seed oil over the past year.

Courtesy of CosemeticsDesign.com

The study, which appeared in the current issue of the journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), points to the fact that both types of radiation illicit DNA damage, however the body finds it harder to repair that caused by UVB.

This explains why UVB is more likely to cause skin cancer than UVA said the scientists led by Dr Ahmad Besaratinia at City of Hope National Medical Centre.

“Our study is novel in that it fills the gaps in knowledge of mechanisms involved in sunlight-associated skin cancers, which cover various aspects of DNA damage and repair and genetic alterations,” said Besaratinia.

According to Editor in Chief of the FASEB journal Gerald Weissmann increased knowledge behind the body’s repair mechanisms will be significant in the search for new effective sun care products and cancer prevention.

“It forms a missing link in the chain of events from sun exposure to tumour formation. This research article gives us information that could lead to better sunscreens or effective ‘after sun’ products,” Weissmann.

UVA damage is more successfully repaired
The team exposed cells to UVA light, UVB light and simulated sunlight and then compared them to an unexposed control group in order to assess the cell’s repair mechanisms.

According to the study the cells more successfully repaired damage caused by the UVA light than the UVB light.

Currently a focus for manufacturers is improving the UVA protection of their products. Although scientists and health professionals emphasise the danger of the longer UVA wavelengths it is clear the shorter UVB rays should not be forgotten.

UVB plays a role in ageing too
Recent research published in Experimental Dermatology and sponsored by the American company AGI Dermatics also highlighted the significant role UVB plays in photoageing, a realm that has hitherto been associated with UVA.

Although the UVB rays do not penetrate the skin so deeply they lead to damage in the deeper layers of the skin.

“The sunlight triggers the release of enzymes in the top layer of the skin which then travel to the lower layers and do the damage,” explained AGI Dermatics scientist Daniel B Yarosh.

According to Yarosh, the recent focus on UVA protection has led to improved protection in suncare products however we should not forget the significant role UVB plays in the affair.

“For competitive reasons manufacturers started concentrating on UVA protection as most products had a similar level of UVB protection” he explained.

Courtesy of CosmeticsDesign.com

By Guy Montague-Jones
7/2/2008- The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has attacked leading sunscreen brands for offering inadequate protection against UV rays or containing potentially hazardous ingredients.

The consumer group said the top selling products were some of the worst offenders in its survey of the safety and effectiveness of 1,000 branded sunscreen products.

It said none of the 41 sunscreens produced by the market leader Coppertone met its safety and effectiveness standards. The EWG also criticized Neutrogena and Banana Boat, which are the second and third largest brands, recommending only one of their 103 products.

Overall the organization claimed that 85 percent of sunscreen products with an SPF rating of 15 or more are potentially unsafe or ineffective.

Sunscreen database
This is the same figure the EWG released a year ago when it launched the first edition of its sunscreen database with 700 products surveyed.

Each of the sunscreens is rated according to a system that includes information on UVA protection, stability in the sun and potential health hazards.

The EWG said the database was compiled because of the FDA’s failure to finalize safety standards it first promised in 1978.

“We’ve been waiting 30 years for the FDA to come up with adequate safety standards, and we’re still waiting,” said Jane Houlihan, vice president for research at EWG.

Industry response
Industry trade body, the Personal Care Products Council, quickly responded to these accusations claiming that strong FDA safety and effectiveness regulations are already in place.

John Bailey, the chief scientist at the PCPC, said sunscreens are classified as drugs by the FDA and the agency requires significant data on every active ingredient before it is approved.

“The agency also has broad authority to inspect manufacturers, require adherence to strict manufacturing practices, and enforce rigorous, science-based regulations to ensure that sunscreen products are safe and effective for consumers,” added Bailey.

The industry representative said any suggestion that the FDA is purposely delaying the finalizing of sunscreen safety standards is wrong. He said scientific data must be thoroughly evaluated to make regulatory decisions that are in the best interests of consumers.

The PCPC questioned the data sources and methodology employed by the EWG and accused the organization of making an unjustified attempt to discredit an extensive, long standing body of scientific data.

The EWG is not the only organization to have raised the alarm about sunscreen products in recent times.

At the end of May, the UK magazine Which? published the results of its own investigation of SPF levels in sunscreens.

The consumer watchdog concluded that too many sunscreens, including many top brands, actually offer significantly less protection than they claim. It tested fourteen SPF 15 sunscreens including some of the top brands and found that only eleven provided a SPF of 12.5 or above.

Courtesy of CosmeticsDesign.com

1/10/2008- Most people are not sufficiently protected against skin cancer with one of the major causes being an infrequent use of sunscreen, concluded a new study.

The report adds to a body of evidence that suggests there is still a long way to go before the nation’s population becomes fully aware of the dangers of sun exposure and the steps that can be taken to minimize them.

Researchers at the Fox Chase Cancer Centre, led by Elliot J Coup, investigated the prevalence of habits that increase the risk of getting skin cancer in differing age groups using data from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in the US.

The survey suggests that the majority of the US population engage in more than one high risk behavior, the most prevalent of which being infrequent use of sunscreen with an SPF 15 or above and infrequent use of sun protective clothing.

Young people exhibit lowest sunscreen use
Young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are the least likely to frequently use sunscreens of SPF15+, according to the report, illustrating a group to be targeted by both sunscreen manufacturers and national education programs.

Individuals in the 65 plus age group follow close behind and are only marginally more likely to be frequent users of high SPF sunscreens than those at the other end of the age spectrum, according to the report.

Worryingly the report also noted that the same age group was most likely to exhibit multiple high risk behaviors, with more than 80 percent of 18 - 29 year olds reporting at least two.

According to the study, other demographic groups that were correlated with multiple high risk behaviors include men, non-Hispanic Whites and individuals with lower education levels.

The fact that men appear to be less sun savvy than women has influenced a certain number of sun care manufacturers to release sunscreens specifically targeted at the male consumer.

The K2 suncare range is to be rolled out in the New Year and is designed for the extreme sports enthusiast. K2 also hopes the range’s sporty image will appeal to younger men and motivate them to lower their skin cancer risk.

In addition, leading UK supermarket Asda has been researching the possibilities of a male sun care range with fragrances such as juniper, bergamot, and the more quirky smell beer.

In this case Asda is hoping that masculine fragrances will help dispel the myth that protecting against sun damage is not compatible with a masculine image.

Source: Multiple Skin Cancer Risk Behaviors in the US population
Elliot J. Coup, Sharon L. Manne, Carolyn J. Heckman
American Journal of Preventative Medicine
Published online January 8th

Dermatologists offer tips to avoid nickel-induced dermatitis

SCHAUMBURG, ILL. (May 13, 2008) — For the estimated 82 percent of women with pierced ears, earrings are an important fashion accessory that many women wear, and change, daily. However, a new study suggests that women may be getting more than they bargained for when purchasing inexpensive earrings. Nickel exposure from these earrings is a common cause of dermatitis on the earlobes and repeated exposure can make treatment difficult.

In the report entitled, “Nickel release from earrings purchased in the United States: The San Francisco earring study,” published online in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologist Howard I. Maibach, MD, FAAD, professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, presented evidence that nickel exposure from inexpensive earrings purchased from various stores and vendors is frequent in the United States and does not correlate with the price of the earrings within the “inexpensive” price range.

“Sensitization to nickel is quite common in the United States, with studies estimating that 5.8 percent of American adults tested positive to nickel allergy through a routine skin test,” said Dr. Maibach. “In the early 1990s, the European Union Nickel Directive was passed in an effort to decrease the prevalence of nickel sensitization in consumer and occupational products in Europe, with results indicating the directive is working. However, no such regulations exist in the United States to limit nickel exposure — leaving millions of people at risk for dermatitis from common goods, such as earrings.”

For the study, Dr. Maibach and his collaborator, Jacob Pontoppidan Thyssen, MD, purchased inexpensive earrings from 34 different stores and artists in San Francisco in October 2007. Inexpensive earrings were classified as those under $50; in contrast, expensive earrings were classified as those made of gold or platinum available from fine jewelry stores. A total of 277 earrings were purchased from four different categories of vendors — a downtown market with licensed local artists producing custom-made jewelry; jewelry stores in China Town targeting mainly tourists; national and international clothing and accessory chain stores targeting mainly girls and women under age 40; and similar stores targeting mainly women over age 40.

All earrings purchased were examined with the dimethylglyoxime (DMG) test — a routine spot test using solutions to detect the presence of nickel and other alloys. Of the 277 earrings that were tested, 85 (or 30.7 percent) demonstrated at least one spot that tested DMG-positive for nickel. Dr. Maibach noted that the highest proportion of DMG-positive earrings was purchased from local artists, with 69 percent of these earrings testing positive for nickel. A large portion (42.9 percent) of earrings purchased from stores in China Town also tested positive for nickel.

When the number of DMG-positive earrings was examined from accessory and clothing stores targeting younger women under age 40 and those stores targeting women over age 40, Dr. Maibach found a large discrepancy. Specifically, 24.1 percent of the earrings purchased at the stores targeting younger women tested positive for nickel; whereas only 1.7 percent of earrings from stores targeting women over 40 tested DMG positive.

“Except for one store targeting girls and young women where a significant number of DMG-positive earrings were found, the proportion of earrings that tested positive for nickel was generally higher among individual China Town stores and local artists than in individual national and international chain stores,” said Dr. Maibach. “We also found no correlation between the country where the earrings were manufactured and the frequency of DMG-positive reactions or whether the price of the inexpensive earrings correlated with testing positive for nickel exposure.”

Dr. Maibach added that in one accessory store, none of the 44 earrings priced between $5 and $8 were DMG positive, whereas numerous earrings priced between $15 and $25 in another accessory store were DMG positive.

“From our findings, we could not establish a ’safe-limit price’ as a guide for consumers who want to avoid excessive nickel exposure when purchasing inexpensive earrings,” said Dr. Maibach. “But it’s safe to say that young customers purchasing earrings at a considerable price range in U.S. chain stores are potentially at risk of nickel exposure and sensitization.”

Studies show that nickel sensitization increases the risk of hand eczema, but Dr. Maibach argued that avoiding nickel — which is found almost everywhere — can be difficult. He acknowledged that there are some patients with nickel dermatitis who refuse to give up their jewelry, even when they know it is the cause of their condition. Since the best way to avoid nickel sensitization and subsequent dermatitis is to prevent nickel exposure, Dr. Maibach suggested the following tips:

• Look for jewelry and clothing labeled “nickel-free” or “hypoallergenic”
• Wear only stainless steel, platinum or gold jewelry if you know you are allergic to nickel
• Discontinue wearing jewelry that causes any noticeable skin irritation, such as redness or itching
• Use 1% hydrocortisone cream or ointment, which can be purchased over-the-counter, to treat nickel-induced dermatitis
• See your dermatologist if symptoms worsen or do not improve within three to five days of not wearing jewelry

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 15,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.

What really causes rosacea? The answer is that no one knows. But researchers working at labs in San Diego and New York City may have found some important clues that could help solve this mystery.

The first key finding came when a team of researchers led by a dermatologist from San Diego discovered that cathelicidin, a protein that naturally occurs in the body, could cause the redness of rosacea. Cathelicidin normally protects the skin from infection.

The next step was to learn why cathelicidin causes redness in people with rosacea. To find out, the researchers took skin samples from 11 people with rosacea and 10 people who did not have rosacea. In the skin of every person with rosacea, they found an excessive amount of cathelicidin. They also found an abundance of the molecule that converts cathelicidin from inactive to active. None of the people without rosacea had these excessive amounts.

To find out if these high levels could induce rosacea, the team produced these excessively high levels in mice. In each case, the mice that had the high levels showed signs of rosacea on their skin — redness, visible blood vessels, bumps, and pimple-like lesions.

These findings led the researchers to conclude that the way the body processes cathelicidin determines whether it defends the skin against infection or causes inflammation.

A separate team of researchers has been working on the role that another chemical may play in rosacea. This team, lead by a dermatologist from New York City, discovered that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) may play a role in rosacea. ATP is released by the nervous system. It appears that stress, a common rosacea trigger, may activate the nervous system to release ATP. The researchers found that when the nerves of people with rosacea release ATP into the skin, a series of unique chemical events occurs. These events eventually lead to the bumps and pus-filled lesions of rosacea.

What this Research Means to People Living with Rosacea
While the cause remains a mystery, this research suggests that patients who have bumps, pus-filled lesions, and redness may not need long-term treatment with an antibiotic to control their rosacea. If inflammation causes these signs of rosacea, then treatment that effectively controls inflammation should be effective.

The data collected during the clinical trials that looked at the effectiveness and safety of non-antibiotic dosage doxycycline further supports this finding. During these clinical trials, the non-antibiotic dosage of doxycycline (also known as the anti-inflammatory dosage) effectively reduced the bumps and pus-filled lesions of rosacea.

Not having to take an antibiotic for the long term represents a major advancement in the treatment of the bumps, pus-filled pimples, and redness of rosacea. Long-term use of an antibiotic can cause undesirable side effects such as extreme sun sensitivity, yeast infections in women, and antibiotic resistance. The latter occurs when an antibiotic becomes ineffective because a person takes the antibiotic too often or for too long.

These research findings also provide more evidence that rosacea is a medical condition. It is clear that chemical processes in the body have gone awry, so rosacea is clearly not just a cosmetic concern.

More Research Needed
Before these findings can be used to develop treatment for rosacea, more questions must be answered. The researchers need to know why people with rosacea have these high levels of cathelicidin. They must explain why these high levels lead to inflammation. They also need to find out if other agents produced by the nerves can cause the effects similar to ATP.

The researchers have already begun the studies needed to answer these questions. What they discover next could change the face of rosacea treatment. It also could show, as have past studies, that there is an association but nothing more.

References:
Del Rosso JQ. “Recently Approved Systemic Therapies for Acne Vulgaris and Rosacea.” Cutis 2007; 80: 113-19.

Gillette B. “Rosacea: Advances, setbacks. Study sheds new light on cause; tests halted on one new therapy.” Derm Times, 2007; 28(11):1, 68.

Los Angeles Times. “Research unravels mystery of rosacea.” Reprinted in Chicago Tribune, August 6, 2007, section 1, page 3.

Melville NA. “Study: Two-step problem. Abnormal peptide expression, enzyme levels linked to acne rosacea.” Derm Times. 2007; 28(11):59.

Webster GF. “Rosacea and Related Disorders.” In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL, Rapini RP et al, editors. Dermatology, Spain, Mosby Elesevier; 2008. p. 509.

Yamasaki K, Di Nardo A, Bardan A et al. “Increased serine protease activity and cathelicidin promotes skin inflammation in rosacea.” Nat Med 2007; 13: 975-8

Courtesy of American Academy of Dermatology (http://www.aad.org)

Controlling rosacea can be a struggle. Time-consuming or messy treatments may make it difficult to stick to a prescribed treatment plan. Concerns about potential side effects often limit long-term use of medication. Some newer treatment options may change this. Not only are these newer therapies proving effective, they tend to have fewer side effects and can fit busy, erratic schedules.

Lasers and Other Light Therapies Treat Redness, Visible Blood Vessels, Flushing
More and more dermatologists are treating rosacea with lasers and other light therapies. Effective at reducing redness, eliminating visible blood vessels, and diminishing flushing, this treatment option can be safely combined with other rosacea therapies.

And patients welcome this treatment option. It effectively controls signs of rosacea, and the risk of side effects is low in the hands of a physician who has experience using these devices and in-depth medical knowledge of the skin. Side effects tend to be limited to temporary bruising, redness, or swelling. The redness and swelling can last for up to a few days. With some lasers, bruising may develop and can last as long as 10 to 14 days.

Convenience is another welcomed benefit. Treatment can be performed in a dermatologist’s office. While the number of treatments varies, most people require 4 to 8 treatment sessions per year for a few years to significantly reduce redness and flushing. For most patients, at least 2 treatments are needed to diminish visible blood vessels. Once the desired results are seen, patients may not need treatment again for some time. A few patients have reported that their redness and flushing did not return for 7 or 8 years.

Treatment also has become more comfortable than it was in the past. After treatment, many patients say that their skin feels more comfortable.

The downside of laser and other light therapies is that insurance usually does not cover the cost because these treatments are considered cosmetic. Patients can expect to pay from $300 to $700 per session.

Non-antibiotic Doxycycline Treats Bumps and Pus-Filled Lesions
Weighing in at only 40 milligrams of doxycycline per capsule, this dosage of doxycycline is not potent enough to kill bacteria. Since it cannot kill bacteria, it does not act as an antibiotic. But research shows that 40 milligrams can effectively stop inflammation. When inflammation decreases, patients see fewer bumps and pus-filled lesions.

This result was seen again and again during clinical trials. In the phase III clinical trials — the final trials needed to determine whether or not a drug will receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — adults with moderate to severe rosacea were asked to take one capsule per day for 16 weeks. The capsule contained either 40 milligrams of doxycycline or a placebo (no active ingredient).

The adults who received the 40 milligrams of doxycycline saw significantly greater improvement. On average, each person in the study had about 20 bumps and/or pus-filled lesions and 2 or fewer nodules. The adults who received the 40 milligrams of doxycycline saw between 11.8 and 9.5 fewer lesions by week 16. This translates to a mean reduction of 61% and 46%, respectively. Adults who received the 40 milligrams of doxycycline also saw a significant decrease in facial redness.

When the patients were also given 1% metronidazole gel, a medication approved by the FDA for treating the papules and pustules of rosacea, the lesions decreased more quickly. The gel was to be used daily for 12 weeks and then stopped. The patients continued taking the 40 milligrams of doxycycline for 16 weeks.

While the antibiotic dosage of doxycycline can cause significant side effects, such side effects were not reported in these clinical trials. Patients did not say they had an upset stomach or sun sensitivity. None of the women treated with the non-antibiotic dosage, also called the anti-inflammatory dosage, experienced a yeast infection. Since the anti-inflammatory dosage cannot kill bacteria, a patient would not be expected to develop antibiotic resistance. When a patient develops antibiotic resistance, the antibiotic becomes ineffective in killing the targeted bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern.

The results of these studies led the FDA to approve the 40-milligram capsule of doxycycline for the treatment of the papules (bumps) and pustules (pus-filled lesions) of rosacea in patients who are 18 years of age and older. This 40-milligram capsule is approved for once daily use.

Newer Lasers Treat Thickening Skin
Advances also have been made in the treatment of rhinophyma, a sign of rosacea that causes the skin on the nose to thicken and sometimes look bumpy. While lasers have been used for years to treat rhinophyma, the newer lasers can now smooth the nose without removing a significant amount of skin.

Ask Your Dermatologist
Dermatologists continually tell their patients that it is important to treat rosacea. Left untreated, rosacea can worsen and become increasingly difficult to treat. If one of these newer therapies seems to be a treatment option that could help you control your rosacea, be sure to ask your dermatologist about it.

References:
American Academy of Dermatology. “Acne and Rosacea Getting You Down? Laser, Light and Cosmetic Treatments Give Patients a Much-Needed Boost.” News release issued February 3, 2008, www.aad.org/media/background/news/cosmetic_2008_02_03_laser.html. Last accessed May 21, 2008.

Baldwin HE. “Systemic Therapy for Rosacea.” Skin Therapy Letter.com 2007 Mar;12. Available at www.skintherapyletter.com/2007/12.2/1.html. Last accessed May 16, 2008.

Butterwick KJ, Butterwick LS, and Han A. “Laser and light therapies for acne rosacea.” J Drugs Dermatolog. 2006 Jan;5:35-9.

Del Rosso JQ. “Recently Approved Systemic Therapies for Acne Vulgaris and Rosacea.” Cutis 2007 Aug;80:113-20.

Gupta AK and Chaudhry MM. “Rosacea and its management: an overview.” J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2005 May;19:273-85.

Pelle MT, Crawford GH, and James WD. “Rosacea: II. Therapy.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2004;51:499-512.

Schwanke J. “Zapping the red. Lasers, IPL enter rosacea tx mainstream.” Derm Times 2007 Nov;28:52-6.

Courtesy of American Academy of Dermatology (http://www.aad.org/)

6/10/2008- With demand for increasingly effective sunscreens and sun care products growing increasingly important, we take a look at a number of recent studies that highlight the efficacy of supplements.

As consumers become increasingly aware of the dangers of sun burn, more and more people are searching out technologically advanced solutions, with current offerings ranging from nano-derived sunscreens to natural-based solutions such as cuttlefish extract.

However, in recent months there has been a growing band of evidence to suggest that supplements could also be a serious new contender within the fast-growing sun care segment.

Beta-carotene supplements
Data from a number of studies was pooled and published last month in the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology regarding the efficacy of beta-carotene supplements.

“This meta-analysis indicates that beta-carotene supplementation of humans is effective in providing protection against the development of a sunburn reaction,” wrote Wolfgang Kopcke from Munster University Hospital and Jean Krutmann from the Heinrich-Heine-University in Dusseldorf.

Kopcke and Krutmann searched for studies on beta-carotene supplementation studies for protecting humans against sunburn. Seven studies were identified that tested the effectiveness of the carotenoid.

The article in the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology concluded that ten weeks of supplementation would provide noticeable protection against sunburn, while every additional month of supplementation improved the protection level further.

Speculation over antioxidant activity
The researchers said the exact mechanism or mechanisms behind beta-carotenoid’s sun protection were unknown, but stressed that it was tempting to speculate that the carotenoid’s antioxidant activity may be responsible.

On exposure to UV radiation, particularly UV-B, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in the skin that may result in oxidative stress, a known accelerator of the ageing process. Beta-carotene may quench these ROS and thereby offer skin protection.

This evidence adds to a growing body of science focusing on the potential benefits of nutrients to boost skin health from within, with lutein, lycopene and superoxide dismutase (SOD) having been reported to improve skin health.

Lycopene and tomato paste
Another recent study published in the British Society for Investigative Dermatology on lycopenes highlighted the fact that tomato paste, which is rich in lycopenes, may protect against sun-induced ageing and sunburn.

The study findings revealed that subjects who had received five tablespoons of tomato paste a day over a 12-week period had 33 per cent better protection against sun burn.

The benefits of the tomato paste were attributed to the lycopene content, which may neutralise the harmful effects of UV light due to the excess production reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can damage important skin structures.

Skin samples taken from the subjects indicated that the tomato paste-supplemented individuals had higher skin levels of pro-collagen, a molecule which gives the skin its structure and loss of which leads to skin ageing and lack of elasticity.

Both of these studies highlight the huge growth in products that are categorised as part of the ‘beauty from within’ trend, which is also spilling over into sun care.

Although this is not the first time that scientific studies have shown the efficacy of lycopene, beta-carotenes and other supplements as sunscreens, the increasing body of scientific evidence is expected to give further weight to the development of this still very small and niche market.

Courtesy CosmeticsDesign.com (http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com//news/)

14-May-2008 - Bio-based plastics are making their mark on the packaging industry but many commentators say consumers are as important as renewable materials on the road to sustainability.

The European Aluminum Foil Association’s (EAFA) spokesperson Guido Winsel told CosmeticsDesign.com at this year’s Interpack trade show that consumers needed to be encouraged to look at reducing their own environmental impact.

Helping consumers go green
The EAFA said that it was now considering possible ways it may work with industry to better engage and directly inform consumers of areas that they can help make a difference.

“Raising awareness of the role of the consumer is vital for improving sustainability,” said Winsel. “People should not be inhibited in living their lives, but there is a need for consumers to be resource efficient along with packagers and processors.”

Often this may mean that consumers will have to sacrifice convenience and adopt different buying habits.

Refillable perfume
For instance in the perfume industry, Givenchy has introduced a refillable container to encourage consumers to reduce their packaging use.

Alcan Packaging has designed the pyramid-shaped sachet for Givenchy so perfume users can refill their 50ml glass bottle rather than buying another.

The resulting reduction in packaging weight and transportation will help reduce the environmental damage done by packaging.

The packaging industry has come under fire recently because of its allegedly poor green credentials.

Pressure group attacks
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) told CosmeticsDesign.com that consumers, processors and packagers could all do more to help the environment.

“Industry and consumers have a joint responsibility to drive for sustainable production and consumption using the least amount of packaging, energy, water and other resources while creating the least amount of waste,” a spokesperson stated.

Friends of the Earth (FoE) also joined the debate recently claiming that packaging was a significant contributor to climate pollution, and that a focus on generating less overall waste products should be encouraged.

Although FoE accepted that there has been a significant shift in recent years in the amount of recycling in consumer packaging products, it called for more work to reduce unnecessary packaging and increase recycling.

Facing up to these criticisms the EAFA said packaging is not necessarily bad or wasteful.

“Packaging is vital to consumer products, both as a means of attracting consumers and protecting the goods in side,” said Winsel.

Courtesy CosmeticsDesign.com