Kinerase Cream and Lotion
July 10, 2008
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Kinerase cream and lotion are two products that seem to, at least in part, live up to the hype. They are recommended for improving the look of aging skin and seem to improve skin pigmentation with less blotchiness and a more even skin tone, and perhaps a reduction in minor wrinkles.
Both products contain kinerase or N6-furfuryladenine. The lotion, but not the cream, also contains retinyl palmitate, which is a retinoid that is converted in the skin to retinoic acid (retin-A). The lotion therefore packs more power but for some people may be more irritating unlike the cream.
N6-furfuryladenine is found in most cells of the body. Originally it was isolated from plants but has been found in nuclei of cells including human. Another common name is kinetin. In the scientific literature, kinetin is the name that is used.
Studies of keratinocytes (skin cells) and fibroblasts (also found in skin) have shown that kinerase treatment delays aging, particularly in the presence of high levels of calcium. In human studies there is some evidence of improved skin tone and more even pigmentation, and reduction in minor wrinkles. Recently kinerase has been found to be helpful for rosacea.
As well as being a signaling molecule that plays a role in regulation of maintenance and repair of cells, kinerase has been shown to have antioxidant effects. Additionally there is evidence that N6-furfuryladenine may improve the skin barrier and so reduce the loss of moisture from the skin.
As people get older they are more likely to become calcium deficient. Since, as stated above, high calcium levels added to the effect of kinerase, it may be that as well as reducing the rate of osteoporosis, calcium may help slow aging of skin too.
Kinerase Cream and Kinerase Lotion
can be found at my favorite online skin store Dermadoctor.
Currently they have free shipping on domestic orders over $49.
Technorati Tags: kinerase, kinetin, N6-furfuryladenine, skin, pigmentation
Popularity: 33% [?]
Phosphatidylserine – Anti-Aging For Memory And Skin?
June 8, 2008
Phosphatidylserine, commonly abbreviated to PS, is a fat that is a component of our cell membranes. It has previously been suggested to slow memory decline and improve understanding. New research suggests that application to the skin may slow aging of the skin.
In a number of trials studying memory in the elderly (humans and dogs), have suggested that there may be improvements in memory for those taking PS supplements. There are studies that have not shown an improvement, such as those testing patients who already have diagnosed Alzheimer’s. Probably it depends on who was tested and what types of tests were used. The data is sufficient for the FDA to allow labeling that PS may reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly.
Since PS is required for the normal function of membranes it may be that some people have insufficient levels in the cells of the brain.
PS is found in a range of foods including fish, poultry, leafy greens and beans. Supplements used to be made from cow brain which has high levels. However, since the outbreak of mad cow disease, brain is no longer used. Most lipids (fats) are not very stable when isolated, so if you buy supplements containing lipids, buy from a good source, get fresh batches and store carefully.
Recent research (PubMed) has shown that application of the skin may reduce the effects of UV damage to the skin. As we all know sunlight can damage skin. For example there is a decrease in procollagen (the precursor to collagen) expression. PS treated or untreated young skin was exposed to damaging amounts of UV. The PS treated skin showed less effects of the UV such as having a smaller decrease in procollagen expression than the untreated.
Aged skin (on the buttocks) was treated several weeks, three times per week and saw improvement in procollagen sysnthesis. So PS may soon be found in skin creams.
PS may be good for the inside and the outside!
Technorati Tags: phosphatidylserine, PS, memory, cognitive function, skin, aging, procollagen
Popularity: 49% [?]
Facial Aging Is Mainly Due To Changes In Fat Pockets
June 3, 2008
New studies reveal that major changes in our faces, as we age, are not due to thinning skin and less collagen but are due to changes in fat.
It turns out that we have fat compartments in our face. These compartments are separate from each other and are contained within fibrous connective tissue.
In young people there is a smooth transition between these compartments. However, as we age the different compartments change in different ways. These fat pockets can change shape, and shrink or grow. The result is that there is no longer a smooth transition between the compartments and where they have shrunk the skin gets looser and the face more hollow. These changes are part of our faces looking older.
The shrinking of some of the fat compartments probably plays a much bigger role in having loose skin and a saggy look, than the skin thinning and reduction in the synthesis of collagen.
One of the major fat pockets for affecting how we look is a deep fat pocket in the cheek. When this fat compartment shrinks, the nasolabial folds (the folds that rum down beside and nose and mouth) become more obvious, the under eye area and our upper lip all start to look older. Replacement of this fat will reduce the prominence of the nasolabial fold, fill out the area below the eye and make the upper lip look fuller.
These new findings are sure to have an impact on the methods that are used for skin rejuvenation. As more is learned about these fat compartments, targeted techniques will be developed using fillers for fat pockets including the deep fat pocket in the face.
It is probable that the use of targeted fillers will often replace face lifts. The returning of the face to a youthful shape which will make the skin less loose, rather than tightening the skin over an “old shaped” face will look more natural and not involve surgical incisions.
The research is published in Plast. Reconstr. Surgery (2008) 121: pages 1804-9 (PubMed), and the same journal volume, pages 2107-2112 (PubMed not yet available).
Technorati Tags: skin, facial aging, fat pockets, filler, cheek
Popularity: 53% [?]
Anti Wrinkle Creams, What to Consider
May 6, 2008
So what should you be looking for in an anti wrinkle cream? Which factors are important? There is a good overview of what you should consider on the Mayo clinic website.
The article lists some of the major ingredients in wrinkle creams (retinol, hydroxyl acids, CoQ10, copper peptides, kinetin and tea extracts) and has a short paragraph about the probable mechanism of each.
There are several important points that are made.
- Price does not necessarily indicate a better working product. As they state, “Cost has no relationship to effectiveness.”
- You will probably have to use the cream for many weeks before you see any effect.
- Generally the effect only lasts as long as you use the cream.
- Prescription creams will usually have higher concentrations of ingredients.
- Often the creams are irritating to the skin.
- Many of the ingredients will make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen is often recommended.
- As stated in the previous post Reduces Wrinkles by 50%! there is little published research that can be used to judge which ingredients are effective.
Think I will start to investigate this a bit more. I’ll post what I find.
[tags]wrinkle cream, wrinkles[\tags]
Popularity: 46% [?]
Reduces Wrinkles by 50%!
May 4, 2008
This blog has a tab and category for skin. When I started this blog I thought I would have a reasonable number of posts about skincare, wrinkles and skin aging in general.
It seems that there are a lot of claims and few facts. I am amazed that I have found so little to blog about.
Much of the problem is that all the formulas and ingredients are proprietary. The companies make the claims, but do not put out any data to back it up. I am sure there is some great stuff out there, but how do you know which product is great and which one is rubbish? There are a few products that do have a scientific background that I will soon discuss, but most of it is just a black box.
Some of the claims are nice and vague. For instance, “Reduces wrinkles by 50%.” Sounds great until you think what exactly does that mean? Who knows? I am damn sure it does not mean that you have 50% less wrinkles. Does it mean that your wrinkles are 50% less deep? Changed from the Grand Canyon to the Columbia Gorge? Or more likely, 50% of the wrinkles looked less deep. Anything that plumps up your skin can temporarily do that, since stretching the skin out will make the wrinkles less deep. Short term non-surgical face lift in a bottle. If only we knew which ones work.
Technorati Tags: skin, wrinkles, skincare
Popularity: 51% [?]
Drinking Too Much Water?
April 3, 2008
We are told to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. Depending on the size of the glass this is going to be at least 4 pints of water. Do we really need to drink this much. The answer is generally no.
Usually the two main reasons given for drinking lots of water are to eliminate toxins from the body, and to make the skin clearer. There is an editorial on this topic in the new Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (PubMed abstract not yet available).
Many waste products and toxins are cleared from the body by the kidneys. These waste products and toxins are removed form the blood with some water.
It would seem logical that if more water is consumed that there would be better clearance of metabolic waste and toxins. Except in the case of dehydration, this is not true. More water intake does not increase excretion of wastes. In fact, there is a rebound effect when a lot of water is consumed. The kidneys actually seem to process less effectively.
The second reason given for is hydrating skin. Unfortunately, unless you are very dehydrated the amount of water consumed is not going to make any noticeable difference. The body is about 60% water. If you weigh 150 lb, then you are about 90 lbs of water. Adding a few more pounds of water is not going to any significant differences to general distribution of water. Your body will sense the increased volume and increase the volume of urine. So usually instead of plumping the skin, the excess water will end up being peed out.
So how much water should you drink? Obviously your needs vary with the local temperature and activity level. If it very hot or you are very active then obviously you will need more water to replace that lost in sweat. The best indicator of the level of hydration is the color of urine. If you are dehydrated urine will have a strong yellow color like apple juice. If your urine is a pale weak yellow color then you are adequately hydrated. If your urine is virtually colorless you are probably over hydrated.
So, stay hydrated but it is unlikely unless you are sweating a lot that you will need to consume as much as 8 glasses of water.
photo credit: Paulio Geordio
Technorati Tags: water, 8 cups, kidney, skin, toxins, urine
Popularity: 54% [?]
Prevage Anti-Aging Treatment
March 31, 2008
Elizabeth Arden and Allergan jointly have a range of products with the key ingredient, idebenone. A strong antioxidant, idebenone is a synthetic version of Coenzyme Q10, which is usually abbreviated to CoQ10.
CoQ10 is found within organelles of cells called mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells, and in cellular membranes. The role of CoQ10 is both energy production and as an antioxidant.
The range of products is called Prevage.
As we age the level of CoQ10 drops. When we age or a very sick are less able to synthesize CoQ10. Some researchers have suggested that later in life CoQ10 becomes a vitamin (something we need to consume and are not able to fully provide ourselves). It has also been suggested that as we age a number of antioxidants such as vitamin C drop to lower levels in the skin than the rest of the body. This has also been suggested for CoQ10.
Idebenone is a synthetic version of CoQ10, which may have one advantage in that in low oxygen conditions (hypoxia) it will not attack itself, which CoQ10 will do.
Studies have suggested that applying idebenone to the skin may slow the effects of aging such as sun damage and improve over-all skin tone. There are several reports of idebenone improving the look of fine lines and wrinkles, such as this one.
Technorati Tags: idebenone, coenzyme Q10, CoQ10, antioxidant, anti-aging, skin, sun damage, wrinkles
Popularity: 79% [?]
Aging Skin: Pushing Out Wrinkles!
March 25, 2008
Out of interest I subscribe to a lot of newsletters. Some of them have some pretty amazing things in them, particularly to do with skin, aging and wrinkles. A recent example contained a sales pitch for a beauty vitamin formula that had a link titled “How you can push wrinkles out from the inside.” So of course I clicked the link to find out what I had to do to push out the wrinkles that I am getting in my aging skin.
Reading down the long page of different ways to try to get you buy the product, part of the way down the page it says that this is not exactly the way the cream works. The wording backpedals to “Imagine if you could push wrinkles out from the inside”. Then it says, “Of course you can’t actually push wrinkles out from the inside.” Then it tells you that if you take oral supplements they can make your skin look better. Interestingly for this claim the advertisement does not actually use the name of the oral supplement, i.e. the beauty vitamin formula, which they are trying to sell.
The web page to sell the beauty vitamin formula is very long and is a mix of lots of advice and information. Some of which is quite accurate and some is rubbish. Eventually they tell you what is in the beauty vitamin formula. It is partly compounds that you should be getting from a healthy balanced diet and some extracts of things like Gingko biloba. Many of the extracts and dietary compounds such as lycopene are probably present in such low amounts that even if they do help wrinkles they would be below the threshold of effectiveness.
The clever thing about the advertisement is that it contains information about how to change your makeup to make your skin look better and to hide wrinkles, and when you buy the supplements they come with a free beauty guide. So if you bought some beauty vitamin formula and changed your makeup regime, who is to say what it was exactly that made you look younger.
I can be quite gullible, but this time I think I’ll pass.
Technorati Tags: aging, skin, wrinkles, vitamins
Popularity: 66% [?]
Donell Lightening Gel for Skin Pigmentation
March 9, 2008
As we age, we get pigmented areas on the skin. The pigmented areas can be due to a number of things. Many people get pigmented patches, particularly on their face and hands, which have several names liver spots, aging spots or solar lentigines. As time passes we accumulate more and more dings, and get pigmented scars. I have lots of pigmented scars on my hand from liquid nitrogen burns. We can also get skin conditions such as melasma that cause pigmented areas.
Whatever the cause, the resulting uneven skin tone, makes many people feel that it makes their skin look older.
There are number of compounds that have been found to lighten pigmented areas. Currently at the dermatologist there are number of treatments that are used for lightening areas. Cryotherapy, dermabrasion, lasers and often various gels and creams are applied to the affected area of the skin.
There are a number of ingredients the gels and creams that have been shown to be effective, common ones included hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, arbutin and some vitamin C derivatives. Most frequently the dermatologist prescribed creams contain hydroquinone. Hydroquinone by prescription contains 4%, and over the counter preparations contain up to 2%. However, it should be noted that products that contain hydroquinone are now banned in Europe (within the European Union).
For at home one product to try is Donell Lightening Gel. It contains some ingredients that have been shown in studies to lighten pigmented areas. The gel contains a number of ingredients including azelaic acid, kojic acid, glycolic acids and vitamin C. The gel is applied to the pigmented areas only 1 to 2 hours before bedtime for a couple of months.
It is important to note that no lightening treatment including lasers will work on all pigmented areas. The results for the different treatments for individual areas can range from on longer visible, to lighter, to no long-term effect. I used this gel on several areas and it was quite effective for som, but not others. The one thing I did not like about the gel that I used was that it was a bit runny. Since it is sold as a gel, perhaps mine was a batch with not enough thickening agent.
Technorati Tags: skin lightening, skin pimentation, azelaic acid, kojic acid
Popularity: 72% [?]
British anti-wrinkle skin cream
February 6, 2008
While I was England, I picked up a couple of tubes of No 7 Protect and Perfect beauty serum. This is a really hot item in the UK. In the spring last year there was a BBC TV program that looked at fact and fiction in skin and anti-aging products. The program found that a lot were useless, but tests found that the Protect and Perfect serum resulted in an improvement in skin. It also feels really nice on the skin.
The day after the program, the Protect and Perfect sold out in minutes, after the chain of stores where it is sold opened. Immediately there were tubes of the product offered on ebay at very inflated prices. It was weeks and weeks before it was readily available again.
No 7 is a line of products that is manufactured for, and sold in, Boots the Chemist (pharmacy). The Protect and Perfect serum costs £16.75 (inc tax) which with the current lousy exchange rate is about $30. If you are in Heathrow Airport (the main London airport) there is a Boots in the departure lounge (here products are tax free), and where incidentally you can buy DVT socks (see flying and DVT). I would recommend that if you are anywhere in the UK where there is a Boots, you try it.
Technorati Tags: skin, wrinkles, anti-aging
Popularity: 40% [?]
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