Change of Melanin, Erythema, pH on Acne Skin Improvement by Biologically Active Substance

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop the materials for natural cosmetics that it is possible to use for the improvement of acne skin. For this, this research manufactured the skin lotion and pack including ethanol extract of Caesalpinia sappan which is a bioactive chemical and applied it to the female with acne skin. And then it tried to verify the effect of the lotion and pack by measuring melanin, erythema and the changes of pH value. The objects of this research were 16 women with acne skin in 20’s above KAGS Level II, and the changes of melanin, erythema and pH value on 3 sites of the cheek, forehead and chin on their faces were measured 4 times before and after applying the pack including 15% ethanol extract of Caesalpinia sappan to 8 women (Group A) and the skin lotion including 3% ethanol extract to 8 women (Group B), respectively. The experimental data was analyzed by repeated measures using SPSS version 12.0 program. The experimental results for the changes of melanin, erythema and pH value in accordance with improvement of acne vulgaris after applying the skin lotion and pack including the ethanol extract of Caesalpinia sappan were as followings. As a result of a human closed patch test about the ethanol extract of C. sappan in a stability test, erythema (-), allergy (-), edema (-), blister (-) and so on were not observed. So, it may deem that the skin lotion and pack are stable when applying them to a human body as cosmetics. Both the skin lotion and the pack including ethanol extract of C. sappan had a positive effect on melanin and pH value. Even though there was no large difference between two experimental groups, it showed that the skin lotion influences on erythema larger than the pack. * Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Kyeong-Ran Kim, Department of Beauty Science, Kwangju Women’s University, Sanjeong-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju 506-713, Korea. Ph.: (062) 950-3673, Fax: (062) 950-3797, E-mail: krkim@mail.kwu.ac.kr