Abstract
Studies have shown that liquid crystals structurally resembling the intercellular lipids in the stratum corneum can beneficially affect the skin when applied topically by stimulating the skin’s natural regenerative functions and accelerating epidermal turnover. In the present study, the effects of applying low concentrations of a liquid crystal gel of our own creation were evaluated using epidermal thickening in mouse skin as an assay for effective stimulation of epidermal turnover. A liquid crystal gel was also applied topically to human facial skin, and analysis was conducted using before-and-after photographs of age spots, measurements of L* values that reflect degree of skin pigmentation, single-layer samples of the stratum corneum obtained via tape-stripping, and measurements of trans-epidermal water loss that reflect the status of the skin’s barrier function. The results suggested that cost-effective creams containing as low as 5% liquid crystal gel might be effective and safely sold as skin care products targeting age spots and other problems relating to uneven skin pigmentation.
Highlights
In the stratum corneum, the uppermost layer of the epidermis, intercellular lipids provide the semi-permeable barrier that is essential to the function of the skin [1]
A preliminary study was conducted to ascertain whether or not low concentration liquid crystal gel (LCG) creams could be sufficiently effective at accelerating epidermal turnover
The degree of epidermal thickening was correlated with the LCG concentration, confirming that the LCG is the active ingredient causing the thickening
Summary
The uppermost layer of the epidermis, intercellular lipids provide the semi-permeable barrier that is essential to the function of the skin [1]. We inferred that lipid and/or aqueous components of the LCG may diffuse into the intercellular spaces of the epidermis and produce such a temporary change in the intercellular lipid structure, thereby disturbing the barrier function of the skin, generating the observed small spike in TEWL. We postulated that this disturbance in barrier function could signal to the body that the skin has been damaged and stimulate the skin’s self-regeneration mechanisms, thereby accelerating epidermal turnover [2,4]. The skin was carefully observed for potential side effects such as irritation
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