TAGS: Skin Care
Shiseido and the Research Institute for Electronic Science at Hokkaido University have succeeded in jointly establishing a new method for evaluating intercellular lipids in the stratum corneum, which are strongly related to the barrier function of the skin.
With this method, the researchers have confirmed that a uniquely developed ingredient, EPDMEs, improves the structural ordering of intercellular lipids and maintains barrier function. Furthermore, the unique ingredient remains in the stratum corneum after being applied to the skin and washed off.
Role of Stratum Corneum
The stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, is composed of stratum corneum cells and intercellular lipids filling the gaps between the cells, and plays an important barrier function role to protect the skin from external stimuli and prevent moisture evaporation, as well as a moisturizing function to
retain moisture in the skin. Intercellular lipids are regularly ordered in the stratum corneum of healthy skin and form a well-organized layer structure after being released from the stratum granulosum, which is the lower layer of the stratum corneum.
However, on the surface of the stratum corneum, the structure can be disrupted by external factors, such as dryness and UV rays. Prior research has already revealed that this layer structure has a close relationship with the condition of the skin, and when the structure is disrupted, the barrier function deteriorates.
New Evaluation Method
In the search for approaches to maintain skin barrier function, the scientists developed a new evaluation method in collaboration with the Research Institute for Electronic Science of Hokkaido University to analyze the structural ordering of intercellular lipids, which could not be fully examined by conventional methods.
Through experiments using a 3D cultured epidermal model and multiphoton microscopy, the researchers successfully evaluated the ordering of intercellular lipids numerically, which enabled them to conduct more detailed analysis than before. Furthermore, by constructing a 3D image based on the results of numerical evaluation, it has become possible to visualize intercellular lipid ordering.
Results - Improved Intercellular Lipid Ordering
EPDMEs, water, and common moisturizing ingredients were applied to a 3D epidermal model and analyzed them with the new evaluation method. As a result, the scientists found that the proprietary ingredient EPDMEs improved intercellular lipid ordering in the stratum corneum, especially near the surface, compared to when water and common moisturizers are applied. This implies an expectation of improved barrier function.
In addition, it has been confirmed that this unique ingredient remains in the stratum corneum after being applied to the skin and washed off. In other words, the potential was revealed for an approach, through this technology, to achieve both capabilities of cleansing and improving skin barrier function simultaneously.
Shiseido has promoted the development of cleansing products that cleanse without removing the essential moisture necessary for healthy skin, and going forward, will strive to develop unprecedented high value-added cleansing products with the application of this technology.
Source: Shiseido