Research — hydration

Research Summary: Niacinamide is vitamin B3, an essential nutrient. In the body, it is converted to the co-factors NADH and NADPH, which are involved in many biochemical reactions. Dietary deficiency of this water-soluble member of the vitamin B family causes pellagra, a disease that includes dermatitis and red lesions. Pellagra caused thousands of deaths in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, until simple dietary supplementation with this absorbable vitamin was found to cure the disorder.NAD+ and NADPH levels in skin cells decline with age. Thus, supplementing skin with the precursor to these vital co-factors has...

Research Summary: This study aims to evaluate the skin moisturizing efficacy of formulations containing different concentrations of panthenol. Formulations supplemented with or without 0.5%, 1.0%, or 5.0% panthenol were applied daily to the forearms of healthy subjects. Skin conditions in terms of moisture and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were analyzed before and after 15- and 30-day periods of application. The formulations were also applied after skin washing with sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) to evaluate the immediate effects on TEWL and skin moisture. Panthenol-containing formulations (1.0% and 5.0%) produced significant decreases in TEWL after 30-day applications. In skin washed with SLES,...

Vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid, niacin) deficiency causes the systemic disease pellagra, which leads to dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and possibly death, depending on its severity and duration. Vitamin B3 is used in the synthesis of the NAD+ family of coenzymes, contributing to cellular energy metabolism and defense systems. Although nicotinamide (niacinamide) is primarily used as a nutritional supplement for vitamin B3, its pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical uses have been extensively explored.In this review, we discuss the biological activities and cosmeceutical properties of nicotinamide in consideration of its metabolic pathways. Supplementation of nicotinamide restores the cellular NAD+ pool and mitochondrial energetics, attenuates oxidative...

Research Summary: Human skin has unique properties, with one of the most apparent being its role as a physicochemical barrier. The human integument is capable of resisting the penetration of many molecules. However, smaller molecules, particularly, can surpass the skin transcutaneously. These molecules are able to bypass the corneal layer, which is thought to serve as the main deterrent. We argue that the molecular weight (MW) of a compound must be under 500 Dalton to allow for skin absorption. Larger molecules are unable to penetrate the corneal layer. Arguments for this "500 Dalton rule" include: 1) Virtually all common contact...