Scientific Insights
Skin is a real organ.
And not just any organ, but one of the largest in the human body—about 2 square meters!
Its thickness varies from 0.5 mm (eyelids) to 5 mm (palms of the hands and soles of the feet).
Beyond the numbers, the skin is the only organ we can touch every day and see change over time.
And it’s these changes, particularly skin aging, that motivate many people to take care of their skin to preserve its structure and integrity.
Before diving into the most effective active ingredients for skin care, let's take a step back and explore the structure of the skin, the different types of skin (phototypes), daily actions to keep the skin youthful, and why skin ages.
How is the skin made?
The skin is made up of three layers:
Epidermis - the outermost layer. It is a tough, flexible, water- and ion-impermeable part of the skin. It is made of keratin and contains melanocytes (cells that produce pigment).
Dermis - the layer underneath, and the thickest one. It consists of connective tissue that is made up of 70% collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans (such as hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate), and proteoglycans. The cells in the dermis include fibroblasts, along with macrophages, mast cells, and lymphocytes that originate from the capillaries. The presence of lymphocytes indicates that the skin is also part of the immune system and defense mechanism, activating in response to superficial wounds.
Hypodermis (Subcutaneous layer) - the deepest layer, consisting of adipose tissue, collagen, larger blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels. It serves to anchor the skin to the underlying muscle layers.
How many types of skin are there?
- Phototype I: Very fair skin, red hair, light eyes, always burns, never tans, numerous freckles.
- Phototype II: Fair skin, blonde hair, light eyes, always burns, tans slightly, numerous freckles.
- Phototype III: Medium skin, dark blonde/light brown hair, brown eyes, burns slightly, tans slowly (medium tan), some freckles.
- Phototype IV: Olive skin, dark brown/black hair, dark eyes, rarely burns, always tans (dark tan), no freckles.
- Phototype V: Dark skin, black hair, dark eyes, almost never burns, always tans (very dark tan), no freckles.
- Phototype VI: Black skin, black hair, black eyes, never burns, no freckles.
Good daily habits for beautiful skin
- Drink a lot. It's important to drink at least 1.5/2 liters of water every day and avoid alcoholic beverages and spirits.
- Eat healthy. Focus on a healthy diet with fresh foods, especially vegetables, legumes, fish, whole grains, and fruits. Use cooking methods that aren't too aggressive and avoid excessive seasoning.
- Don't Smoke. Cigarette smoke (including passive smoke) reduces blood flow and cellular oxygenation.
- Hydrate Your Skin. Moisturize your skin by choosing cosmetics made from natural sources.
- Protect Your Skin from the Sun. It's a good habit to protect your skin from the sun with SPF 30/50, depending on your skin type, every day, even when you're in the city, especially during the summer months.
- Use Antioxidants. Both through your diet and with supplements, to neutralise free radicals and slow down the aging process.
- Use Regenerating Active ingredients. Through food supplements, take natural ingredients that stimulate the vitality of fibroblasts, collagen and elastin production, and counteract tissue degradation.
Why does ski age?
The aging process of the skin occurs through two main mechanisms: intrinsic and extrinsic.
- Intrinsic aging occurs based on genetics and is inevitable. It progresses with age, leading to atrophy and a reduction in fibroblasts, sebaceous glands, dermal thickness, and the thinning of blood vessels. The collagen fibers are particularly affected by this process, which results from the accumulation of irreversible functional alterations in fibroblasts associated with aging1. The skin starts aging as early as the age of 212, although significant changes, especially for women, are visible after menopause, with a loss of about 30% of collagen in the first 5 years.3
- Extrinsic aging primarily results from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation and factors like cigarette smoke, air pollution, frequent contact with chemical/thermal sources, alcohol abuse, and poor diet.
How can drinkable collagen help counteract aging?
Scientific studies have confirmed that consistent collagen supplementation can stimulate and support the body's production of this molecule.
Collagen is an essential molecule for the elasticity of the skin and cartilage. Not all collagen supplements are the same. In LuxGea Pelle, we have selected the most useful and functional form for the beauty of the skin, just as in the Cartilagea, we have chosen the most suitable form to support the cartilage.
On its own, a drinkable collagen supplement is useful for preventing and counteracting the signs of aging. However, its action is limited if compared to a more complete formula, enriched with hyaluronic acid, silica, vitamin C, and minerals.
Based on all these considerations, LuxGea Pelle was created, the Salugea skin supplement that contains a wide variety of natural nutrients beneficial for the overall well-being of the skin and a radiant appearance. Let's take a closer look at what the studies have shown.
Scientific studies supporting the selected ingredients
VERISOL®: bioactive collagen peptides
- Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(1):47-55. doi: 10.1159/000351376. Epub 2013 Aug 14. PMID: 23949208.
In this double-blind study, 69 women aged between 35 and 55 years took VERISOL® for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, the participants reported significantly more elastic skin compared to the placebo treatment. This effect was even more pronounced after 8 weeks of VERISOL® supplementation. After a further four weeks, the VERISOL® group showed even greater skin elasticity than the placebo group (+10% on average) - with a more significant effect on women over 50 (up to +30%) - , as well as improved skin hydration.
- Proksch et al. (2014). Oral Intake of Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides Reduces Skin Wrinkles and Increases Dermal Matrix Synthesis. Skin Pharmacol Physiol, 27:113-119
A controlled clinical study against placebo involved 114 mature women aged between 45 and 65, who were given VERISOL® (2.5 g/day) orally. After 8 weeks, a 20% reduction in the depth of wrinkles around the eyes was achieved. Additionally, the study led to a significantly higher formation of skin procollagen (+65%) and elastin (+18%), which are essential components of the dermal matrix for achieving smoother and more even skin.
- Hexsel et al. (2017). Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails. J Cosmet Dermatol, (16)1-7.
- Oesser (2020). The oral intake of specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides has a positive effect on hair thickness. Nutrafoods, 1:134-138.
These two innovative studies highlighted additional properties of VERISOL® for nails and hair. Specifically, the first study showed a 42% reduction in cracked and/or chipped nails after 6 months. The rate of nail growth increased significantly by 10% after 6 months of supplementation.
The second study focused on hair, where it was also found that the intake of VERISOL® led to a statistically significant increase in hair thickness, while a slight decrease was observed in the placebo group, confirming the benefits of VERISOL® for improved hair structure.
In both studies, the participants expressed high satisfaction and a desire to continue the treatment.
VERISOL® is a registered trademark of GELITA AG.
Hyaluronic Acid
- Longas M.O., Russell C.S., He X.Y. Evidence for structural changes in dermatan sulfate and hyaluronic acid with aging. Carbohydr Res. 1987;159:127–136. doi: 10.1016/S0008-6215(00)90010-7
This study, which we referred to above, highlights how, with advancing age, there is a progressive loss of hyaluronic acid in the various layers of the skin.
- Hsu TF, et Al. Oral Hyaluronan Relieves Wrinkles and Improves Dry Skin: A 12-Week Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study. 2021 Jun 28;13(7):2220. doi: 10.3390/nu13072220. PMID: 34203487; PMCID: PMC8308347.
This 12-week clinical study confirmed that the oral intake of hyaluronic acid can improve the skin's hydration levels and reduce the depth of wrinkles. Results were visible after just 8 weeks and were compared to a placebo.
- Gao YR, Wang RP, Zhang L, Fan Y, Luan J, Liu Z, Yuan C. Oral administration of hyaluronic acid to improve skin conditions via a randomized double-blind clinical test. Skin Res Technol. 2023 Nov;29(11):e13531. doi: 10.1111/srt.13531. PMID: 38009035; PMCID: PMC10661223.
This clinical study aimed to analyse the effects of hyaluronic acid supplementation in a heterogeneous group of people. 129 female participants of various ages and with different skin types were included. The oral intake of hyaluronic acid significantly promoted skin hydration after 2-8 weeks across both young and elderly groups. An improvement in skin tone was observed after 4-8 weeks, while an increase in epidermal thickness was noted after 12 weeks.
- Oe M, Sakai S, Yoshida H, et al. Oral hyaluronan relieves wrinkles: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study over a 12-week period. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2017;10:267-273. Published 2017 Jul 18. doi:10.2147/CCID.S141845
In this study, 60 subjects with crow's feet wrinkles were randomly assigned to either the placebo group or groups receiving hyaluronic acid with two different molecular weights. The treatment lasted for 12 weeks. The results suggest that oral intake of hyaluronic acid, at both molecular weights, reduces wrinkles and improves skin condition.
- Cyphert, J.M.; Trempus, C.S.; Garantziotis, S. Size Matters: Molecular Weight Specificity of Hyaluronan Effects in Cell Biology. J. Cell Biol. 2015, 2015, 563818.
This review highlights how different-sized fragments of hyaluronic acid can influence various processes in our body. In fact, molecular weight is reported to be a key factor regarding the extent of HA absorption, which is dose-dependent and inversely proportional to the molecular weight.
Eggshell Membrane
·Jia H, et Al. Eggshell membrane powder ameliorates intestinal inflammation by facilitating the restitution of epithelial injury and alleviating microbial dysbiosis. Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 8;7:43993. doi: 10.1038/srep43993. PMID: 28272447; PMCID: PMC5341015.
The egg shell membrane is an extremely innovative ingredient that, in addition to being rich in components that make up the epidermis, also has an indirect effect on the intestinal microbiota. In vitro tests on human cells and in vivo models have shown that this nutritional element led to an increase in the biodiversity of the microbiota, particularly favoring symbiotic (good) bacterial strains. It also resulted in a reduction of strains that predispose to inflammation, an increase in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and an overall protection of the intestinal barrier.
- Kalman DS, Hewlings S. The effect of oral hydrolyzed eggshell membrane on the appearance of hair, skin, and nails in healthy middle-aged adults: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020 Jun;19(6):1463-1472. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13275. Epub 2020 Jan 6. PMID: 31904175; PMCID: PMC7418556.
This clinical study evaluated the impact of Eggshell Membrane supplementation compared to a placebo on hair appearance in healthy middle-aged adults. A total of 88 male and female subjects (35-65 years old) participated in the study, randomly and equally divided into a test group and a placebo group for 12 weeks. Outcome assessments included TrichoScan HD (hair analysis). The supplementation was associated with a significant improvement in hair thickness and density at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, with a +75% increase compared to the placebo.
Hydrolyzed bovine collagen
- Choi FD, Sung CT, Juhasz ML, Mesinkovsk NA. Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(1):9-16.
This review evaluated several clinical studies conducted with daily collagen doses ranging from 2.5 g to 10 g. It found that oral collagen supplementation has positive effects on wound healing and skin aging.
- de Miranda RB, Weimer P, Rossi RC. Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol. 2021 Dec;60(12):1449-1461. doi: 10.1111/ijd.15518. Epub 2021 Mar 20. PMID: 33742704.
This review compiled 19 placebo-controlled clinical studies evaluating oral supplementation with hydrolyzed collagen. The sample included 1,125 participants aged 20 to 70 years (95% women). Based on the results, oral intake of hydrolyzed collagen for 90 days was effective in reducing skin aging, as it decreased wrinkles and improved skin elasticity and hydration.
VITAMIN C: Rosehip
- Duarte TL, Cooke MS, Jones GD. Gene expression profiling reveals new protective roles for vitamin C in human skin cells. Free Radic Biol Med. 2009 Jan 1;46(1):78-87. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.09.028. Epub 2008 Oct 9. PMID: 18973801
In this in vitro study on human skin cells (fibroblasts), researchers investigated the effects of vitamin C exposure on these cells. Based on the results, they concluded that vitamin C may protect the skin not only by acting as a cofactor in collagen synthesis but also by directly promoting fibroblast proliferation (the main skin cells).
- Pasonen-Seppänen S, Suhonen TM, Kirjavainen M, Suihko E, Urtti A, Miettinen M, Hyttinen M, Tammi M, Tammi R. Vitamin C enhances differentiation of a continuous keratinocyte cell line (REK) into epidermis with normal stratum corneum ultrastructure and functional permeability barrier. Histochem Cell Biol. 2001 Oct;116(4):287-97. doi: 10.1007/s004180100312. PMID: 11702187.
In this study on rat epidermal cells, researchers found that vitamin C administration led to improvements in epithelial structure, which were correlated with better epidermal barrier function. Specifically, an increase in Filaggrin synthesis was observed—an essential protein for skin balance regulation and barrier maintenance. These findings suggest that vitamin C also influences keratinocyte differentiation in ways that complement barrier lipid synthesis and organization.
Silica: Bamboo
- Barel A, Calomme M, Timchenko A, De Paepe K, Demeester N, Rogiers V, Clarys P, Vanden Berghe D. Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on skin, nails and hair in women with photodamaged skin. Arch Dermatol Res. 2005 Oct;297(4):147-53. doi: 10.1007/s00403-005-0584-6. Epub 2005 Oct 26.
In this placebo-controlled clinical study conducted on 50 women aged 40 to 65 years with clear clinical signs of facial photoaging, 10 mg of silicon was orally administered for 20 weeks. At the end of the supplementation period, a significant improvement was observed in skin surface characteristics and mechanical properties, as well as a reduction in hair and nail fragility.
Zinc
- Ogawa Y, Kinoshita M, Shimada S, Kawamura T. Zinc and Skin Disorders. 2018 Feb 11;10(2):199. doi: 10.3390/nu10020199. PMID: 29439479; PMCID: PMC5852775.
The skin is the third most zinc-rich human tissue. Studies have shown that many human disorders with skin manifestations are caused by mutations or dysregulations in zinc transporters. Additionally, zinc deficiency has been found to be strongly involved in the development of alopecia and delayed wound healing.
- Gray NA, Dhana A, Stein DJ, Khumalo NP. Zinc and atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019;33(6):1042-1050. doi:10.1111/jdv.15524
Another systematic review of 16 observational studies and clinical trials analyzed the possible correlation between low zinc levels and the incidence of atopic dermatitis. After statistical analysis, the study concluded that low zinc levels in serum, hair, and erythrocytes are associated with atopic dermatitis. Further, more comprehensive studies are needed to confirm these findings.
- Schwartz JR, Marsh RG, Draelos ZD. Zinc and skin health: overview of physiology and pharmacology. Dermatol Surg. 2005;31(7 Pt 2):837-847. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31729
Another review study investigated the specific roles of zinc in skin health and function, emphasizing the physiological importance of this element in wound healing and inflammation reduction, which are key processes in skin aging. During these processes, the need for zinc may increase, and supplementation can help boost the natural regeneration speed of the skin.
Selenium
- Kumar V, Tanwar N, Goel M, et al. Antioxidants for Skin Health. Recent Adv Food Nutr Agric. Published online August 6, 2024. doi:10.2174/012772574X311177240710100118
The protective function of selenium for skin conditions and function is confirmed by its antioxidant activities, which help maintain and restore skin physiology, protecting it from the effects of aging. This review concludes that the use of selenium is recommended for all skin-care actions, whether performed through external or internal remedies.
DISCLAIMER
The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition.
I nostri testi hanno scopo divulgativo, non vanno intesi come indicazione di diagnosi e cura di stati patologici e non vogliono sostituirsi in alcun modo al parere del Medico.