Application of natural plants to skin problems
[Why share this article]
Do you know what is the right concept to take care of your skin?
What are the ingredients in beauty products that can damage the cuticle?
What is the difference between natural vegetable oils and mineral oils?
[Author’s experience: trauma department, plastic surgery, scald, micro skin grafting]
[Time needed to read: about 10 minutes]
The symptoms and severity of skin disorders vary greatly, and there are thousands of officially named medical conditions that can be temporary or permanent, and painless or excruciating. Some have environmental causes, while others may have genetic causes. Some skin conditions are mild, while others can be life-threatening.
In this article, we will share how to improve common skin problems such as acne, pimples, atopic skin, sensitive skin, sensitive redness, and gray nails in the most natural way.
What is the right concept of skincare?
Let’s guess what the largest human organ is? The lungs have 70 square meters of alveoli, the liver is the largest organ in the internal organs, the intestines are the size of a basketball court, and the skin is about 1.6 square meters for an adult man and weighs 16% of his body weight, which is about 10 to 12 kilograms. Excluding the recently discovered “mesenchyme,” which is not agreed upon by all experts (Thais, a professor of pathology at NYU Langone Medical Center, estimates that mesenchyme accounts for 20% of the body’s volume, which is equivalent to about 10 liters for a young adult), the skin can be considered the heaviest organ in terms of weight.
As the first line of defense and the largest organ of the body, the skin is always involved in the functional activities of the body, maintaining the alignment of the body and the natural environment. Before we talk about how to improve skin problems, we must first understand the skin structure and establish the correct concept of skin care.
Photographer: Angela Roma, Link: Pexels
Physiological structure of the skin
The skin is roughly divided into three layers: epidermis, dermis and subcutanous tissue. The thickness of the epidermis is about 0.03~0.30mm, depending on the degree of keratinization of the keratinized cells, it can be divided into five layers: basal layer, echinoderm, granular layer, hyaline layer and keratin layer. The basal cell layer (stratum basale), the deepest layer of the epidermis, is composed of a layer of short columnar or square cells, and is the source of growth of the epidermis, in which the cells are constantly dividing, gradually moving outward and producing changes, and finally forming the stratum corneum, which provides the basic friction, sun protection, and moisturizing functions of the epidermis.
The epidermis is a protective barrier with the ability to renew itself, providing a defensive barrier against all kinds of physical and chemical stimuli from the outside world, such as dryness, heat and cold, ultraviolet radiation, including chemicals, chemical gases, harmful light and microbial bacteria, and protecting the body from evaporation and dissipation of water and body fluids. When the stratum corneum is damaged by external foreign substances or environmental factors, the rate of renewal will be accelerated to eliminate foreign substances and repair the skin.
In the structure of the skin, the stratum corneum alone has 15-20 layers, and although it is metabolized once every 28 days, not every cell is at the same time. Therefore, it takes 3-6 months for the skin to be almost replaced once. In addition to its basic anti-friction function, the stratum corneum is the part that comes into direct contact with all beauty and care products and has the most profound effect on the effectiveness of the products used and the beauty state of the skin. Some of the amino acids and their metabolites play an important role in maintaining moisture in the stratum corneum, which contains 15-20% of a low molecular weight moisturizing factor called Natural moisturizing factor (NMF), which is produced by the skin itself and has the ability to absorb moisture, enabling the stratum corneum to maintain firmness and softness of the skin. Natural moisturizing factor (N.M.F) is the general name of some low molecular weight substances (including amino acids, lactates, urea, uric acid and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid…) that exist in the stratum corneum and can bind with water. N.M.F reduces water loss from the skin and is extremely water soluble, accounting for about 10% of the cellular matrix of the stratum corneum. The softness, smoothness and elasticity of the skin depends on the moisture content of the stratum corneum, 10%-20% is ideal, less than 10% is considered dry skin. In short, the moisturizing function of the epidermis and the normal metabolism of the cells can keep the skin smooth and shiny.
What are the ingredients in beauty products that can damage the stratum corneum?
The epidermis heals by migrating, so it is important to retain the moisture content of the stratum corneum and epidermis. The main ingredients that break down the stratum corneum and retain moisture are interface actives, polyols, and alcohols.
According to the Journal of Cosmetic Science (J Cosmet Sci. 2020 Jan/Feb;71(2):91-109.), the most widespread application of surfactants is probably in the household and cosmetic industries, such as laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents, face and body cleansers, and the manufacture of lotions and creams. and creams. However, heavy use of detergents and cleansers on the skin may cause itching, redness and dryness, which are known as surfactant-induced irritation, at least in part due to the penetration of surfactants into the skin.
Similarly, studies have shown that “polyols” are also irritating to the skin, and are commonly found in raw materials such as phenoxyethanol (PHENOXYLETHANOL), ethanol (ETHANOL), benzyl alcohol (BENZYL ALCOHOL), octanediol (CAPRYLYL GLYCOL), and ethylhexylglycerol (CAPRYLYL GLYCOL). Similar raw materials. They are materials with preservative function or auxiliary preservative function, but they are not registered as “preservatives” but as “moisturizers” when they are registered. In this way, it can be claimed that there is no preservative, because there is indeed “no preservative”, or rather, no “registered” preservative.
These “hidden” versions of chemical toxins may cause skin irritation due to long-term use, causing hair loss, skin irritation, dermatitis and other symptoms, and patients will face difficult to solve skin problems.
Application of Natural Ingredients
Throughout the history of human development, the use of folk medicine has been recorded on every continent. Doctors, priests, and shamans have been very powerful and influential in their communities. Medicine, religion, and botany have always been closely intertwined in many societies. Today, the relationship between man and nature should be as close as it has ever been.
The Indian medical system of Ayurveda (AYURVEDA) is one of the oldest medical systems in the world. Ayurvedic traditional medicine dates back to the Vedic period, around 3000 BC. It is known as the world’s oldest documented system of integrative medicine and is used in countless Indian homes today in the 21st century. Ayurvedic medicine is not only a medical system but also represents a healthy lifestyle. The Sanskrit word Ayurveda is composed of the words AYUR (meaning life) and VEDA (meaning knowledge, science), thus the word Ayurveda means the science of life. According to Ayurveda, human beings should live in harmony with nature, and disease arises when this harmony is broken. Restoring this basic balance through the use of nature and its products is the primary means and purpose of Ayurvedic medicine. This concept applies not only to the process of treating disease but also to its prevention.
Today, not only does Ayurveda continue to be practiced, but more industry players are investing in the development of botanicals for cosmetic applications; the cosmetic industry is a growing market in demand, especially in Asia. Korea has been at the forefront of the new generation and most innovative cosmetic products that include ingredients such as snail secretions, starfish powder, botanical extracts, green tea, and ginseng. Given their increasing popularity in the cosmetic industry, scientists have been investigating these extracts and their properties. The results have revealed that several natural extracts have anti-aging, anti-tumor, and anti-postpartum fat effects, making them a popular ingredient in current cosmetic products.
In Taiwan, some companies have used the innate advantages of Chinese herbs and modern technology to integrate traditional medicine with modern beauty technology to develop products that are related to the functions of skincare products, such as anti-aging, moisturizing, exfoliating, cleansing, whitening, and sunscreen, based on the overall skincare effects. Some of the best products have been developed to solve skin problems, such as atopic dermatitis and acne, using ginseng puree.
It is found in Russia, Japan, India, Korea, and the northern and southern provinces of mainland China, growing at 1,500 meters above sea level on mountain slopes, sandy areas, grassy slopes, shrubby forests, and near fields. Nearby. Functions and Indications: Clears heat and dampness, kills worms, and diuresis. It is used for febrile dysentery, blood in the stool, jaundice, jaundice and dysuria, red and white bandages, swelling and itching of the pubic area, eczema, damp sores, itching of the skin, scabies, and leprosy; externally for trichomoniasis. Bitter ginseng has a special odor and is rarely used internally, but is more commonly used externally to treat the skin, as a herbal remedy to clear heat and dry dampness. Bitter ginseng contains alkaloids and flavonoids such as ginseng alkaloids, oxidized ginseng alkaloids, and stigmasterolide, and has long been used externally for skin diseases.
Sophorae Flavescentis Radix has been used for centuries in skincare and is now a favored ingredient in cosmetics. It has been used for centuries to revitalize the skin, restore elasticity, balance the skin’s oil secretion, and purify the pores, restoring the skin’s firmness and smoothness.
What is the difference between natural vegetable oils and mineral oils?
The key to why natural plant ingredients are beneficial to the skin is the difference between vegetable oils and mineral oils for the repair of the stratum corneum; the stratum corneum is like the defensive wall of our skin, the lipid layer in the intercellular space is rich in cholesterol (CHOLESTEROL), ceramides (CERAMIDES), and fatty acids (FREE FATTY ACIDS), which are like the cement that makes the whole wall stronger. Only vegetable oils contain fatty acids, waxes, cholesterol, and squalene, which are necessary for the epidermis. By maintaining the integrity of the stratum corneum, protects the skin from moisture loss and allows the stratum corneum to lock in moisture, keeping the skin soft, smooth, and more elastic and taut, solving skin problems at their root.
The use of herbs in beauty products is one example of the use of herbs in beauty products. Nowadays, more and more beauty companies around the world have invested in the development and research of natural products, and more and more herbs are being widely used in various products, so it will be another issue for consumers to carefully choose natural products instead of chemical products so that the skin will not suffer anymore.
Conclusion.
In the structure of the skin, sebaceous glands and pores hair follicles will have some normal bacteria, if the skin has a small wound, some bad bacteria will proliferate. This time relies on the skin’s resistance to kill bacteria. The epidermis heals by migrating, so it is important to keep the moisture content of the stratum corneum and epidermis. When the stratum corneum is unhealthy, the use of fragrance and essential oil products will make the skin prickly; therefore, it is very important to retain moisture and let the stratum corneum stack flat with water, which is the first line of defense for the skin. Therefore, how to solve skin problems, the most important thing is to first establish the correct concept of taking care of the skin, the rest is time, will definitely see results.