Ingredient Corner – ALGOWHITE

Novel whitening approach: Kill the messenger…

When our skin is assaulted by UV light, an interesting and complex series of chemical reactions happen. To keep it simple, after UV exposure, our keratinocytes call for help from the melanocytes for protection. Kerotinocytes contact the melanocytes by producing an enzyme called endothelin (ET-1), which travels down to the melanocyte and binds with its ET_B receptor. Once bound to its receptor, the melanocyte is prompted to begin melanogenesis. The by-product of melanogenesis is melanin, our natural photoprotectant. The newly produced melanin then travels back up to the kerotinocytes, creating a protective barrier from any additional UV radiation.

 Unfortunately, melanin and its ability to pigment our skin once oxidized, is not always a welcomed guest. This makes way for efficacious skin whitening agents like ALGOWHITE. ALGOWHITE is a brown algae extract that interrupts ET-1’s ability to bind with ET_B.This mechanism breaks the communication line to the melanocyte, effectively preventing the formation of melanin. This material also protects the skin against free radicals which have the ability to oxidize the melanin already existing in the epidermis. In addition to the above, ALGOWHITE helps promote natural exfoliation, which expels the old oxidized melanin, completing the cycle.

Tags: algowhite, endothelin, free radical, keratinocyte, melanin, melanocyte, melanogenesis, pigment, UV, whitening

Categories: Ingredient Corner

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