SKIN CARE INNOVATORS
Stretch marks
Stretch marks can appear for various reasons, such as pregnancy, rapid weight changes, or medical conditions. They affect the deeper layers of the skin, but with the right treatment, their visibility can be significantly reduced.
The Skin
Healthy skin
The skin is the largest organ in the body and consists out of three layers; epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis plays a very important role as protective barrier. It protects the body against external influences, such as viruses, bacteria, allergens, irritants… but it also provides us with protection against heat, cold and mechanical stress (frictions, pressure etc). Besides the external protection the epidermis also prevents water loss from within to help maintain a healthy skin.
The dermis provides physical and nutritional support to the epidermis. The hypodermis, also called subcutaneous fat, plays a role in shock absorption, energy storage and maintenance of body heat. It is the epidermis and dermis which are the principal layers of the skin.
Healthy skin is the first step in achieving optimal protection.
There are two main factors involved:
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The Stratum Corneum (SC), this is the top layer of the skin. It is built out of cells and in between those cells there are lipids. The lipids consist mainly of free fatty acids, cholesterol and ceramides. Those lipids make it possible to retain water inside the skin and prevent that water evaporates through the skin. They make sure the skin has a decent level of hydration. Together the cells and lipids form a really tight structure and make it hard for substances to enter or leave the body. They form a good barrier and retain water in the skin.
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The second main factor for a healthy protective barrier are the natural moisturizing factors (NMF). Those are little substances inside the cells of the SC, which make sure there is enough hydration of the skin, by retaining water inside the cells. NMF are mostly amino acids, sugars, mineral ions (e.g. potassium, calcium,…), lactic acid and urea.
To maintain a healthy hydrated skin it is especially important to have a tight structure of the Stratum Corneum and the presence of natural moisturizing factors.
Scar tissue
There are different types of scars:
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Fine-line scar e.g. surgical incision
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Atrophic scars e.g. acne
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Hypertrophic scars e.g. surgical wounds, burns, trauma
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Keloid scars
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Contracture scars e.g. burns, severe injuries
So what happens after an incision, laser therapy, burn, radiation…?
This depends on how deep the trauma is. It is clear the skin comes under a lot of stress in these various situations. If the wound is rather superficial like; first-degree burns, wounds after laser-tattoo removal, some acne lesions, etc. the epidermis will be quite easily repaired. This damage does not leave any scars. This is possible due to the SC, this layer is constantly shed and renewed.
In the case that injuries go deeper, into the dermis like for example incisions, tattoos, stretchmarks, etc. the regenerative process is much more complicated and there is more risk at forming scars if this regenerative process doesn’t go according to plan.
How does this regeneration process work?
First of all the wound goes through a healing process in which inflammation, tissue formation and remodelling is involved. After that there is a possibility that scars are formed due to a problematic restoration of the dermis.
The dermis consists out of multiple cells that are connected by the extracellular matrix (ECM). This matrix is built up by collagen that forms a supportive network and makes sure the skin has a certain elasticity, strength and structure. To enable these features the collagen fibres network looks like a basket-weave structure to give it full flexibility and strength.
In scar tissue the arrangement of these collagen fibres is disturbed. Instead of restoring those fibres in a basket-weave structure, the newly formed collagen is aligned in a single direction, which makes the skin less elastic and durable. There is also an overabundance / excess of collagen in the healed skin, which causes scars to be elevated.
The body always wants to close wounds immediately, to protect and prevent any further damage. It accelerates the wound closing process, what leads to an inferior quality in the formation of new skin (epidermis). The lipid synthesis, that is crucial for a healthy top layer (SC) is inferior. Which means the newly formed epidermis is not that good of a protective barrier. As a result there is less water retained in the skin and this makes scars dry and itchy.
To conclude, scar tissue is badly structured skin, because it is thicker, loses its elasticity, has a reduced durability. It’s fragile, sensitive to changes in temperature and sensation.
What does the skin need?
Firstly the skin needs to restore its barrier function.
Scars are often dry, which makes them itchy. They don’t have a tight structure of the SC, meaning the skin retains less water in the skin. This loss needs to be decreased by moisturizing the skin and by replenishing the skin with lipids.
One feature of scarred skin is that the SC in the epidermis is lacking lipids, the skin needs to be recharged with essential fatty acids (EFA). EFA’s are fatty acids which cannot be produced by the human body, but they are crucial for the human metabolism. Therefore other sources are needed to acquire these kinds of lipids.
For scar treatment there are three big families that are important.
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Omega-3 (e.g. linolenic acid…)
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Omega-6 (e.g. Linoleic acid, arachidonic acid…)
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Omega-7 (e.g. Palmitoleic acid…)
These EFA’s are well known to be present in different types of food sources.
However local treatment is preferred, because it is applied directly where it is needed. The amount of EFA’s that reach their target is much bigger than with an oral administration. By the time the Omega-7 from salmon reaches the skin, the levels of omega-7 are really low. Adding essential fatty acids through diet has a limited and time consuming effect on skin health. A local treatment is more effective.
Secondly it is important to moisturise the scars.
This can be done with the help of different active ingredients that contain NMF’s like amino acids, mineral ions, etc. In specific cases scars can be occluded for a period of time.
Thirdly the excessive collagen production needs to be modulated.
One way to do this is by therapeutical scar treatment which involves mobilisation and massaging the scars. This offers a lot of benefits.
1. It stretches fresh scarring and breaks down the excess collagen, this causes the scar to be more flexible.
2. It improves the blood flow, which increases the circulation in the area and provides more nutrients and promotes healing.
3. Regular massage helps soften and flatten raised scars like hypertrophic scars. Massage can contribute to a flatter, softer and more supple scar.
Cosmetics play a crucial role in the treatment of scars. Often there is a misconception about cosmetics. Some might say they are only useful to cover up scars. However advancements in technology have led to the development of innovative ingredients with scientifically proven effectiveness. These ingredients can enhance skin texture, making cosmetics not only aesthetically beneficial but also functional, with a potential role in scar treatment.
It is extremely important to select the right products to treat scars. The skin is already more fragile and the skin barrier is no longer intact, so a conscious choice has to be made on which ingredients to use.
How does NAQI help with the skin restoration?
Dermo-cosmetic products, like the product range of NAQI®, will actively contribute to the rehabilitation of the skin. Unlike pharmaceuticals, parapharmaceutical products – like the NAQI® products - do not contain medication.
The skin treatment of scars requires a specific approach to;
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activate the skin regeneration process,
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soothe and calm irritated skin
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adjust daily care for optimal healing
NAQI® developed a range of products for scar treatment. A topical scar product, formulated with specifically selected active ingredients, can make a dramatic improvement in the appearance of scars.
NAQI® works on different aspects of scars with its dermo-cosmetic scar product range.
First of all NAQI® wants to activate the skin regeneration process in case of scars and striae, by using oils that contain 80% of EFA’s (Omega-3 and Omega-6). Due to the high content of EFA’s the skin regeneration is stimulated by replenishing the skin with lipids. This helps the formation of a healthy skin barrier.
Linolenic acid (Omega-3) and linoleic acid (Omega-6) improve the cohesion of the cells and naturally protect the skin structure from aggressions. They are structural components in cell walls, membranes and ceramides. Omega-3 and -6 are able to give suppleness to the top layer of the skin (sc).
Secondly NAQI® improves the daily comfort of fragile and sensitive skin. A lot of the ingredients used focus on skin hydration and repair. The products play a vital role in helping to restore the skin layers towards a natural healthy new skin.
A big misconception about hydration of the skin are that ingredients like vaseline are good moisturisers. They are indeed very hydrating in short term, but they are occlusive and weaken the skin barrier if used in the long term. Constantly occluding the skin with products that prevent the skin from breathing have a negative effect on the skin. The occlusive film obstructs the evaporation of water, which means there is a build-up of excessive water under the film and weaken the skin further. On the other hand Vaseline does not contain any active ingredients to restore or strengthen the skin. A better way is to restore the skin barrier with long term solutions.
NAQI® exclusively chooses non-occlusive ingredients that have a scientifically proven moisturizing effect. The ingredients in NAQI® products strengthen the skin barrier, reducing water evaporation from the skin. As a result, this helps to restore the skin and alleviate the dryness and itchiness often associated with scars.
Additionally, NAQI® products contain palmitoleic acid (Omega-7). Omega-7 plays a crucial role as an essential fatty acid, particularly in the treatment of burns. Omega-7 aids in cell tissue formation and wound healing. It is a component of sebum, that is found in hair follicles and glands, but in burned skin, the trauma extends deep into the dermis, affecting these follicles and glands. Therefore, it is essential to replenish the deficiency of Omega-7.
NAQI® also targets scar irritation by incorporating several ingredients with soothing and calming properties. These ingredients are rich in antioxidants that can block stress markers from sensory nerve cells in the skin.
Many of the ingredients in the scar products enhance the appearance of scars and increase their suppleness. This is largely achieved by replenishing lipids (Omega-3 and -6) and moisturizing the scars. The primary function of NAQI® scar products is to improve the structure of the protective barrier.
