January 2022 • Vol. 28 • Issue 1
Thank Heavens for Biodesigned Human Collagen!
U
Beatriz Blanco
ntil not long ago, it was practically impossible to find skin care products specifically designed for women over forty-five years of age. When women turned forty-five, they seemed to disappear, becoming invisible to the manufacturers and marketers of personal care products. Fortunately, the cosmetics industry is now realizing that mature skin has its own unique needs, and that women over forty-five are a wealthy market segment worth investing technology and marketing resources towards. Yes, it is a segment, not a niche! In the U.S., 50% of female adults are over age fifty. In the last two years, large established companies and new indie brands alike have been taking notice of this key consumer demographic, launching products which specifically address the skin care needs of perimenopausal and menopausal women. According to the Mayo Clinic, women officially enter menopause one year after their last menstrual cycle1. Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing estrogen, and no longer release an egg each month. The decrease of estrogen levels during perimenopause, which typically starts in the forties and can last up to seven to ten years, results in reduced levels of collagen (types I and III) in the dermis of the skin and scalp. Studies show that women’s skin loses about 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause. After that, the decline is more gradual. Women lose about 2% of their collagen every year for the next twenty years. As collagen diminishes, the skin loses its firmness and begins to sag. Skin pores also enlarge due to lack of skin firmness. These enlarged pores can lead to adult acne. The pH level of the skin also changes with menopause, making the skin more sensitive and susceptible to rashes and easily irritated. For those with existing skin conditions, such as eczema or rosacea, these could worsen as a result. There is hope. In vitro and clinical studies have demonstrated that the use of skin care products containing bioavailable, bioidentical human collagen results in increased collagen in the dermis and provides significant benefits to skin elasticity, wrinkle reduction, and reduction of skin redness.
Clinical Study Results
Fourteen Caucasian subjects with Fitzpatrick skin type III and an average age of 58 were treated with a serum containing 0.1% (w/w) sh-Polypeptide-121, which is a bioavailable, bioidentical human collagen. The serum was applied to clean skin twice per day for 8 weeks. (continued on Page 9)
A C E L E B R AT I O N O F C O L O R • J A N U A RY 1 9 t h ...see pages 4-8 for more information.