Plasma skincare device based on floating electrode dielectric barrier discharge

A portable skincare plasma-device with a rechargeable battery is presented here. The device comprises two pads made of thin polyimide film as the dielectric layer, namely, the dielectric barrier discharge pad(DBD-pad) for skin-touch and a capacitive ground-pad(G-pad) for hand holding. High AC voltage of approximately 1 kV with frequency of 40 kHz is induced in the DBD-pad that contacts the skin, which serves as the floating electrode, while low voltage is induced on the G-pad. Considering the requirement for impedance matching between the DBDpad capacitance and the inverter along with the need for low skin current less than approximately 5 mA for electrical safety, the electrode area of the DBD-pad is minimized to be smaller than that of the G-pad.

Skincare plants of the Naxi of NW Yunnan, China

The Naxi of Northwest Yunnan,China use medicinal plants to treat skin conditions related to traditional lifestyles in extreme environments.However,modernization endangers both the medicinal plants used to treat skin conditions and traditional knowledge.Therefore,investigation and documentation of the medicinal plants used and associated traditional knowledge is necessary.In this study,we conducted an ethnobotanical survey in 12 Naxi communities in Northwest Yunnan.For this purpose,we used semistructured surveys to interview 840 informants from Naxi communities.We used informant consensus factor and use frequency as quantitative indices to evaluate the importance of medicinal plant species.A total of 161 medicinal plant species belonging to 69 families were documented.The highest informant consensus factor(ICF)values were recorded for skin nourishing(ICF?0.849),frostbite and chapped skin(ICF?0.833).These skin treatments are highly related to the environment and lifestyle of Naxi communities.The main active compounds of plants used to treat skin conditions in Naxi communities are known to have skin-treating properties.This study reveals that the skin conditions treated by the Naxi are associated with traditional medicine culture and social economic development.In addition,this study uses ethnobotanical indices to explain how skin condition treatments are linked to the natural environment of Naxi communities.

Research and Development of Skincare Products Based on the Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The application of traditional Chinese medicine in skincare formula development was expounded from the views of“symptom,theory,method,prescription,medicine and effect”.Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions were improved according to the laws and regulations for China’s cosmetic industry and by the modern scientific and technological means,which had important guiding significance for the research and development of plant-based functional skincare products.The problems in concept claim and quality control standard,and the problems of market confusion,which were ascribed to the lack of basic research in the application of Chinese herbal cosmetics,were pointed out.The future development direction of plant-based functional cosmetics guided by TCM theory was prospected.

Thermoregulation,incubator humidity,and skincare practices in appropriate for gestational age ultra-low birth weight infants:need for more evidence

Background Although not universal,active care is being offered to infants weighing<500 g at birth,referred to as ultra-low birth weight(ULBW)infants appropriate for gestational age.These infants have the greatest risk of dying or developing major morbidities.ULBW infants face challenges related to fluid and heat loss as well as skin injury in the initial days of life from extreme anatomical and physiological immaturity of the skin.Although there is an emerging literature on the outcomes of ULBW infants,there is a paucity of evidence to inform practice guidelines for delivering optimal care to this cohort of infants.Data sources A comprehensive review of the literature was performed using the PubMed and Embase databases.Searched keywords included“thermoregulation or body temperature regulation”,“incubator humidity”,“skin care”,“infant,extremely low birth weight”and“ultra-low birth weight infants”.Results Evidences for thermoregulation,incubator humidity,and skincare practices are available for preterm infants weighing<1500 g at birth but not specifically for ULBW infants.Studies on thermoregulation,incubator humidity,or skincare practices had a small sample size and did not include a sub-group analysis for ULBW infants.Current practice recommendations in ULBW infants are adopted from research in very and/or extremely low birth weight infants.Conclusions This narrative review focuses on challenges in thermoregulation,incubator humidity,and skincare practices in ULBW infants,highlights current research gaps and suggests potential developments for informing practices for improving health outcomes in ULBW infants.

Polydeoxyribonucleotide: A promising skin anti-aging agent

Polydeoxyribonucleotide(PDRN) consists of DNA fragments with molecular weights ranging from 50 to 1 500 kDa,which are mainly extracted from the sperm cells of salmon trout or chum salmon. Many preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the properties of PDRN. These include anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antiosteoporotic, anti-melanogenetic, anti-allodynic, anti-osteonecrotic, bone regenerative, tissue damage preventive,anti-ulcerative, and wound healing properties, which are mediated by the activation of the adenosine A2Areceptor and salvage pathways. Moreover, PDRN promotes angiogenesis, cellular activity, collagen synthesis, soft tissue regeneration, and skin priming and revitalization and can be used to treat hyperpigmentation. Therefore, this review assessed the potential use of PDRN as an anti-aging agent for the skin.

Selected Medicinal Herbs and Functional Peptides for Protection against Photoaging of the Skin

Photoaging is an accelerating aging process of the skin due to prolonged exposure to UV from the Sun or other sources. Herbal extracts, natural compounds, and bioactive polypeptides have widely used in cosmetic agents for protection of the skin against photoaging. This mini review briefly summarizes topical use of selected most common medicinal herbs, naturopathic chemicals, and bioactive peptides examined for skin protection.

A High Throughput Screening Platform for Skin Tuning Properties from Natural Products: Identification of Skin Tanning Compounds

Skin lightening and tanning are two major areas dominating the market of skincare and cosmetic products. Though the demands are originated from two different communities, the two areas share a same goal—skin colour tuning. The known safe compounds with skin colour tuning activities are limited. In contrary, Chinese medicinal herb provides a pool of natural bioactive compounds, which have been used in Asian countries for long time and have been tested for its toxicity. Here, we demonstrate a high throughput screening platform for potential compounds usable for skin colour tuning. From 147 natural compounds, 26 of them showed potential in skin tanning functions by using the high throughput melanogenesis platform based on the melanogenesis assay on B16 melanocytes. Five of them promoted melanogenesis by over 50%. Moreover, apart from 1, 8-dihydroxyanthraquinone, the other four compounds showed enhancement effect on tyrosinase activity. From the result, the compounds increased the Vmax of tyrosinase without changing the Km in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, there should be no irreversible structural change of the enzyme. Definitely, this report contributes to the development of personalization in skincare and cosmetic products.

Investigation on the Effect of the Cultivation of Consumers'Scientific and Technological Concept on the Sales of Skin Care Products

The number of skin care products developed scientifically and technologically is increasing in the market now.Whether it is a gimmick or a real desire to make a good product,companies are actively promoting the development and growth of the technological skin care market.The analysis of our market survey indicates that companies and consumers generally show a trend of mutual progress along with the market growth of technological skincare.Companies and consumers alternately play a leading role in different stages of progress.In this survey study,consumers were divided into four types:minimalist consumers,trendy consumers,ingredient-based consumers,and technological consumers.A series of comparative analyses for these four groups showed that consumers have the trend to instinctively develop from minimalist to technological consumer.Along with the increase of skin care knowledges,consumers can more trust and be more willing to buy the technology-based skin care products.For those ones who has no experiences with the technology-based skin care products,after gaining skincare knowledges,they are also willing to try.This is a good signal for companies.While helping with consumers being more knowledgeable in skincare,companies can lead consumers to learn about their researches and products development,which will benefit the market acceptance of the products.Users can also benefit from gaining more relevant knowledges.With these knowledges,consumers can be clearer about their own needs,more rational on skincare purchasing,and they can select the correct skincare.