7/30/2019 Eucerin - Nobel Prize revolutionises skin care - Cells water channels specifically stimulated

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Nobel Prize revolutionises skin care:Cells water channels specifically stimulatedThe American biochemist, Prof. Peter Agre, was awarded theNobel Prize in Chemistry in 2003 for a groundbreaking discovery:He discovered that proteins form channels in the cell membraneto facilitate the transport of water as well as other molecules. Oneof these so-called aquaporins, aquaporin-3 (AQP-3), is specificallystimulated by a highly effective skin moisturiser from Beiersdorf:The scientists at Beiersdorf demonstrated that the innovative

active ingredient, gluco-glycerol, is able to increase the formationof aquaporin channels, thereby improving water distributionwithin the epidermis. This property enables the skins moisturelevels to be significantly increased*, as Dr. Annika Schrader, adermatology researcher at Beiersdorf, Hamburg, explained.

Up to three billion water molecules per second. To date,13 aquaporins have been discovered in mammals. In sometissues they are capable of conducting water molecules at theastoundingly high rate of up to three billion molecules per secondper channel.

Significant reduction in transepidermal water loss. One typeof aquaporin is the AQP-3 which can also conduct glycerol as wellas water. In order to increase AQP-3 production, researchers atBeiersdorf use the innovative active ingredient, gluco-glycerol. Dr.Schrader: In-vivo measurements showed a significant reduction intransepidermal water loss after using topical formulations containinggluco-glycerol. These positive effects were confirmed in clinicalstudies in which a clear improvement was established on patientswith dry, dehydrated skin. In a placebo-controlled study comprising23 test subjects, great improvements were seen in the most frequentlyreported parameters of dry skin, scaling and erythema. In furtherclinical studies, patients treated with a gluco-glycerol formulation

showed a significantly greater improvement rate in dryness anderythema compared with patients treated with a formulation that didnot contain this active ingredient (85.7% vs. 60% and 71.4% vs. 56.3%respectively). Skin compatibility was rated by more than 85% of thepatients treated as either very good or good.

Long-term strengthening of the skins barrier function.

The overall assessment made by Dr. Schrader was accordinglypositive: We have found evidence to suggest that targetedstimulation on aquaporin-3 channels plays a key role in treatingskin phenomena such as dry skin. The active ingredient, gluco-glycerol, used in the formulation clearly leads to an increasedsupply of moisture to the skin which strengthens its barrier

function in the long term and can also make it more resilient toenvironmental influences. AQUAporin ACTIVE moisturiser fromBeiersdorf has been available in pharmacies since March 2010.7

* Schrader, A., Hiddemann, S., Scherdin, U., Conzelmann, S., Siefken, W., Blatt, T.: AQP-3: a key target to influence human skin moisturisation. Poster, EADV Congress 2010

Why are aquaporins so important?

In osmosis, water flows through a fine-

pore membrane which other substancesare unable to flow. This principle has beenknown since 1877. The reason for thisphenomenon was discovered well over100 years later by Peter Agre: He isolateda previously unknown membrane protein the aquaporin from a red blood cell. Thisprotein subsequently turned out to be akey molecule for transporting water withinthe cells.

Since then 13 aquaporins have been identified.

What is so special about AQP-3? AQP-3 is the most

abundant aquaporin in the human epidermis. It belongs tothe aquaglyceroporins which also conduct small organicmolecules such as glycerol and urea in addition to water.And with AQP-3 it is also true that the more of these waterchannels a cell membrane has, the more moisture can bedistributed. In order to boost the production of AQP-3, wetested numerous bioactive substances until the ideal activeingredient was found in the shape of gluco-glycerol.

What connections with nature do you see in your

research work? Osmosis is the process that enables awilted plant to stand proud again. We have tried to achieve

similar results on the human skin by increasing the watertransport in the cells of the epidermis. In this way we canincrease the moisture content of the skin and, in turn,counter the formation of dry skin.7

Aquaporin a key molecule

for water transport

Dr. Annika Schrader,dermatology researcherat Beiersdorf AG

Aquaporins aremicroscopic waterchannels locatedin cell membranesthat control thewater transfer intoand out of the cells.

Find further information and pictures on our website: www.eucerin.com/info-center/newsroom

CONGRESS REPORT EADV 2010

7/30/2019 Eucerin - Nobel Prize revolutionises skin care - Cells water channels specifically stimulated

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Combination of urea and hyaluronicacid effectively counteracts wrinklesSustained increase in the skins moisture levels

Around half of all women aged over 50 suffer from dry skin. Inaddition to ageing processes, dry skin is an important factorin the formation of wrinkles, especially in conjunction withdiseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. A combinationof the active ingredients, urea and hyaluronic acid, in a topical

formulation counteracts the formation of wrinkles and has beenproven to improve the condition of the skin, explained Dr.Andrea Schlermann from the Department of Medical Affairs atBeiersdorf AG at the European Dermatology Congress (EADV) inGothenburg. Both substances play a key role in supplying moistureto the skin and maintaining its moisture-retaining capacity.

Studies confirm the effect on dry and diseased skin. Theapplication of the cream led to a reduction in wrinkles andcrows feet of up to 24% in a six week clinical study comprising 42women aged between 46 and 61 (average age 53.8 years) sufferingfrom dry to very dry skin 1. According to a further study there was

an improvement in skin condition in 96.9% of the patients2

. 32subjects aged between 36 and 73 (average age 50.7 years) who

suffered from psoriasis or atopic dermatitisas well as from dry skin were included in thisstudy. Dryness and scaliness improved aftertwo weeks topical application of the cream.Feelings of tightness in the skin, itching and

redness were also reduced.

Consumer study: Women reported

reduced wrinkle formation. Beiersdorfhas used this new combination of activeingredients, Hyal-Urea, in a new product linefor day, night and eye care for very dry skin and wrinkles. Apartfrom the known clinical studies, the effectiveness of the activeingredient combination was also confirmed in a four-weekconsumer study on 128 women suffering from dry or very dryskin: 92% of the subjects reported that their skin was intensivelymoisturised with a reduction in the feeling of skin tightness. 80%

reported significantly firmer skin, with 74% reporting a reductionin the number of wrinkles formed.7

List of references: 1 Beiersdorf AG, Data on file (2010), 2 Beiersdorf AG, Data on file (2010)

Beiersdorf AG, HamburgUnnastrae 48D-20245 Hamburg, GermanyFon +49(0)40-4909-0www.beiersdorf.comwww.eucerin.com

Dr. Andrea Schlermann,Department of MedicalAffairs at Beiersdorf AG

The HyalUrea Anti-Wrinkle Face Care

3HyalUrea Anti-Wrinkle Day Creme

3HyalUrea Anti-Wrinkle Eye Creme

3HyalUrea Anti-Wrinkle Night Creme

The AQUAporin ACTIVE-Product Family

3AQUAporin ACTIVE Light:

for normal to combination skin

3AQUAporin ACTIVE Rich:

for dry and sensitive skin

3AQUAporin ACTIVE SPF 15 + UVA:

for normal skin types

3AQUAporin ACTIVE Eye Cream:

for the delicate area around the eyes

Find further information and pictures on our website: www.eucerin.com/info-center/newsroom

CONGRESS REPORT EADV 2010