A completely new type of collagen developed by researchers could give cosmetics the “highest biocompatibility” with human skin, possibly leading to less dryness and slower ageing.
The dream of eternal youth is as old as mankind. There actually is no remedy for the ageing process; that is proved with a simple look in the mirror. Skin ageing is the most visible sign of progressing ageing.
Now scientific findings seem to explain why human skin changes so noticeably. Skin ageing starts as early as in the 20s or 30s, although initially it is hardly visible. Elasticity and resilience decrease and first small wrinkles develop.
The causes are environmental factors and, above all, the composition of the dermis (corium). It consists of the cells of the connective tissue and the fibers of the connective tissue, collagen and elastin. Collagen gives skin its stability.
With increasing age, the general cell division rate and also the synthesis of new collagen decrease, reducing the stability of the connective tissue on the whole. In addition, the subcutaneous fatty tissue becomes thinner, thereby lowering skin‘s fat and water content. As a result, skin becomes dry, wrinkled, and crease.
Many cosmetic products use collagen to slow down skin‘s natural ageing process. Type 1 collagen is of key importance because it is the quantitatively predominant collagen in mammals.
Type 1 collagen for the use in medicine and cosmetics can be derived from animal raw materials, for example, skin, connective tissue or bones of pigs, cows, or fishes. The advantages of animal products are high biocompatibility and low costs.
However, animal collagen increasingly is in the focus of criticism because of reasons of animal protection. Another aspect is the consumers‘ concern about health risks with regard to animal epidemics, for example BSE or swine fever. The synthetic production of collagen is a relatively young discipline, correspondingly laborious and expensive.
With NeoSilk, Polytrade Global has developed an alternative featuring “excellent biocompatibility, high grade of purity, and constantly stable quality”, according to the company.
“The process of producing type 1 collagen from silk threads was developed by Japanese scientists,“ Eduard Albert, CEO of Polytrade Global explains. “Being the exclusive distributor of NeoSilk, we are able to offer to our customers of the cosmetics industry an alternative to the usual ingredients which is apt for versatile uses in cosmetics and is supported by well-proved stability and compatibility.”
The collagen production from silk cocoons offers cosmetics manufacturers an active ingredient free of pollutants and, thanks to its water-soluble properties, obtained without the use of chemicals.
The amino acid sequence of NeoSilk mimics the α1 chain of human collagen thereby granting highest biocompatibility and minimizing allergic reactions almost completely. An initial manufacturer study revealed no allergic reactions with the application of NeoSilk.
However, some participants reacted to fish collagen which is used by many cosmetics manufacturers.
NeoSilk as an ingredient in several formulations already has proved its suitability and qualification and has succeeded in convincing international cosmetics manufacturers with its manageability and effectiveness.
Compared to other active ingredients, NeoSilk stood out especially because of its high grade of purity and the resulting low dosage needed, which makes NeoSilk an attractive alternative for cosmetics manufacturers also from the economic point of view.
“Within the context of an independent compatibility study in the laboratories of Cosmacon in Hamburg, we could prove the stability and the easy integration of NeoSilk in several cosmetic products beyond all doubt.“
Eduard Albrecht continues his statement on the comparative study in 2019: “Moreover, NeoSilk distinguishes itself by the fact that it does not cause any changes of color or unpleasant smell in the finished product. Therefore NeoSilk is recommendable for varied formulations in all imaginable fields of modern cosmetics.”