Curexema

Ceramides play a crucial role in maintaining the skin's barrier function and overall health at the physiological level. Their mode of action involves several vital mechanisms:

• Structural Role in Skin Barrier: The skin barrier, primarily located in the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin), consists of corneocytes (dead skin cells) embedded in a lipid matrix. This matrix comprises ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids in a specific ratio. Ceramides are the largest component and are essential for the barrier's structural integrity, functioning like the 'mortar' that holds the 'bricks' (corneocytes) together. By maintaining this structure, ceramides prevent excessive water loss and protect against the entry of harmful substances.
• Hydration and Water Retention: Ceramides help the skin retain moisture by forming a protective layer that limits water evaporation. This is crucial for keeping the skin hydrated, plump, and resilient.
• Regeneration and Repair: Ceramides can support the skin's natural repair processes, particularly after damage caused by environmental factors like UV radiation, pollution, and irritants. They help restore the barrier function, promoting healing and reducing the risk of skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema.
• Anti-inflammatory Properties: Some studies suggest that ceramides may possess anti-inflammatory properties. These properties help soothe irritated skin and reduce inflammation, beneficial in conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
• Signaling Molecules: Beyond their structural role, ceramides also function as signaling molecules that can influence cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis (programmed cell death). This is significant for skin homeostasis and maintaining a healthy skin barrier.

DuraQuench IQ SA functions by forming an intelligent lipid bilayer on the skin's surface to regulate water loss and interacting with the lipid bilayers within the stratum corneum to reinforce the skin's natural barrier.

This dual-action mechanism helps retain moisture and enhance the skin's protective barrier, leading to prolonged skin hydration, reduced water loss under varying environmental conditions, and improved skin condition even after wash-off applications.

The intelligent lipid bilayer formed by DuraQuench IQ SA is achieved through a combination of specific ingredients that work synergistically.

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate: Contributes to the formation of lipid bilayers on the skin's surface.

Isostearyl Isostearate: Reinforces the skin's natural barrier.

Stearic Acid and Cetyl Stearate: Replenish long-chain fatty acids and esters typically depleted in dry skin.

Cetyl Alcohol: Assists in forming liquid crystals, enhancing the moisturizing effect and the stability of the lipid bilayer structure.

Main Benefits of Emollients

• Hydration: Emollients fill in the gaps between skin cells that are missing moisture, effectively hydrating the skin. Replenishing lost water content helps to maintain the skin's natural moisture balance, making the skin feel softer and smoother.
• Barrier Protection: They form a protective layer over the skin surface, which helps to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL), a common issue in dry and eczema-prone skin. This protective layer shields the skin from environmental irritants and allergens, reducing the risk of flare-ups and infections.
• Skin Repair: Emollients help to repair the skin barrier function, which is often compromised in conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. By restoring the integrity of the skin barrier, emollients can improve the skin's resilience against irritants and reduce symptoms of itchiness and inflammation.
• Flexibility and Elasticity: By keeping the skin moist, emollients increase its flexibility and elasticity, which can help to prevent cracks and fissures in dry or thickened skin areas. This is particularly beneficial in preventing the skin from becoming brittle and breaking, especially in areas prone to eczema or psoriasis.
• Soothing Effect: Emollients have a soothing effect on the skin, relieving itching and discomfort associated with dryness and skin conditions. This can help to reduce scratching, which in turn prevents further skin damage and potential infections.
• Enhanced Skin Appearance: Regular use of emollients can improve the appearance of the skin, making it look healthier and more vibrant. They can help to diminish the appearance of dry or flaky skin, providing a smoother and more even skin texture.

Emollients are beneficial for maintaining and restoring skin health, offering hydration, protection, and relief from various skin conditions. Their regular application is key in managing dry skin, enhancing skin barrier function, and improving overall skin appearance and comfort.

Occlusives form a protective layer on the skin's surface. This layer is a barrier, preventing water loss and shielding the skin from external irritants.

Main benefits of Occlusives

• Prevention of Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL): Occlusives create a physical barrier on the skin that prevents moisture from evaporating into the air. This is especially beneficial in dry environments where the skin is prone to losing moisture quickly.
• Enhanced Skin Hydration: Occluives help prevent water loss and maintain and enhance the skin's hydration levels. This can lead to improved skin texture, making it feel smoother and softer.
• Protection from Environmental Irritants: The barrier formed by occlusives can protect the skin from various environmental factors, such as wind, cold temperatures, and pollutants, which can strip the skin of its natural oils and lead to dryness and irritation.
• Improved Skin Barrier Function: Regular use of occlusives can help to repair and strengthen the skin's natural barrier function. A healthy skin barrier is crucial for preventing the entry of pathogens and reducing the risk of skin infections and irritations.
• Soothing Dry, Cracked Skin: Occlusives are particularly beneficial for dry, cracked, or chapped skin. They lock in moisture and provide a protective layer to promote healing and reduce discomfort.
• Sealing in Other Moisturizing Ingredients: Occlusives are often used with other moisturizing agents, such as humectants and emollients. By sealing in these ingredients, occlusives enhance their effectiveness, ensuring that the skin remains hydrated for longer periods.

Humectants has the unique ability to attract and retain moisture from the environment.

Main benefits of Humectants:

1. Hydration: Humectants draw water molecules into the skin's outer layer from deeper levels of the skin and, in humid environments, from the air. This hydration helps to improve skin's moisture levels, making it look and feel plump, hydrated, and supple.
2. Enhanced Skin Barrier: By promoting hydration, humectants contribute to a healthier skin barrier function. A well-hydrated skin barrier is more effective at protecting against environmental aggressors and less prone to irritation.
3. Reduction of Fine Lines and Wrinkles: The hydration provided by humectants can temporarily minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by plumping up the skin, leading to a smoother, more youthful complexion.
4. Improved Skin Texture: Humectants can help to smooth the skin's surface, leading to a softer feel and a more even appearance. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with dry or flaky skin.
5. Promotion of Skin Cell Turnover: By maintaining optimal hydration levels, humectants can support the natural process of skin exfoliation and cell turnover, leading to healthier, more radiant skin.
6. Versatility: Humectants are suitable for a wide range of skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin, as they provide moisture without adding oiliness to the skin. This makes them an essential component in various skincare products tailored to different skin needs.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) offer a multifaceted approach to improving skin health in patients with eczema and dry skin conditions. 

BIOCHEMICAL BRILLIANCE

Essential fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, are the building blocks of the skin's lipid barrier. This barrier is a protective shield, preventing excessive moisture loss and shielding the skin from external aggressors. EFAs play a pivotal role in maintaining this barrier's integrity by contributing to the synthesis of ceramides and lipids that bind skin cells together.

PHARMACOLOGICAL ADVANTAGES

EFAs are not only instrumental in maintaining the skin's structural integrity but also possess anti-inflammatory properties. They serve as precursors for pro-resolving lipid mediators like resolvins and protectins, which help reduce skin inflammation, itching, and redness—common symptoms of eczema.

PHYSIOLOGICAL HARMONY

EFAs contribute to maintaining the balance of skin hydration. They enhance the skin's ability to retain water, leaving it supple and hydrated. Moreover, EFAs can modulate the skin's immune response, reducing the severity of allergic reactions and flare-ups often seen in dermatological conditions like eczema.

D-Panthenol stimulates the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts and can accelerate cell turnover.

WOUND HEALING

• D-Panthenol is used in medical wound-healing formulations to help treat skin injuries, burns, and sunburn.
• It's also beneficial after medical and cosmetic surgeries for its wound-healing properties.
• It treats superficial and deep wounds by increasing cell turnover and fibroblast proliferation.

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REPAIR SKIN BARRIER FUNCTION

• D-Panthenol promotes skin barrier repair by enhancing lipid synthesis and epidermal differentiation. This helps hydrate the outermost layer of the skin and locks in moisture.
• D-Panthenol increases the mobility of proteins and lipids in dehydrated skin, improving its elasticity and hydration.

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ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

• Panthenol’s moisturizing properties also contribute to its anti-inflammatory nature.
• Keeping the skin moisturized can help prevent it from becoming sensitive and easily irritated. As such, panthenol can help improve the roughness, dryness, itching, redness, and scaling associated with conditions such as eczema, contact dermatitis, and psoriasis.
• Studies indicate that D-Panthenol may alleviate facial redness from winter xerosis in people with sensitive skin.

KEY BENEFITS

Medilan imitates many functions of human skin lipids, which is nearly twice as effective as the physiological lipids in human skin.

Medilan™ has clinically proven safety and efficacy. It is designed to treat skin barrier impairment and severely compromised skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. Its exceptional purity surpasses monograph compliance and performs excellently in clinical trials.

In clinical trials, Medilan maintains skin hydration for up to 2 days after application and increases the rate of epidermal healing by 35% due to its ability to create a moist wound-healing environment. 

Medilan™ is hypoallergenic and delivers outstanding efficacy in dermatological applications. Studies have shown no allergic or irritant skin reactions to Medilan, even in severely compromised skin.

Lanolin's efficacy as a medical material and acceptance in the Pharmaceutical Industry is reflected in all major Pharmacopeia containing monographs on lanolin.

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REPLENISHING ESSENTIAL LIPIDS

Medilan™ supplements the skin with the lipids essential to skin health.

Due to its chemical and physical similarity, it imitates and augments many of the skin's natural lipids.

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REPAIRING THE SKIN’S NATURAL BARRIER

Medilan™ effectively accelerates the repair of the skin’s natural barrier function.

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PROTECTING AGAINST MICROBIAL INFECTION

Medilan is proven to control a variety of microorganisms.

• Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacteria responsible for the infection that leads to inflammatory symptoms in eczema sufferers. Medilan has been proven to reduce colonies of this bacteria by 99% after 24 hours.
• Candidiasis is an overgrowth of yeast that leads to unpleasant symptoms, such as itching and soreness around the skin's mucous membranes. Medilan has been proven to reduce the levels of Candida albicans to a level that controls candidiasis symptoms.
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative bacteria that can attack wound sites and lead to infection. Wound infection is common in immunocompromised individuals. Medilan has shown potent antibacterial effects against this organism.

• Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring biopolymer possessing numerous functions within the body, including wound repair, cell migration, and cell signalling. 
• With age, hyaluronic acid in the skin decreases sharply, resulting in a loss of hydration, volume and plumpness. Lines and wrinkles also appear, leaving skin looking dull and lacklustre. 
• Hyaluronic acid comes in various molecular sizes. Larger molecules stay on the surface and give the skin a ‘dewy’ look, while smaller molecules penetrate deeper into the skin to deliver their hydration and plumping benefits.
• The cellular and physiological effects of Hyaluronic acid directly depend on the molecular weight of HA present. Therefore, the selection of HA weight is of critical importance. 
• The cellular and physiological effects of Hyaluronic acid directly depend on the molecular weight of HA present. Therefore, the selection of HA weight is of critical importance. 
• High molecular weight: Doesn't penetrate the epidermis.
  Very low molecular weight: Penetrate the skin efficiently but can induce a pro-inflammatory response.
  Low molecular weight HA [50 kDa]: Penetrates into the skin well and does not cause inflammation.

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HYDRATION

• Hyaluronic acid can bind water up to 1000 times its volume and contributes to cellular growth, adhesion, and membrane receptor function. 
• Hyaluronic acid reinforces the intercellular structures and produces the elastoviscous fluid matrix that firmly envelops collagen and elastin fibres. 
• Hyaluronic acid holds moisture and provides firmness and radiance to the skin.

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ANTI-AGING

• Hyaluronic acid increases pro-collagen I synthesis and reduce skin roughness.
• Hyaluronic acid has an important role in skin aging. Cells lose their ability to produce Hyaluronic acid with aging. The skin becomes drier, thinner, and looser, leading to wrinkling, among other significant changes. 
• Skin aging is also associated with a decrease of skin moisture. Hyaluronic acid has a unique capacity to link and retain water molecules. Hyaluronic acid is a natural component that is present in the whole body. It is naturally and constantly renewed because of its rapid degradation, but its renewal tends to slow with age and external aggressions. Therefore it is necessary to act very early, sustaining an optimal hyaluronic acid turnover, similar to that of young skin, in order to prevent the signs of aging.
• In relation to its biological effects at the skin level, it is known that hyaluronic acid is actively involved in skin cell signalling (by binding the CD44 and LYVE-1 receptors) and thus influences the extracellular matrix (ECM) stability.
• Hyaluronic acid has an impact on the growth of keratinocytes (skin cells) which protect the epidermis from aging and promotes elasticity. 

INHIBIT HYPERPIGMENTATION

• Prevents DNA damage through antioxidant activity.
• Prevent melanosome transfer from melanocytes to surrounding skin cells.

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TREATING ROSACEA, ACNE AND OTHER INFLAMMATORY SKIN CONDITIONS

• Reduce the inflammatory response by inhibiting inflammatory messengers.
• Provides long-lasting protection against bacteria through activation of anti-microbial peptides
• Reduce sebum (oil) production, thus preventing bacterial growth and inflammation.

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TREATING AND PREVENTING PREMATURE SKIN AGING

• Stimulate collagen synthesis and significantly increase skin elasticity.
• Prevents the breakdown of collagen and elastin through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
• Prevents DNA damage through antioxidant activity.
• Increases production of ceramides and other stratum corneum lipids to improve skin barrier function.
• Niacinamide boosts cellular energy and may enhance energy-dependent cellular processes such as DNA repair.