Household and Personal Products Industry

The current research, published by several scientists and dermatologists, clearly reveals that IR radiation significantly damages the skin. In addition to the obvious heat effect of IR radiation, recent research has documented the formation of free radicals on the skin when exposed to IR rays.

Maxim Darvin and his associates in Germany have used Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy to determine that IR irradiation gives rise to the production of free radicals in the skin. They also report that IR will reduce the antioxidative potential of the skin. It is likely that enzymatic processes in the skin are induced by increased temperature of the skin. 8 Lademann and his associates utilized Raman Spectroscopy to detect free radicals on the skin that were induced by IR radiation. 9

Free radicals are the main cause of premature skin aging. They also contribute to immunosuppression, skin disease and, ultimately, skin cancer. The human organism has developed a protection system against the destructive action of free radicals by means of the antioxidant network. Craig Elmets and his associates at the University of Alabama report “recent studies suggest an important role for IRA radiation in dermal inflammation, photoaging and photocarcinogens.”1 Christian Calles from the IUF Institute in Düsseldorf in Germany has identified and analyzed the IRA-induced transcriptome in human

fibroblasts.2 Korean scientists7 have also reported that IR and heat exposure can induce cutaneous angiogenesis (forms new blood vessels), cause inflammatory cellular infiltration, disrupt dermal extracellular matrix (induces matrix metalloproteases) and alter dermal structural proteins which causes premature aging of the skin.

The current prevailing evidence paves the way for new research possibilities in IRA photobiology and raises important questions regarding appropriate protection from the sun. Since ultraviolet protection with UV-absorbing molecules and light scattering particles has been a mainstay of protecting individuals from the ravaging rays of the sun, it seems that including filters and antioxidants to combat the IR-induced free radical generation on the skin is highly recommended. Formulation design will need to incorporate the new findings. A call to innovation has been issued. Stay tuned for the May issue!

The Latest Word from FDA Finally, I asked Dr. Reynold Tan if the rumors that the FDA may be planning to delay the deadline that they gave manufacturers for implementation of its 2011 Final Rule for Labeling and Testing of Sunscreens? I received the following answer,“ I can only say that we have received a request to delay the effective date of the 2011 Sunscreen Final Rule. The request was submitted to the public docket jointly

by the Personal Care Products Council & the Consumer Healthcare Products Association. We are considering their arguments for delaying the effective date.”•

References:

1. Holzer, A., Athar, M. and Elmets,C., “The other end of the rainbow: Infrared and skin”, J. Invest. Dermatol. (2010), 130: 1496-98.

2. Calles,C., et al., “Infrared A radiation influences the skin fibroblast transcriptome: Mechanism and consequences”, J. Invest. Dermatol. (2010), 130: 1424-36

3. Haywood, R., et al.,”Sunscreens inadequately protect against UVA induced free radicals in skin”, J. Invest. Dermatol. (2003),121: 862-868

4. Shaath, N., “Sunscreens: Regulations and commercial development”, Third Edition, Taylor and Francis, New York (2005).

5. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/infrared

6. Cho, S. et al., “Effects of Infrared radiation and heat on human skin aging in vivo”, J. Invest. Dermatol. Symposium Proceedings (2009), 14: 15-19.