15. What Triggers Melanin Formation? Genes Hormones U.V. Light Epidermal Cells Melanocyte Signals (MSH) Produce Tyrosinase Cytokine Produce Melanin Transfer to epidermal cells
24. Inhibiting the Activity of MSH UV Rays, Hormones, and Inflammation Melanocyte Keratinocytes Signal Receptor Prevent MSH: Signaling molecules
25.
26.
27. Protect skin from UV rays SPF 30 Protects the skin from harmful sun rays and premature aging (in Pure White Moisturizer, Spot Corrector) Protect
28. (SPF = 10) 300 min (protected skin) 30 min (unprotected skin)* = 10 The Sun Protection Factor, SPF SPF = Time to burn the skin – with sunscreens Time to burn the skin – without sunscreens SPF 15: Protection for 5 - 8 hours *depending on the skin type and the intensity of the sun Protect
Let’s begin by looking at the formation and function of the skin.
The skin is made up of three primary layers. The Subdermis (also called Hypodermis), the Dermis, and the Epidermis which is the top most layer. Other important structures are the hair follicle, the sebaceous glands, and sweat glands and blood vessels. The epidermis itself can be broken down into several layers. Let’s take a closer look at the area I have highlighted here. *
Now let’s look at how skin gets its color.
So what is melanin? As melanin plays a major role in both normal skin coloration and excessive skin discoloration, some background into its formation and structure will be helpful in understanding how the Pure White Essence and other Pure White products work. On its most basic level, melanin is a pigment in the skin that gives the skin its color and also provides for the skin’s natural protection from the sun’s rays. It is produced in the epidermis of the skin through a fairly complicated process.
Melanin formation begins in a cell * called a Melanocyte. Within the Melanocyte are tiny little structures or organelles called * Melanosomes. It is within the Melanosome that * melanin synthesis or formation takes place.
It is the Melanosomes within the epidermal cells that make up the characteristic skin color of Asian, Black and Caucasian skin. Interestingly, each skin type has exactly the same number of melanocytes and produce eumelanin (brown/black melanin) and phaeomelanin (red/yellow melanin). It is the total number, size and pattern of distribution of the melanosomes within the epidermis that gives each skin type its characteristic color. The amount and type of melanin produced within each melanosome can also vary, and is another important factor in overall skin pigmentation.
The melanocytes are found in the basal layer at the interface of the dermis and the epidermis.
Once a melanosome is fully formed within the melanocyte, it is transferred to one of the surrounding epidermal cells. There it stays and slowly migrates with the epidermal cells into upper layers of the epidermis and ultimately into the stratum corneum until it is sloughed off. It is the melanosomes within the epidermal cells that makeup the characteristic skin color of Asian, Black and Caucasian skin.
Melanosomes are transferred to one of the surrounding epidermal cells. These cells then slowly migrate through the upper layers of the epidermis and ultimately into the stratum cornuem where they are sloughed off. This slide shows how the melanosomes migrate to the surface while additional ones are released.
Melanosome size varies between races The amount of melanin within the melanosome also varies between races.
Now, let’s look at the synthesis of Melanin.
There are many things that can trigger melanin formation like: Genes Hormones Ultraviolet Radiation (UV light) These conditions trigger the Melanocytes to produce Eumelanin (the black/brown melanin) which causes a darkening of the skin or Phaeomelanin (the yellow/red melanin), the light melanin.
The three major factors that play a role in the production of Melanosomes in “normal” skin are: Genes, Hormones, and UV Light or sun exposure. These factors stimulate responses in the epidermal cells that lead to Melanocyte replication, Mleanosome Synthesis, and Tyrosinase Synthesis which in turn leads to melanosome transfer to epidermal cells. It is a complicated process and can be triggered by many different pathways.
Let’s turn our attention to Skin Discoloration
What causes the unevenness or mottled skin appearance? Poor skin health Irritation Inflammation - this includes Post Inflammatory Skin Discoloration. Post Inflammatory Skin Discoloration can be caused by irritation or injury, but is most commonly seen with acne breakouts. Hormones By far… the major cause of Skin Discoloration is UV radiation from exposure to the Sun.
As we age... the normal and controlled melanin production process begins to breakdown and not work properly. The number of melanocytes gradually declines. However this decline, though inevitable, is not always homogeneous. So, on areas which are largely exposed to light radiation (UVA and UVB), the highly stimulated melanocytes tend to group in heaps and cause dark spots and blotches to appear – Skin Discoloration. Skin Discoloration can be characterized in several different ways. But in general it simply means * Uneven skin color But it also refers to well defined * Dark spots and blotches such as freckles and can even mean * Poor skin clarity and * Uneven skin tone
Irritation can trigger a very complicated process know as inflammation. A “side effect” of the inflammation process is that melanocyte activity is stimulated. This leads to a condition know as Post Inflammatory Skin Discoloration (Discoloration that results from an inflammation response) Inflammatory mediators - Prostaglandins & Histamine
1) Irritation causes the living cells to release a variety of chemical signals 2) The body responds with increased blood flow and “agents” that fight the irritating substances. This is the inflammation response. 3) As the skin heals some of the chemical messengers are misinterpreted by the melanocytes as a command to produce and release melanin. 4) A localized spot of darker color is formed or Post Inflammatory Skin Discoloration
Present in Sunlight Causes Sun Burn (inflammation) Penetrates into Epidermis Blocked by glass 1000 times more potent then UVA Filtered by the Ozone Layer SPF Rating Key point: SPF only refers UVB
1) UV Radiation from the sun is received by cells within the epidermis 2) This causes those cells to release MSH (Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone) which in turn stimulates the release of melanin. This is the normal process. 3) However, over the years the melanocytes are also receiving UV radiation. Damage begins to add up until eventually the normal control mechanisms of the melanocyte don’t work properly. 4) Too many melanocytes get formed. Too many melanosomes are released. 5) A localized pocket of concentrated melanosomes forms resulting in a spot of skin discoloration.
What causes the unevenness or mottled skin appearance? Poor skin health Irritation Inflammation - this includes PIH or Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation. PIH can be caused by irritation or injury, but is most commonly seen with acne breakouts. Hormones By far … the major cause of hyperpigmentation is UV radiation from exposure to the Sun.
What causes the unevenness or mottled skin appearance? Poor skin health Irritation Inflammation - this includes PIH or Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation. PIH can be caused by irritation or injury, but is most commonly seen with acne breakouts. Hormones By far … the major cause of hyperpigmentation is UV radiation from exposure to the Sun.
What causes the unevenness or mottled skin appearance? Poor skin health Irritation Inflammation - this includes PIH or Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation. PIH can be caused by irritation or injury, but is most commonly seen with acne breakouts. Hormones By far … the major cause of hyperpigmentation is UV radiation from exposure to the Sun.
What causes the unevenness or mottled skin appearance? Poor skin health Irritation Inflammation - this includes PIH or Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation. PIH can be caused by irritation or injury, but is most commonly seen with acne breakouts. Hormones By far … the major cause of hyperpigmentation is UV radiation from exposure to the Sun.
What causes the unevenness or mottled skin appearance? Poor skin health Irritation Inflammation - this includes PIH or Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation. PIH can be caused by irritation or injury, but is most commonly seen with acne breakouts. Hormones By far … the major cause of hyperpigmentation is UV radiation from exposure to the Sun.
What causes the unevenness or mottled skin appearance? Poor skin health Irritation Inflammation - this includes PIH or Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation. PIH can be caused by irritation or injury, but is most commonly seen with acne breakouts. Hormones By far … the major cause of hyperpigmentation is UV radiation from exposure to the Sun.
Let’s look at some of the benefits of using the Pure White System. The chart shows color uniformity which is a clinical assessment of light patchy discolored skin on the face. The discolored skin is often represented by brown spots. Age, the sun, and/or inflammatory responses can cause the spots.
This parameter represents a visual assessment of skin clarity or brightness from a dull, matte appearance to a bright, translucent appearance with a healthy glow.
This chart shows the reduction in appearance of fine lines in the eye area. A fine line is a line that will disappear if you stretch it between your fingers.
This shows the percent improvement in skin moisture when compared to baseline or the starting point.
This chart shows the main function of the the system - Reduction in Skin Discoloration. As you can see, we have some very good results.
