The sea is full of undiscovered secrets. This salty environment created ideal conditions for the growth of microalgae, which had to develop a defense against dehydration. Microalgae, better known as phytoplankton, are a perfect example of a defensive reaction from salty sea water with newly discovered benefits for combination and oily skin.

One of the main drivers of most problems with oily and mixed skin is low-quality and thick sebum that disrupts the natural balance of the skin. In addition, it clogs the pores in which open and closed comedones develop as a result. The sequence of such symptoms on the skin disrupts its very structure, that is, the structural proteins of the skin barrier. The skin then cannot perform its protective function normally and is in a closed cycle of healing and the creation of new inflammations, because these inflammations are often treated with aggressive and drying ingredients.

In order to find a gentle but effective solution, we turned to a preventive method. The preventive method is a new approach in the care of oily and reactive skin prone to irregularities, with which we try to prevent problems before they arise. That's why we want to introduce you to phytoplankton, which acts directly on the very source of excessive sebum production, that is, on sebocytes.

WHAT ARE SELFISH?

Sebocytes are cells in our skin, responsible for lipogenesis - the process of creating sebum. Sebum, which is produced by sebocytes on normal skin, is light and airy, protecting the skin barrier, but in oily skin, it is very thick and can therefore lead to disruption of the skin barrier.

WHY IS THICK SEBUM FORMED?

In the process of sebum formation (lipogenesis), we are interested in the COX-2 enzyme. If it is excessively active, it starts to stimulate the formation of unwanted lipids that stimulate inflammatory processes. The thick sebum that is then created is full of such lipids that can cause an imbalance on the entire facial skin. All these are ideal conditions that lead to disruption of the skin barrier and the formation of comedones.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR THICK SEBUM?

Phytoplankton has a targeted effect on sebocytes, reducing the process of creating thick sebum in the sebocytes themselves. With this method, phytoplankton acts preventively by reducing the possibility of the formation of lipids that promote inflammation, and therefore has an anti-inflammatory effect.

WHAT ACTUALLY IS PHYTOPLANKTON?

Phytoplankton is a green microalgae (Tetraselmis Suecica) which, at very low concentrations (up to 2.5%), extremely effectively reduces the secretion of sebum and promotes the strengthening of the skin structure and thus the barrier.

HOW DOES PHYTOPLANKTON WORK?

Phytoplankton has a dual effect on the skin. It affects the reduction of the production of thick sebum and stimulates the production of structural proteins that are essential for a strong and healthy skin barrier.

By reducing the activity of the COX-2 enzyme, phytoplankton preventively solves the problems of oily skin at its source by reducing the formation of unwanted lipids in sebocytes and thick sebum. This is when transparent sebum is created, which supports skin processes and protects it from drying out (1).

Phytoplankton also supports the skin barrier by stimulating the synthesis of the structural protein filaggrin, which is important for a strong skin barrier, thus helping to maintain a healthy skin barrier (2) which is necessary to prevent dehydration and balance oily skin.

Literature

1. Cardoso, C., etal. "Lipid composition and some bioactivities of 3 newly isolated microalgae (Tetraselmissp. IMP3, Tetraselmissp. CTP4, and Skeletonemasp.)." Aquaculture International 28.2 (2020): 711-727.

2. Sansone, Clementina, etal. "The green micro alga Tetra selmis suecica reduces oxidative stress and induces repairing mechanisms in human cells." Scientific reports 7.1 (2017): 1-12.