Liquid Crystal Gel Reduces Age Spots by Promoting Skin Turnover

Abstract

Studies have shown that liquid crystals structurally resembling the intercellular lipids in the stratum corneum can beneficially affect the skin when applied topically by stimulating the skin's natural regenerative functions and accelerating epidermal turnover. In the present study, the effects of applying low concentrations of a liquid crystal gel of our own creation were evaluated using epidermal thickening in mouse skin as an assay for effective stimulation of epidermal turnover. A liquid crystal gel was also applied topically to human facial skin, and analysis was conducted using before-and-after photographs of age spots, measurements of L* values that reflect degree of skin pigmentation, single-layer samples of the stratum corneum obtained via tape-stripping, and measurements of trans-epidermal water loss that reflect the status of the skin's barrier function. The results suggested that cost-effective creams containing as low as 5% liquid crystal gel might be effective and safely sold as skin care products targeting age spots and other problems relating to uneven skin pigmentation.

Formulation and Evaluation of Liquid Crystal Emulsion Containing Extra Virgin Olive Oil as Skin Anti-Aging

“…According to Iwai, et al [25], water is quickly evaporated because there is a continuous phase in the liquid crystal emulsion released under dry skin conditions after application, which can increase the water content that enters the skin. The liquid crystal phase in a preparation that resembles the structure of the lamellar stratum corneum that works by stimulating the natural regeneration function of the skin in the intercellular lipid structure and causing rapid replacement and stimulation of skin formation that prevents skin aging [26].…”

Innovative lamellar crystals-based facial treatment cream with Tubtimsiam pomelo peel extract

“…Liquid Crystal emulsion system is used as a system to penetrate deeper into the skin layer and can protect the skin from the external environment like the second layer of skin. It strengthens the skin barrier so that the skin can retain moisture or the part that the skin needs with the navigation system [3,4]. Lamellar Liquid Crystal Structure is an arrangement of surfactant-oil molecules formed at the water-oil interface of the lipid layer in the cells between the skin.…”

Periodic structures on liquid-phase smectic A, nematic and isotropic free surfaces

“…This is very important for many applications, such as display quality technology and production enhancement. The free surface of liquid crystals is interesting by itself because many applications use one single boundary (e.g., coatings, paints, make-up) [ 3 – 4 ]. Appreciable progress in the development of tools for surface characterization, such as interferometric surface structure analyzers (ISSAs, i.e., nanoprofilometer), atomic force microscope (AFM) [ 5 – 8 ] and a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) [ 9 – 10 ] has been made.…”