[Skin Health BEST 4] BEST 4 Ingredients for Skin Health in Fall

Hello, I am Jinny, a pharmacist.

At this time of year, when it is moderately cool, many people may be planning to see fall foliage or go hiking. Fall is a great season for outdoor activities. It is also said, ‘I send my daughter-in-law to the spring sun, and my daughter to the fall sun.’ But is this really true?

In fact, autumn's UV rays are as threatening to skin health as spring and summer's UV rays. In summer, the altitude of the sun is low, so we feel that the sun is hot and prepare for it, but in fall, the altitude of the sun is higher and the temperature is lower, so it is easy to think that the ultraviolet rays are not as strong. However, compared to summer, in fall, only UVB, which burns the skin, is reduced among ultraviolet rays. UVA, which penetrates the skin dermis and destroys collagen, is almost the same. Also, although people are reluctant to engage in outdoor activities in the scorching summer sun, outdoor activities also increase in the fall, so the time exposed to ultraviolet rays is bound to increase.

This ultimately causes ‘photoaging’, which is characterized by pigmentation such as freckles and deep, thick wrinkles. Therefore, today, for those who are planning outdoor activities in the fall, we will introduce the BEST 4 ingredients that can help with fall skin concerns, including photoaging.

As mentioned earlier, collagen in the skin is destroyed by ultraviolet rays. Collagen makes up about 80% of the weight of the dermis and constitutes the skin's framework, so the destruction of collagen is directly linked to aging itself, including loss of skin moisture and elasticity and the formation of wrinkles.

For this reason, it is no exaggeration to say that collagen is the basis of skin health, and the functionality of collagen ingredients in health functional foods, ‘can help maintain skin health from skin damage caused by ultraviolet rays’, is also based on this principle.

In 2019, a paper* was published that reviewed 11 studies that verified the effects of collagen supplements on skin health. ‘Preliminary results are promising for the short- and long-term use of oral collagen supplements for wound healing and skin aging. Oral collagen supplements also increase skin elasticity, moisture, and skin collagen density’ [1].
[1] Choi FD, Sung CT, Juhasz ML, Mesinkovsk NA. Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD. 2019 Jan;18(1):9-16

Therefore, collagen is a recommended ingredient for those who are just starting to take care of their skin health. It is even better when taken with vitamin C, which helps with collagen synthesis.

Glutathione is the main ingredient in ‘White Jade Injection’, known as a skin whitening injection. This is because glutathione inhibits the synthesis of melanin, which causes pigmentation. Various studies have shown that glutathione and its intake improve melanin index [1-2].
[1] Arjinpathana, N., & Asawanonda, P. (2012). Glutathione as an oral whitening agent : a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The Journal of dermatological treatment, 23(2), 97–102.
[2] Matsuki, M., Watanabe, T., Ogasawara, A., Mikami, T., & Matsumoto, T. (2008). Inhibitory mechanism of melanin synthesis by glutathione. Yakugaku zasshi: Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, 128(8), 1203-1207.

It doesn't end here. In fact, glutathione is a very powerful antioxidant produced by our bodies. Antioxidants can be seen as anti-aging in that free radicals attack normal cells in the body and cause aging and various diseases. Therefore, glutathione has been known to help prevent overall aging, including improving skin wrinkles and elasticity [3]. In addition, it is also known to detoxify toxic metabolites produced under oxidative stress.
[3] Weschawalit S, Thongthip S, Phutrakool P, Asawanonda P. Glutathione and its antiaging and antimelanogenic effects. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2017 Apr 27;10:147-153.

Therefore, glutathione is recommended for those who are interested in not only skin whitening but also overall antioxidant properties.

Ultraviolet rays not only cause skin aging by breaking down collagen, but also increase free radicals to produce various pro-inflammatory cytokines, which leads to inflammation. Therefore, ultraviolet rays are not just a hindrance to skin beauty, but are also considered the main cause of skin diseases such as skin cancer.

In this regard, it is necessary to pay attention to ‘rosemary extract complex (SunMax)’, which has recently been recognized as an individually recognized skin health ingredient. According to an animal experiment published in an SCI-level paper [1], it was revealed that rosemary extract and other complexes (SunMax) not only suppress oxidative stress, inflammatory substances, and inflammation, but also inhibit collagen decomposition enzymes. Therefore, although it is a material recognized for the same functionality as collagen, ‘it can help maintain skin health from skin damage caused by ultraviolet rays’, it has a different mechanism of action and a wider range of action.
[1] Joong-Hyuck Auh, Jayashree Madhavan (2021). Protective effect of a mixture of marigold and rosemary extracts on UV-induced photoaging in mice, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 135, 111178.

Human application tests confirmed a decrease in erythema, a decrease in facial wrinkles, an increase in skin transparency, an increase in skin gloss and radiance, an increase in skin smoothness and softness, and an improvement in the formation of wrinkles (glabellar lines, nasolabial folds, marionette wrinkles, and wrinkles around the mouth) caused by ultraviolet rays. It is a truly attractive anti-aging material in that it improves wrinkle-related indicators.

Thus, it can be said to be the perfect material for those who are exposed to a lot of UV rays, especially those who are concerned about wrinkles.

UV rays are not the only thing that threatens skin health in the fall. This is because it is a season in which the amount of moisture contained in the stratum corneum of the skin's surface rapidly decreases as sweat secretion decreases due to lower temperature and humidity than in summer. This in turn causes skin dryness, redness, and blemishes. Therefore, it is a time when hydration becomes absolutely important.

Hyaluronic acid, the last ingredient we will introduce, is a representative moisturizing ingredient. Hyaluronic acid molecules can hold moisture up to 1,000 times their weight. It has been found that consumption can improve the moisture content of the skin. Due to its excellent moisturizing properties, it is widely used not only for skin health purposes but also as eye drops to relieve dry eye symptoms and injections to help lubricate joints.

Therefore, this ingredient is recommended for those who have dry skin or are concerned about skin that becomes rapidly dry in the fall.

Today, we introduced four ingredients that help maintain skin health in the fall season. Fall is a great season to enjoy the high skies, but due to the UV rays and lowered humidity, our skin suffers more than we think. It's good to get help choosing the right material for you, but I hope you remember that thorough use of sunscreen comes first.

I hope you have a healthy day both physically and mentally. This was Jinny.