Chitin and cosmetics
February 6, 2012Chitin is widely present in the shell of shrimp, crabs and other crustaceans and hence gets the name. In addition, chitin is rich in the cells of fungi, algae, insect epidermis, shellfish, mollusks and bones. Chitin is the second largest biological resources on earth, only after the plant fiber. The annual amount of biosynthesis resources is more than 10 billion tons. It can be said as inexhaustible.
Prawns and crabs taste good on the table. After a meal, people usually threw their shell away as the waste. According to statistics, thousands of crustacean shell around the world each year by the seafood processing plant abandoned t - them or pile of garbage, or into the sea, causing pollution in many parts of the world. In fact, chitin is a natural polymer, a straight-chain amino polysaccharide. The chitin if take off the acetyl molecules can be transformed into soluble chitin or chitosan. At this time, its solubility is greatly improved, and thus its range of applications becomes very extensive. In industry, agriculture, medicine, environmental protection and water treatment, especially in the field of cosmetics material is more prominent.
Arcadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada, researchers found that the chitin in the chitin derivatives in the fruit surface and the surface of the skin to form a thin film, the chitin derivatives The film has a feature, not only can kill the bacteria, and only allow oxygen through to regulate human physiological metabolic activity, to strengthen the immune system, disease prevention efficacy. Therefore, the oxygen permeability, moisturizing protective effect on human skin. UV resistant, anti-bacterial infection, etc. to protect the skin aging features used in cosmetics.
Chitin is called following the protein, fat, sugar, vitamins and minerals to human health must be the sixth largest elements of life. Within the human body is constantly toxin deposition occurs due to oxygen free radical oxidation of lipofuscin deposition, bacteria, viruses, parasites, excess sugar, excess fat and heavy metal ions are accumulated in the human skin and other organs due to chitin has with similar structure and function of plant fiber, such as water retention, swelling, diffusion and adsorption functions in cosmetics, it can reach detoxifies, to prevent the deposition of lipofuscin, can promote the excretion and degradation of heavy metal ions and lipofuscin . On the other hand, it can improve the ability of human internal organs and skin self-decomposition of toxins, such as to promote the activity of SOD enzyme to accelerate the decomposition of excess fat and the deposition of lipofuscin, prevent hardening of the arteries and promote blood circulation to skin function.
Chitin from the biological structures, have a strong affinity to human cells, the body's enzymes can be broken down and absorbed, non-toxic and side effects on the human body, with good moisture absorption, spinning and film, and thus has been extensive development and utilization of a good human medical materials. Chitin can become the "artificial skin" for burns patients. Chitin powder plant to the patient the burned area, the artificial skin. This artificial skin first, not human cells, rejection, and second, to prevent infection, but can also absorb the body astaxanthin fluids of the wound, so that the patient's pain will be greatly reduced, and the wound healed quickly, and gradually grow into new skin. Until the new skin is fully grown, the artificial skin can naturally fall off without leaving any scars. Similarly, chitin. This performance can be used for cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery. Preparation of advanced skin care cosmetics, it can contribute to the rejuvenation and regeneration of skin cells, prevent rough skin, preventing the occurrence of skin diseases.
Chitin large surface area, high porosity, can fully absorb the sebum class oil absorption capacity is much larger than the starch or other active substances, the ideal material for dry shampoo. Positively charged amino with chitin molecules in the hair surface with negative charge, both have a strong affinity for use as shampoo, hair conditioner and hairspray mousse, with sticky and water-holding capacity, moisture and dust. Chemical stimulation of the hair can make hair soft and add luster is the ideal hair care products.
Chitin has a high degree of radiation resistance, oxidation resistance and disinfection resistance. Therefore, it becomes the ideal natural cosmetics raw materials. Chitin with moisturizing, film, and active cell function can keep the skin moist, shiny and flexible in the preparation of a variety of skin care cosmetic. It can also enhance the metabolic function of epidermal cells, inhibit free radical oxidation, and eliminate lipofuscinosis quality, age spots, repair skin damage, suppression of mites and other damage to the skin. It has the advantage of keeping skin young, preventing the rough, repairing of DNA damage and increasing skin blood flow and blood flow rate while other cosmetics materials do not have.Soure:http://www.cosprm.comPosted by tracy ma.