How Do I Get Rid Of Wrinkles?

A sugar compound derived from a tropical flower has been hailed as the first scientifically-proven anti-ageing cream, after research by L'Oreal.

Rhamnose, from the Uncaria flower, nicknamed cat claw, is said to actively regenerate skin, making it feel plumper and more elastic. The chemical – which is being incorporated in a cream – is thought to stimulate cells into producing collagen, the main component of connective tissues such as skin.

The anti-ageing product, which has been tested on 400 women, is the product of increasing collaboration between the pharmaceutical and the cosmetic industry.
The new generation of treatments have been dubbed "cosmeceuticals" as they were created using research technology from the pharmaceutical industry.

In this case, computer software was used to screen thousands of naturally occurring chemicals to find one that stimulates a specific type of skin cell that produces collagen.

The Patented Breakthrough

They were then further filtered to see if they were small enough to penetrate through the outer waterproof layer of the skin. It then underwent human trials involving 400 women aged 50 to 70. Full results have not been published because L'Oréal is waiting for patents to be granted.

However, Julie McManus, the head of scientific affairs at L'Oreal, the company developing the product, told the Sunday Times: "For us this is a breakthrough, because we have found a compound which can produce an effect on this very important group of cells."

No matter about the claims, most cosmetics sit on the surface of the skin and reduce moisture loss by creating a waterproof barrier.
"No one had ever heard of rhamnose," said Veronique Bataille, a senior clinical research fellow in dermatology at King's College London.
"It was selected by screening thousands of compounds which could have an effect on fibroblasts (skin cells).
"We have a separate project here looking at skin ageing and we are working with L'Oréal in a way which would have been unthinkable 10 years ago."


 Source: Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent, Chemical from tropical flower latest weapon against wrinkles ,06 Feb 2011 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8306768/Chemical-from-tropical-flower-latest-weapon-against-wrinkles.html