Herbal sun protection?
A new wave of natural sunscreens is based on antioxidants. Research from institutions such as Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and the Xienta Institute for Skin Research in Bernville, Pennsylvania, shows that vitamins C and E not only protect against free radical damage but also reduce your chances of getting sunburned. So does taking vitamin C supplements. Potent antioxidant herbs, such as green tea (Camellia sinensis), are also proving effective. In the future, look for sunscreens containing a variety of herbs. Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) has compounds that absorb UV-B rays. An extract of helichrysum (Helichrysum angustifolium), best known by aromatherapists for its essential oil, is an effective sunscreen. Amino acids from sea algae are currently being tested in Australia. And one caveat: when out in the sun, avoid wearing skin-care products that contain citrus essential oils, especially bergamot (Citrus bergamia). They increase the skin’s sensitivity to light and occasionally cause skin discoloration or rashes.
Vegetable oil straight from your kitchen offers some sun protection. Sesame oil decreases the impact of burning rays by about 30 percent, while olive, coconut, and peanut oils block out a good 20 percent of the rays. The same is true of aloe vera (Aloe vera), with about 20 percent screening ability. My home experiments estimate sesame oil at around SPF 7, much lower than the protection achieved with commercial sunscreens. Still, these can provide a completely natural alternative when you’re getting a limited amount of sun exposure or wearing a big hat.
Burn remedies
Once your skin is burned and there’s no turning back (or when your skin has been overexposed to hot, drying sun and wind or chlorinated swimming pools), use the same herbs, essential oils and vitamins recommended to treat any injured skin. My first choices are lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), aloe vera and calendula (Calendula officinalis) to repair damaged skin cells. The essential oil of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) has skin-rejuvenating properties that encourage healing. Expensive, but exquisite in scent and skin-healing properties, are rose flowers (Rosa spp.). These all are suitable for either dry or oily skin. Long used in Europe, pansy (Viola tricolor) is gaining popularity in U.S. skin products to treat inflammation and burns. One sunburn remedy tip that’s quick and easy to carry when traveling is green tea bags. Soak them in cold water and pat them on the burned area. These make a handy remedy for burned eyelids because they won’t irritate your eyes.
Carrot seed (Daucus carota) essential oil is especially beneficial to sun-damaged skin and to eliminate precancerous skin spots. The antioxidant beta-carotene that it contains helps protect against skin cancer due to sun exposure. An easy solution is to add 10 drops of carrot seed essential oil to 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and apply a couple of times a day directly on any questionable skin spots. If you develop dark “age” spots or splotches on your skin, check that you are getting a sufficient amount of B vitamins and limit the sun exposure on those areas.
Pharmacognosy Res. 2010 Jan-Feb; 2(1): 22–25. In vitro sun protection factor determination of herbal oils used in cosmetics Chanchal Deep Kaur and Swarnlata Saraf http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3140123/
Exp Dermatol. 2006 Sep;15(9):678-84. Botanical antioxidants in the prevention of photocarcinogenesis and photoaging. Afaq F, Mukhtar H. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16881964
Botanical antioxidants in the prevention of photocarcinogenesis and photoaginghttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0625.2006.00466.x/pdf
Botanical antioxidants Target/mechanism(s) Reference
Green, black and oolong teas
Inhibits UV-B-induced skin carcinogenesis (3,6,16–18)
Inhibits UV-B-induced erythema, edema, depletion of the antioxidant enzyme system, ODC and COX-2 activities (3,6,16,36)
Enhances UV-B-induced increases in the number of p53- and p21-positive cells in the epidermis (19)
Reduces the size of the parametrial fat pad and the thickness of the dermal fat layer (20)
Inhibits UV-B-induced expression of the MMPs (26)
Reduces UV-B-induced collagen cross-linking (30)
Reduces IL-10 and IL-12 production (3,16)
Inhibits UV-B-induced release of intracellular H2 O2 and phosphorylation of MAPKs and NF-jB pathways (31,32,35)
Enhances the rate and extent of disappearance of the mutant p53-positive patches (22,23)
Pomegranate fruitextract
Inhibits UV-B-induced phosphorylation of MAPKs and activation of NF-jB pathways (40)
Inhibits phosphorylation of STAT3, AKT, and ERK1/2 (41)
Inhibits UV-B-induced edema, hyperplasia, infiltration of leukocytes, generation of hydrogen peroxide and DNA damage in the form of CPDs and 8-hydroxy-2¢-deoxyguanosine (42)
Enhances UV-B-induced increases in p53- and p21 protein expression (42)
Resveratrol Inhibits UV-B-induced skin inflammation and edema (43)
Inhibits UV-B-induced activation of NF-jB (44)
Modulates cki–cyclin–cdk network and MAPKs pathway (45)
Inhibits tumor incidence and delays the onset of tumorigenesis (46)
Inhibits cell proliferation and phosphorylation of survivin (47)
Genistein
Inhibits UV-A-induced enhancement of the DNA-binding activity of STAT1 by acting as a TPK inhibitor (51)
Reduces c-fos and c-jun expression (52)
Reduces edema and contact hypersensitivity (53)
Inhibits skin carcinogenesis and cutaneous aging (49)
Referenties zie http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0625.2006.00466.x/pdf
Natural sun blockers
The skin's natural sun blockers are proteins (the peptide bonds), absorbing lipids, and nucleotides. The high concentration of plant peptides protects the peptide bonds of the skin proteins. The high level of squalane (from olive oil) in some products protects the skin's sensitive lipids. Squalene is the skin's most important protective lipid. Allantoin is a nucleotide that naturally occurs in the body and absorbs the spectrum of UV radiation which damages the cell's fragile DNA. Allantoin is an extract of the comfrey plant and is used for its healing, soothing, and anti-irritating properties. This extract can be found in antiacne products, sun care products, and clarifying lotions because of its ability to help heal minor wounds and promote healthy skin.[31] Some clinical studies confirm that allantoin enhance skin repair.[28]
Natural sources of antioxidants
The main destroying factors for skin are oxygenated molecules which are often call “free radicals.” To stimulate the skin to repair and build itself naturally, we need an arsenal of potent ingredients. The “antioxidant power” of a food is an expression of its capability both to defend the human organism from the action of the free radicals and to prevent degenerative disorders deriving from persistent oxidative stress.[32] Plants like olive trees have their own built-in protection against the oxidative damage of the sun, and these built-in protectors function as cell protectors in our own body. The very pigments that make blueberries blue and raspberries red protect those berries from oxidative damage.[33]
28. Skin Biology Aging Reversal, At Home Use of SRCPs for Different Skin Types and Skin Problems. [Last accessed on 2011 Mar]. Available from: http://www.skinbiology.com/skinrenewalmethods.html .
29. Bensouilah J, Buck P, Tisserand R, Avis A. Aromadermatology: Aromatherapy in the Treatment and Care of Common Skin Conditions. Abingdon: Radcliffe Publishing Ltd; 2006.
30. Dweck AC. Herbal medicine for the skin – their chemistry and effects on skin and mucous membranes. Pers Care Mag. 2002;3:19–21.
31. Allantoin. [Last accessed on 2011 Mar]. Available from: http://www.balmtech.com/db/upload/webdata12/13Allantoin.pdf .
32. Majo DD, Guardia ML, Giammanco S, Neve LL, Giammanco M. The antioxidant capacity of red wine in relationship with its polyphenolic constituents. Food Chem. 2008;111:45–9.
33. Browden J. Unleash the Amazingly Potent Anti-Aging, Antioxidant Pro-Immune System Health Benefits of the Olive Leaf. Topanga: Freedom Press; 2009.
34. Tsuda T. The role of anthocyanins as an antioxidant under oxidative stress in rats. Biofactors. 2000;13:133–9. [PubMed]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3263051/
Fytoschema Herboristen opleiding 'Dodonaeus'
Rechtstreeks zonlicht vermijden (kleding, hoed, schaduw)
Huid afdekken met olie: sesam, olijfolie en cocosolie met toevoeging van etherische olie (lavendel, helychrisum, daucus carota)) of slijmstofplanten (Aloe, smeerwortel)
Inwendig gebruik van anti-oxidantia (groene thee, rozebottelthee vit. C)