Initial stage care from the inside for the gradual advance of aging!

Skin aging is the fear of all women. The aging process is symbolized by pigmentation, wrinkles, and sagging. If we simply observe the skin surface, these skin problems seem to appear suddenly; however, the problems are the results of steady progress inside the skin. This may seem frightening, but the initial stage of aging has been recognized throughout history, such as through the use of the phrase the turning point of the skin.

This award-winning technology discovered what happens inside the skin during the initial stage of aging and developed active ingredients in response. The research focused on a single sheet-like structure called the basement membrane, which is made of proteins and joins the epidermis, the surface layer of the skin, to the dermis, the deep layer of the skin. The irregularity in the structure of this basement membrane was a contributing factor in accelerating the aging phenomenon, including wrinkles and sagging. The stage when the basement membrane starts to become irregular was defined as initial aging stage, and a new approach was established to suppress skin aging by maintaining a healthy basement membrane.

The epidermis on the skin surface consists of many cells, whereas the deeper dermis contains networks of blood vessels, lymph ducts, and collagen fibers. The basement membrane joins together these two layers of completely different structures. In addition, the basement membrane keeps the skin healthy, including control of communication between the epidermis and the dermis and discharge of repair substances when the epidermis or dermis is damaged. For this reason, if the basement membrane is ruptured or damaged by such factors as ultraviolet light, there are negative impacts on the layers above and below the membrane. Young and healthy skin resists damage to the basement membrane and can quickly repair the membrane in case of rupture; however, the repairing ability weakens with age. There are multiple basement membranes present in some locations instead of a single sheet, possibly as a result of efforts to repair the membrane from repeated damages.

What should be done to maintain the toughness of this basement membrane? We examined the structure of the basement membrane in more detail to find the answer. As a result, we focused on laminin 5, a type of protein in the top part of the basement membrane. Laminin 5 is shaped like a cross and grabs the epidermis and joins them together much like a person stretching his hands out and grabbing an object. Therefore, a large amount of laminin creates stronger connections to the epidermis for immediate joining and repair in case of rupture.

In response to this, we explored the components that enhance the production of laminin 5, and found Lipidule to be effective. Lipidule is originally a substance called lysophospholipid, which is a component of the membranes of cells in the body and is made from soybean-derived phospholipid. When this Lipidule was added to the skin model of epidermal cells placed on top of dermal cells, the epidermal cells produced a large amount of laminin 5, resulting in the formation of satisfactory basement membrane by enhancing its repair. This award-winning technology has been researched further after the receipt of the award and developed into a more advanced research on anti-aging of the skin, including the discovery of plant-derived extract with even higher effectiveness compared to the Lipidule.