Psychodermatology: Believing is Seeing

By: Alex Voigt, Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine, with Linda Papadopoulos, PhD, and Bruce Green

Posted: April 1, 2009, from the April 2009 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries.

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Papadopoulos continued, “Nootropics relieve stress and promote endorphins while ... acting on those receptors.” Idebenone, for instance, has been shown to protect against cell damage from oxidative stress in a variety of biochemical, cell biological and in vivo methods, including its ability to suppress sunburn cell formation in living skin.²

“Idebenone was important to include [in the product range] because it is naturally derived,” said Papadopoulos, who added that the material promotes information transfer across the corpus callosum, increases nerve growth factor, and boosts production of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which produce a calming sensation.

In addition to nootropics, scent was an important consideration. “Aromatherapy played a large role in formulating the products,” said Green, noting that bergamot, citrus and hibiscus essential oils were used in the range. Bergamot was chosen for its reported “uplifting and refreshing” properties, and chamomile for its soothing effects.

Holistic Health
Along with mood-enhancing ingredients, a material to assist skin’s innate defenses was included in the range. Bio-inulin is a prebiotic that, according to Papadopoulos, was designed to, “assist in the protection of skin’s natural defense mechanisms.”

Prebiotics take a holistic approach by targeting the microbiota already present within an ecosystem, acting as a food for the target microbes that are seen as beneficial.³