Bioactive: A new era of bioactive ingredients in topical formulations for inflammatory dermatoses

Dermatol Ther. 2019 Nov;32(6):e13101. doi: 10.1111/dth.13101. Epub 2019 Oct 11.

Abstract

Moisturization is the pillar of daily skin care and has significant benefit in improving hydration, strengthening the skin barrier, and ameliorating inflammatory dermatoses. Bioactive ingredients such as endocannabinoids, bioactive lipids, growth factors, microbiome modulators, and antioxidant enzymes are increasingly being incorporated into moisturizer formulations. These novel ingredients have been shown to improve skin barrier function, upregulate barrier lipid synthesis, decrease itch and inflammation, and have antioxidative properties. In this article, we highlight evidence supporting their mechanisms of action and efficacy in atopic dermatitis, uremic pruritus, asteatotic eczema, acne vulgaris, and vitiligo.

Keywords: antioxidant enzymes; bioactive lipids; endocannabinoids; epidermal growth factor; ingredients; microbiome; moisturizer.

MeSH terms

  • Acne Vulgaris / drug therapy
  • Administration, Topical
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Biological Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / drug therapy*
  • Drug Compounding
  • Eczema / drug therapy
  • Emollients / therapeutic use*
  • Endocannabinoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Lipids / therapeutic use
  • Pruritus / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Biological Factors
  • Emollients
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lipids