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Nanoparticle Safety

Initial Studies are Promising

Protect Your Skin (from UV Rays) as it Protects You (from all Sorts of Assault)

Don’t let a few poorly-designed studies scare you away from using sunscreen containing nanoparticles.

There is some debate in the scientific community about the safety of nanoparticles and/or micronization of cosmeceutical ingredients.

Some have hypothesized that micronized or nano-particles may penetrate beyond the dermal layers into the bloodstream and body organs where they might accumulate and cause inflammation and damage.

A scientific hypothesis is an idea, a concept, a possibility - not a proven fact. The results of the most sophisticated study to test this hypothesis to date, the NANODERM Project, were published February 2008 in Experimental Dermatology and publicized more broadly after the April 2009 "in-cosmetics" convention in Munich.

The lead scientist of the NANODERM Project, Professor Tilman Butz of the University of Leipzig, presented his findings at "in-cosmetics" and openly discussed why nanoparticle penetration studies have shown mixed results.

Dr. Butz explained that, thanks to funding by the prestigious Information Society Technologies Programme of the European Union, the NANODERM Project had access to the most advanced study methods available throughout Europe.

In this joint study, scientists were able to trace putative pathways of penetration using laser scanning, electron and ion micrsocopy as well as radio labeling with micro-emulsions - to quote the project design, "methods with extreme sensitivity".

They determined that micronized titanium dioxide particles as small as 20 nm used in sunscreen products do NOT cross the barrier of healthy human skin. Studies are needed in compromised skin, e.g. burned and peeling.

One study is not the final word; however I find this one especially encouraging for nanotechnology of topical cosmeceutical ingredients.

I personally plan to continue using sunscreen and other skincare products which contain nanoparticles.

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