SKIN REGENERATION
The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It consists of 3 layers:
These are the epidermis (upper skin), the dermis (leather skin) and the hypodermis (subcutaneous tissue). All 3 skin layers regenerate regularly and especially after lesions (injuries).
The skin renewal process takes an average of 28 days. Due to the constant formation of basal cells in the lowest layer of the epidermis, the
cells above continuously pushed further and further upwards, where they slowly keratinize and form the top corneal layer of the skin.
SKIN REGENERATION CYCLE
The healing process of the skin can be divided into 3 phases:
PHASE 1 – Inflammation phase
PHASE 2 – Proliferation phase
PHASE 3 – Conversion phase
The individual phases usually flow into each other and overlap a little. Exactly how long a single phase loads can differ individually.
Scar-free wound healing depends on various factors. An optimal wound environment is important, including ideal moisture conditions of the skin. In addition, harmful environmental influences must be avoided.
Optimal skin care can positively influence such factors and thus promote scar-free wound healing.
Alpha-3 Complex®
Skin regeneration has been the focus of Dr. Valérie Enderlin. This led to the development of the ALPHA-3 COMPLEX®. This resulted in the DECALYS Medical care line.
The ALPHA-3 COMPLEX® consists of three active ingredient combinations:
ALPHA-LYSOME: Promotes autophagy.
COTTON THISTLE EXTRACT: Stimulates regeneration and promotes car repair.
ANTIOXIDANTS: Vitamin B5 and vitamin E contribute to skin regeneration.
The 3 active ingredients of ALPHA-3 COMPLEX® have a specific effect on the 3 phases of skin regeneration.
The individual phases usually flow into each other and overlap a little. Exactly how long a single phase lasts can differ individually.
THE EFFECT OF THE ALPHA-3 COMPLEX® ON THE 3 PHASES OF SKIN REGENERATION
PHASE 1
The alpha lysome acts on PHASE 1 and activates the natural process of autophagy.
PHASE 2
Wool thistle extract, a natural plant extract used in burns, acts on PHASE 2 . It stimulates the regeneration of the epidermis and thus the reconstruction of the natural skin barrier.
PHASE 3
An antioxidant complex of vitamin E & vitamin B5 acts on PHASE 3 of the healing process. It protects the cells, has a calming effect and also stimulates collagen production.
It is important to choose the right formulation for each phase:
LE BAUME (light cream): PHASE 1 and PHASE 2
LA POMMADE (rich ointment): end of PHASE 2 , PHASE 3 and healthy skin
LE GEL (silicone gel): PHASE 3
CICAFILM (silicone plaster): PHASE 3
AUTOPHAGY
DECALYS Medical products are based on the concept of autophagy. The term “autophagy” consists of the Greek words for “self” (auto) and “eat” (phagein). It stands for a central cellular self-cleansing and regeneration process. In particular, a component of the ALPHA-3 COMPLEX®, the alpha lysom, activates this process of autophagy.
In this process, a degradation takes place in a first step and then the recycling of cell components takes place. As a result, damaged or incorrectly folded proteins up to entire organelles are broken down and a large part of the starting materials are recovered.
For this groundbreaking discovery, the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to Prof. Oshumi awarded.
The term “autophagy” describes three main types of degradation: macroautophagy, chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) and microautophagy. These three mechanisms include all degradation processes of intracellular material via lysosomes.
Macroautophagy is the main mechanism of autophagy. So when we talk about autophagy below, macroautophagy is always meant.
Signals on the cell membrane activate autophagy. A Phospholipid-Doppelmembran, called a Phagophor occurs. This expands. Unwanted or damaged organelles, lipids or misfolded proteins are collected and enclosed by this lipid double membrane (autophagosome).
This autophagosome then merges with a lysosome into the Autophagolysosom. In it, the damaged cytoplasmic components are broken down by enzymes as cell waste. Their basic building blocks are then released back into the cytoplasm and recycled by the cells.
Autophagy is an important process for maintaining equilibrium in the cell. New cells and tissues are formed to replace those that have been broken down. In this way, the cells and thus also the organ in question, such as the skin, renew themselves.
Autophagy is a continuous process, but it is also activated specifically in stressful situations. Such stressful situations can occur, for example, in the course of inflammatory processes. Autophagy protects cells in stressful situations, for example by helping to remove damaged organelles from the cell and to provide basic components for new molecules with reduced nutrient intake. Misregulated or decreased autophagic activity leads to cell problems that can manifest themselves in a whole range of diseases:
- Cancer (lack of tumor suppression, misregulated cell death)
- Muscle diseases
- Infectious diseases (defense against pathogens)
- Dementia diseases (disturbed intracellular protein degradation)
High glucose, insulin and protein levels can prevent autophagy. Conversely, this is activated by fasting or endurance. The reserves are consumed, nutrients from superfluous proteins are released.
Role of autophagy in the skin
Autophagy is fundamental for cellular homeostasis, the balance of the skin.
The skin is exposed to a variety of environmental factors that induce skin damage. These include, for example, UV steels, heavy metals, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and other atmospheric particles.
These harmful environmental factors usually lead to cytotoxicity, impairment of the skin barrier and activation of inflammatory reactions on the skin. Recently, it has been reported that some synthetic or natural autophagy activators activate cellular autophagy signaling processes and reduce oxidative stress, damage caused by skin aging and the interception of free radicals.
The skin serves as the first line of defense of the human body against a variety of environmental influences and it is now assumed that autophagy is a form of the body’s own internal defense mechanism against such disturbing environmental influences.