A Powerful Restorative Combination: Boswellia and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
The literature written on the mystic and healing powers of the renowned resin, Frankincense (Boswellia), fills libraries across the globe. It has been used over centuries for a wide variety of religious ceremonies, physical healing, and burial rituals. Frankincense resin is gained by incising the barks of desert trees of the species boswellia found in the Middle East. The harvest of this resin is quite labor intensive, but the benefits are outstanding and the fields of application diverse. This article will focus on using the restorative power of boswellia for the care and treatment of the skin combined with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), but this powerful resin is also used in:
· Chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases
· Rheumatic diseases
· Respiratory diseases
· Tumors
Even though the knowledge of its healing power goes back eons, today the pharmacologically active ingredients of frankincense resins are the boswellic acids. These acetyl-keto-boswellic acid mechanisms have been proven to be anti-inflammatory and protectors of collagen[1]. This active agent concentrate is only useful for the skin after encapsulating it into nanoparticles. Because of its strongly adhesive properties it cannot penetrate the skin. The dermaviduals Boswellia Nanoparticles have been encapsulated in the spherical nanoparticle form consisting of the natural phospholipid of the skin—phosphatidylcholine (PC). Once applied on the skin the PC-shell of the nanoparticles fuses with the stratum corneum of the skin while the content of the nanoparticles is transported into the deeper skin layers. In other words, the PC spheres encapsulated with Boswellia speak the language of the skin. Without this transport system certain active agents (like Boswellia) cannot pass the skin barrier.
The anti-inflammatory and collagen protecting effects of Boswellia nanoparticles used in conjunction with IPL treatments that stimulate collagen and elastin syntheses of the skin makes for a winning combination. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Jabs completed a study on five female test students who had aged skin and barrier disorders. After cleansing, a mixture of dermaviduals Boswellia Nanoparticles and Base Gel (1:1 ratio) was applied followed by IPL treatments. For the facial care at home each woman received dermaviduals Boswellia Nanoparticles mixed with DMS Base Cream with instructions to apply two times per day.
The condition of the skin before and after treatment has been photo documented and a dermatoscopy (with 10X magnification) was carried out. In addition, the visual appearance of the skin was evaluated with a magnifying glass. Visible improvements were experienced even after the first treatment. Looking in the mirror after the first session the test persons rated the result of the treatment as “excellent.” The treatment was not only successful in the short term though, after five treatment sessions a long-term improvement of the skin barrier, a reduction of the wrinkle depth, and a firming of the skin could be observed (click here for complete research article).
With the boswellia in nanoparticle form being able to go deeper into the skin and then activated by absorption of the intense pulsed light improved the efficacy of the boswellic acid’s healing and restorative power. This innovative study has proven the effectiveness of the IPL treatment combined with light-activated boswellia nanoparticles, making this combo a winning method to rejuvenate aging skin and treat inflammatory diseases. How about harnessing the power of this resin of antiquity and add the modern marvel of IPL to make a huge difference in the health and vitality of your skin today?
[1] Sashwati et al. [DNA and Cell Biology 24 (4), 244-255, 2005]