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Thanks to scientific research now recognized
worldwide by doctors and the cosmetic and dermatology industry for
the effects of the natural topical trans-retinoic acid (vitamin A)
it contains.
The effect on the skin is central to the use of
Rose Hip Oil. Many benign disorders of the skin may be treated with
it, beneficially.
The unique properties of
Rose Hip Oil were first discovered by a team of researchers from the
Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacology at the University of
Concepcion, a prestigious university in Chile. They completed a
study in 1983 in order to evaluate the positive action of the oil in
the skin regeneration process.
This two-year study focused on the cicatrizing
action of Rose Hip Oil. During this time, an oil preparation was
applied to 180 patients with surgical, traumatic and post-burning
scars: as well as to a group suffering from premature aging. The
results were remarkable. It was found that Rose Hip Oil produced an
effective regenerative action on the skin.
Continuous application of Rose Hip Oil effectively
helped in attenuating scars and wrinkles, in preventing advancement
of premature aging, and in regaining lost skin natural color and
tone.
Since then, numerous studies on Rose Hip Oil have
been completed at various universities in Chile and in other
countries. Although the emphasis of these studies was on the
clinical and therapeutic use of Rose Hip Oil, the findings from the
University of Concepcion opened the door for its use in the cosmetic
industry.
Today Rose Hip Oil is exported from Chile in large quantities -a
total value of more than US$ 30 million in one recent year- and it
is used world-wide by the medical community and as a special active
ingredient by many prestigious cosmetic companies in Asia, Europe,
North America and Latin America.
Components Responsible for the Effectiveness of
Rose Hip Oil
In December 1988 two doctors published their
findings in a paper titled Contributions to Identification and
Application of Active Components Contained in Rosa Aff. Rubiginosa.
The authors were Dr Bertha Pareja, Principal Professor, Faculty of
Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of San Marcos, Lima, Peru
and Dr Horst KehI, from the School of Pharmacology of the University
of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Dr KehI took part in the
effort in his capacity of Visiting Professor at the San Marcos
University.
The positive action of Rose Hip Oil in helping to
regenerate damaged skin tissues was originally attributed to its
high content of unsaturated essential fatty acids, namely oleic
(15-20%), linoleic (44-50%) and linolenic (30-35%). They are called
" essential " because our body is not able to reproduce them.
Although these acids are important to maintain a
healthy skin (when taken internally), for they are components of the
cell's membrane and precursors of prostaglandine/leucotriens (their
activity is hormone-like), providing tissue-regenerating and
rejuvenating effects, their presence did not establish enough
scientific evidence to explain the properties of Rose Hip Oil in
reducing surgical and accidental dermal scars or to eliminate
certain hyper-pigmented spots and lessen wrinkles.
TRANS-RETINOIC ACID
Dr. Berta Pareja and Dr. Horst Kehl, succesfully identified the
presence of Trans-Retinoic acid as the component responsible for the
remarkable pharmacological properties of Rose Hip Oil.
Trans-Retinoic acid is a derivative of Retinol (Vitamin A) and is
marked as Tretinoin.
The therapeutic effects of the topical application of Tretinoin, in
the treatment of a variety of dermatology disorders, have been
well-researched and recognized for almost 30 years. The most
significant results have been produced in the treatment of
photo-aged skin - skin damaged by excessive exposure to sunlight.
Tretinoin can produce quick and positive changes in the skin, but
because it is a very strong substance, it must be applied under
medical supervision.
Rose Hip Oil produces the benefits of Tretinoin, but without
secondary side effects, because the Trans-Retinoic Acid contained in
it is in a natural state as part of a complex system of unsaturated
fatty acids. Therefore, its action is controlled and slowly released
by nature, eliminating the risk of overdoses.
The findings of Dr. Pareja and Dr. Kehl have helped
to legitimatize Rose Hip Oil in the market, facilitating the
promotion of this wonderful product.
The following paragraphs are extracts from the paper.
ROSE HIP OIL APPLICATION ON AGED SKIN (PHOTOAGING)
Changes produced on skin by the action of the sun, i.e., photoaging
(dermatoheliosis) are very common in all countries of warm climate.
Exposure to sun causes important morfological changes in skin.
Dermatoheliosis appears in different ways and varying intensity
ranging from surface wrinkles, active keratosis and variation in the
distribution of the melanin granules.
For this test volunteers were selected among people who usually
spend the 3 months of summer in resorts by the sea or who go to the
beach every day. The tests were carried out on 20 women aged between
25 and 35 who were controlled and assessed during the summer of
1988. The most frequently noted cutaneous signs were surface
wrinkles, brown spots, eyelids and, in some cases, only an intense
tan. All applied rose hip oil on the face during four months (May to
August, Autumn 1988).
Observations were made every eight days. Significant changes were
noted starting on the third week. Firstly, surface wrinkles started
to disappear, spots started to fade until, at the end of the fourth
month, the disappearance was almost complete. Skin presented a
smooth and fresh aspect and the spots had almost disappeared.
ROSE HIP OIL APPLICATION ON SURGICAL SCARS
For this test we used scars that had equal features. Ten women, aged
between 45 and 68, were selected who had suffered unilateral or
bilateral mastectomy.
Applications of rose hip oil were made, starting on the day when the
surgical stitches were removed. After washing the area with tepid
water and soap and careful drying, the oil was applied by soft
massage. After three months of applying twice daily (morning and
evening) it was noted that the scars were less apparent, without
lumps and that skin elasticity had improved and the color of the
area had improved significantly.
We carried out these observations for four months after the
operations and the treating doctors indicated that the skin
conditions were improving considerably, allowing implantation of
prosthesis or plastic surgery in far better conditions than with
patients who had not been treated.
Scars are a permanent visible reminder of a
significant event in a person's life and can be a reminder of an
unhappy or bad experience. Though there are many different
techniques to lessen the visibility of scar tissues, including
cosmetic surgery, pressure garments, the use of locally injected
steroids and silicone gel sheets, Rose Hip Oil offers a simple,
inexpensive, non-invasive alternative for greatly diminishing
disfiguring scars.
Scars become softer and less prominent with continued daily use;
scars, pits and blemishes (even such acne scars). The area of scar
treatment is one where Rose Hip Oil has had immense success.
ROSE HIP OIL ASSISTS MEDICAL TREATMENTS
Dr Hans Harbst, surgeon and radiotherapist presently practicing in
Chile, graduated in radio-oncology, radiology and nuclear medicine
at the Nuclear Research Centre of the University of Heidelberg,
Germany. Dr Harbst heads the Department of Radio-oncology of the
Indisa Clinic in Santiago and is also head of the Department of
Radiology of the Chilean Air Force Hospital in Santiago.
SECONDARY DERMATITIS
Dr Harbst has extensive experience in the application of Rose Hip
Oil for treating skin alterations, especially secondary dermatitis
which takes place as a result of radiotherapy.
Dr Harbst explains about the use of products containing Rose Hip
Oil:
"As a radiotherapist, I have worked with several patients that have
been operated and, therefore, have scars. Also, the radiation to
which they are exposed may produce secondary effects on the skin
such as inflammations, darkening and actinic dermatitis. These
effects are, in most cases, unavoidable because in the same way that
a surgeon leaves a scar when he or she operates, a radiotherapist
leaves a mark on the radiated areas, which are not injuries as such
but skin reactions.
"This means a problem for the patient, especially when he or she are
left with marks in areas exposed to view like the face, head or
neck.
"I have applied Rose Hip Oil on all types of skin. Rose Hip Oil acts
on scars reducing hyper-pigmentation, flattening hypertrophia (bulky
scars) and loosening up fibrous chords. All these effects end up in
a nearly complete attenuation of scars.
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