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Glycerin: A Go-To Ingredient for Skin and Hair

September 20, 2010 Health and Beauty Tips

What is it?

Glycerin, also known as glycerol and glycerine, is a sugar alcohol that comes from natural resources or is synthetically derived. Examples of natural sources are vegetable oils or animal fats. Glycerin is a humectant, or hygroscopic, so it attracts moisture from the epidermis and the environment “when humidity is higher than 70 percent,” according to About’s dermatology guide, Heather Brannon, M.D.

Interestingly, pure glycerin can actually dry out the skin. For instance, if you were to use it in a very dry climate “OH [oxygen and hydrogen] groups could pull moisture from the deeper layers of your skin up to the surface where it could evaporate,” according to cosmetic chemists, The Beauty Brains, on their blog. Fortunately, skincare products contain other water binding ingredients to prevent water loss.

Benefits for skin and hair

Glycerin has many beneficial functions. Here’s a rundown of what glycerin offers:

• It attracts moisture. According to dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., on Yahoo! Health, our skin naturally produces a collection of water-soluble chemicals called the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) to stay hydrated. Glycerin is very similar to NMF, since both absorb water from the environment.
• It strengthens the skin barrier. Glycerin boosts your skin barrier, which is responsible for keeping harmful chemicals out and much-needed water in. So a stronger barrier means your skin is less likely to become dry in the future. Dr. Baumann believes that glycerin is one of the best ingredients for this purpose.
• It allows dead cells to slough off. Like bricks held together with mortar, skin cells are held together with proteins called corneodesmosomes. Unfortunately, these substances cause cells to clump together, preventing dead cells from being shed and new cells from replacing them. According to recent research, glycerin breaks down corneodesmosomes so that dead, rough skin can flake off, writes Dr. Brannon.
• It moisturizes hair. As with skin, glycerin also helps to hydrate curly or frizzy hair. And it helps defend hair against dryness and damage from heat styling, according to The Beauty Brains. However, you should use glycerin products in environments that aren’t too humid. Humidity from the air plus extra moisture from glycerin can create frizz when absorbed by your tresses.
• It might heal skin. Research from the Medical College of Georgia, published in The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, found that glycerol creates a special set of directions for cells as they grow and mature when it’s added to the enzyme phospholipase D, reports Science Daily. Also, animal research has shown that glycerol can heal skin problems in mice.

So what does this mean for us? Though more studies are needed, researchers believe that glycerol might be helpful for skin diseases characterized by abnormal cell development and maturation, like psoriasis or skin cancer.

Who should avoid it

Despite its many benefits, glycerin isn’t appropriate for everyone. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, people with sensitive skin, atopic dermatitis or eczema shouldn’t use glycerin — especially when combined with rose water — because it can boost dryness. It can also cause allergic reactions.

(Source)

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