Clinical studies on the care of dry and neurodermitic skin
Oil extracted from evening primrose seeds has a high content of unsaturated fatty acids.
For individuals with neurodermatitis it is very important to care for their skin with products whose ingredients are well tolerated. However, also the efficacy of the ingredients should have been proven in clinical studies. Corresponding studies for products which contain the active complex extracted from the substances urea and evening primrose oil are available.
Urea is a natural moisturizing factor. When applied locally, it increases the water content in the corneal layer and binds moisture. Evening primrose oil has a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid and gamma linoleic acid. They are directly incorporated in the lipids of the corneal layer and reduce the water loss of neurodermitic skin.
More surface lipids and moisture in the skin due to urea and evening primrose oil
Evening primrose oil supplies the skin with lipids (left arrow), urea provides and binds moisture (right arrow).
A double-blind study with 67 test persons with dry skin – 32 of which with atopic diathesis – showed that the use of Menalind derm care products which contain urea and evening primrose oil significantly increased skin moisture compared to a cream free from active agents. The hydrating effect was attributed to the urea. The evening primrose oil significantly increased the amount of surface lipids and thus improved the skin’s barrier function (Akt Dermatol 2002; 28: 443–448).
In a further double-blind study, the skin’s damaged barrier function recovered with Menalind derm much faster in 50 test persons than with any other treatment. Transepidermal water loss of the irritated skin decreased rapidly, epidermal hydration increased. In addition the care cream reduced the test persons’ subjective feeling of dryness (Akt Dermatol 2004; 30: 162-166).
As these studies show, products with evening primrose oil and urea distinctly improve the condition of dry and neurodermitic skin. The skin absorbs the fatty acids out of the evening primrose oil and incorporates them directly in its structural lipids. The disturbance of the barrier function is reduced, the hydrolipid coat returns to normal and the skin’s ability to bind moisture and lipids is improved. In addition itching and the feeling of dryness in the person affected decrease.
