SILVER: A NATURAL ANTIMICROBIAL

SILVER: A NATURAL ANTIMICROBIAL

The antimicrobial properties of silver have been known for centuries. People in ancient Phonecia stored water in silver coated bottles. Silver was commonly used in treatments of wounds during World War I. Silver dollars were put in milk bottles to keep milk fresh. Water tanks of ships are silver coated to render water potable for months.

When antibiotics were discovered, the use of silver as a bactericidal agent decreased. However, antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria have increasingly emerged. There have been similar concerns raised against Triclosan, a widely used antimicrobial agent in skin care products. These developments generated renewed interest in silver, now considered an exciting safe alternative with a great deal of relevance in pharmaceutical and skin care formulations. 

A German company, BioEpiderm, has developed a complex process of manufacturing silver powder with highly porous, sponge-like structure. This 99.9% pure metallic silver is ECOCERT registered, and meets ecological standards for natural bio-cosmetics.  

DERMAX DEOWHITE deodorant
contains silver antimicrobial active. 

The fine silver powder can be used in creams, lotions, deodorants, and sprays for body care, hand and foot care and facial care, as well as in hair and scalp care preparations, and even oral care products such as mouthwash and toothpaste. Because there are no side effects, the active silver can also be used in child care formulations.

A product with this active releases silver ions slowly, with prolonged anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. This time-release feature helps destroy harmful bacteria continuously without affecting the skin’s natural flora. The skin is freed from the causes of irritation over an extended period. The result is a healthy and well-protected skin.

In a scientific study, a cream containing 0.1 percent of the active was tested on patients with atopic dermatitis. The skin returned to normal condition, redness disappeared and bothersome itching was significantly reduced.

SkinStation recently came out with DERMAX DEOWHITE, a natural deodorant with silver as the main deodorizing active. The silver worked well with other whitening actives in the formulation. With the success of the DERMAX DEOWHITE deodorant, more products containing the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-irritant silver are in the pipeline. 

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Skin Smart seeks to clarify facts and myths on skin care. This column was published in the Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on May 28, 2013. The author received the 2011 OutstandingChemist Award from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry.  The author is the CEO of SkinStation and can be reached at fred.reyes@skinstation.ph. 

The Natural Deodorant Option

With the growing sense of alarm about the hazards of chemicals used in deodorants and antiperspirants, we embarked on a project to develop a lightening deodorant that will avoid the safety issues and provide maximum consumer benefits using natural alternatives. 

Controversial chemicals that we decided not to use are triclosan, a very popular but controversial antibacterial agent; parabens, which are preservatives, added to most cosmetics; and aluminum salts, the antiperspirant actives which close the pores to prevent sweat from coming out, which is not exactly a good thing. Aluminum chlorohydrate is used in most antiperspirant products.  

Published reports have been circulating on the possible links between these chemicals to impaired thyroid function (triclosan) and altered estrogen levels progressing to breast cancer (aluminum salts and parabens).  Although regulators find that there is not enough body of evidence to ban these ingredients, we decided to follow the dictum, “When in doubt, don’t! “

There is one other serious concern why we cannot use aluminum actives in a whitening product. Aluminum salts cause skin irritation, which can lead to darkening of underarms. In fact, people with sensitive skin are advised to stay away from antiperspirants and use instead deodorants. Antiperspirants with alcohol and strong fragrances, which are likewise strong skin irritants, can be the worst offenders causing dark underarms.

Providing a natural deodorant that will keep people smelling good is our challenge. Human perspiration is actually odorless, until introduced to bacteria that thrive in warm, dark, moist places. The bacteria will break down sweat through fermentation. This chemical reaction causes the malodor. A good antibacterial agent can prevent this from happening.

The natural antibacterial ingredient we settled on is colloidal silver. Silver in its atomic form is an all around destroyer of bacteria, virus and fungi, and is clinically proven effective against body odor-causing bacteria. Zinc ricinoleate is added to neutralize any malodor that may still develop. Whitening activity comes from Licorice root extract, alpha arbutin from bearberry, axolight from wheat, and the patented ethyl ascorbic acid, the most potent of all the vitamin C derivatives.

The final product, we proudly called the DERMAX Deowhite natural deodorant.  Now, if your antiperspirant is causing your underarms to go dark, or if you have doubts about their safety, you now have a safer and better alternative.
______________________________________________________________________________________(Updated on February 15, 2013.) This was published in the May 29, 2012 issue of the Manila Bulletin, Lifestyle Section. The author is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulations Commission for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry. He can be reached at fred.reyes@skinstation.ph.