Caffeine is a good skin care ingredient. Next, we will explain the effect of caffeine in skin care products from different aspects.
Due to its well-known biological activities, caffeine has many effects on the skin, including antioxidant properties, its well-documented ability to protect cells from ultraviolet (UV)-induced non-melanoma skin cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Caffeine and skin barrier penetration
As with any skin care product, the ability to penetrate the skin is necessary. Only after the ingredients penetrate, can they affect the metabolism of the cells. And caffeine penetrates the skin barrier well.
The results of the study showed that 24 hours after application to human skin, the highest concentration of caffeine (280 micrograms) was found in the epidermis by quantitative skin autoradiography, and the lowest concentration (50 micrograms) was found in the dermis.
Studies have shown that caffeine can penetrate human skin at 2.24±1.43 μg/cm2/h, and the maximum absorption is 100 minutes after use. The penetration of caffeine was also not affected by skin thickness or skin obstruction.
- Antioxidant properties of caffeine
There is a growing interest in finding effective topic antioxidants to help prevent oxidative damage to the skin. Caffeine pretreatment was protective against fibroblast necrosis induced by exposure to H2O2 for 30min, and the number of fibroblasts also increased. Exposure to H2O2 for 30 or 120 minutes resulted in marked changes in the morphology of fibroblasts, which became smaller and more irregular, predicting cell necrosis. Caffeine pretreatment can significantly improve cell morphology.
- Promote hair growth
Caffeine has been shown to inhibit the activity of 5-Hemi-Reductase, prolong the anagen phase and promote hair growth. Studies have shown that despite being inhibited by testosterone, caffeine has been found to have a significant boosting effect, stimulating hair growth.
Additionally, by improving microcirculation, caffeine may improve oxygenation and increase the delivery of nutrients to the scalp.