Medical Research & Fact Sheet

Medical research has established that Vitamin C plays an essential role in every aspect of the skin's functioning, including protection from UV damage and repair of cumulative sun-induced aging factors.

It has also been proven that for Vitamin C to be present in the skin in medically efficacious levels, it must be transported into cells through topical application. This is a complex technology involving stabilization, optimum skin absorption, adequate levels of activity and documented studies on human tissue substantiating that actual physiological changes are occurring.

Confusion and controversy regarding factual data and cosmetic rhetoric are rampant. C-ESTA™ containing DAE Complex is the result of 12 years of intensive medical research. These C-ESTA medical facts have been prepared in order to provide accurate and current information regarding C-ESTA's methods of action, its effectiveness as compared to other forms of Vitamin C, and its specific benefits.

This overview is segmented to reflect C-ESTA's two separate modes of action: Ascorbyl Palmitate and DAE Complex.

ASCORBYL PALMITATE

Ascorbyl palmitate is a lipid (fat) soluble form of Vitamin C. Ascorbyl palmitate maintains all the physiologic activity of Vitamin C without the problems that can be associated with ascorbic acid or L-ascorbic acid (the common water soluble form of Vitamin C).

• Ascorbyl palmitate turns on cellular machinery.

• Human cell cultures, designed to closely simulate the human body, demonstrate this effect. By enhancing the cell's ability to function more effectively, cells are better able to repair any damage and generally "act" in a younger manner.

• Ascorbyl Palmitate is a neutral pH (non-acidic) molecule.

• C-ESTA can be applied to any skin type without irritation, as opposed to ascorbic acid whose extremely low acidic pH can create inflammation. C-ESTA does not sting or burn. C-ESTA can be used with glycolic acid, Retin-A™ and after laser resurfacing to assist in the recovery process.

• Because Ascorbyl Palmitate is fat soluble, it penetrates the skin very rapidly and intersperses in the cell membrane.

• This affinity with the cell membrane results in tremendous antioxidant benefits and helps to prevent cellular aging such as:

• Cross linking of collagen
• Oxidation of proteins
• Lipid peroxidation

• Ascorbyl Palmitate acts as an anti-inflammatory.

• The molecule was tested on several human inflammatory models. Studies demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity when ascorbyl palmitate was applied to psoriasis. Studies also show that ascorbyl palmitate can dramatically decrease UVB induced erythema (sunburn) when applied topically.

• Ascorbyl Palmitate is more active than ascorbic acid.

• A study conducted at the University of North Carolina compared the efficacy of ascorbic acid and ascorbyl palmitate in the suppression of phorbol ester-induced tumor production (tumors nearly identical to those caused by UV light exposure). This study demonstrated that, while ascorbyl palmitate and ascorbic acid both have tumor suppressing activity, ascorbyl palmitate was 30 times more effective than ascorbic acid at 1/4 the dose.

• Ascorbyl Palmitate is extremely stable.

• Ascorbyl palmitate is the only Vitamin C molecule that will maintain its Vitamin C activity for long periods of time. C-ESTA products have a normal two year shelf life.

• Ascorbyl Palmitate enhances Vitamin E activity in the skin.

• Because ascorbyl palmitate can reside in the cell membrane, it can regenerate the Vitamin E radical on a continuous basis. This is as opposed to ascorbic acid, which only interacts with Vitamin E at the interface of the water-soluble and lipid components.

• Ascorbyl Palmitate has been proven to be physiologically active in human cell cultures.

• Ascorbyl palmitate shows greater activity than ascorbic acid in fibroblast growth and collagen production.

• Ascorbyl palmitate shows greater activity than ascorbic acid at lower doses.

• Ascorbyl Palmitate has better skin absorption and retention than ascorbic acid.

• In a study conducted by a division of Proctor and Gamble, skin absorption was compared between ascorbyl palmitate and ascorbic acid. At 2 hours, skin absorption of ascorbyl palmitate was far greater than ascorbic acid. At 24 hours, the amount of ascorbyl palmitate was almost 10 times greater.

Patients and physicians observe the following benefits:

• Thicker dermis
• Skin appears more resilient
• Skin appears plumper and thicker
• Decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Skin appears softer, smoother and more refined
• Reflective quality of skin is enhanced
• Lessening of redness due to irritation and inflammation
• Facial skin appears more even toned
• Skin that tends toward sensitivity is far less reactive
• Lessening of the appearance of telangiectasis

DAE COMPLEX

• C-ESTA causes a noticeable improvement in the appearance of sagging and redundant skin. The delivery agent in DAE Complex is also a precursor of acetyl choline. Acetylcholine is partly responsible for muscle tone. C-ESTA's DAE Complex stimulates acetylcholine resulting in the appearance of tighter and firmer skin with more defined facial contours.

• DAE Complex^TM is a powerful "antioxidant cocktail" that acts by stabilizing cell membranes. Stability of the cell membrane is critical to insuring that the cell functions at optimum levels. DAE Complex protects and enhances cellular activities.

• DAE Complex contains a proprietary delivery agent that acts as a penetration enhancer, enabling ascorbyl palmitate to penetrate to a more beneficial level.

Patients and Physicians observe the following benefits:

• Increased muscle tone
• Lessening of the nasolabial fold
• Decreased redundancy of upper eye lids
• Overall appearance of tighter and more defined facial contours
• Overall appearance of skin is younger and healthier

For more information please call our Los Gatos office at 408-358-8855 and ask for Julie