The treatment of pigmentation: Nanosomes Effectively Deliver Azelac RU serum To Deepest Layers Of Skin.
Rochelle Nataloni
Gabriel Serrano, M.D., Ph.D.
Dermatologist
Founder and President
Sesderma
Valencia, Spain
Maribel Pedrozo, M.D.
Biobell Oriental Medspa
Miami, FL
“The importance of Azelac RU for pigmentation lies in its ability to be used long-term. First-line prescription treatments, such as hydroquinone, are not conventionally prescribed for extended periods of time due to concerns about their longterm safety and efficacy.”
Freckles, age spots, uneven skin tone and acne scars are among the most common complaints that patients present in dermatologists’ offices and skin centers. Of course, any number of options – from laser treatments and glycolic peels, to bleaching solutions – are among the treatments that adequately address these issues. However, there are drawbacks to all of these choices, including expense, contraindication to long-term use and skin irritation, among other issues.
A more user-friendly skin lightening approach that practitioners are increasingly introducing to patients is Azelac RU from Sesderma. Physicians who include it in their skincare armamentarium, say this serum is an ideal product because it works quickly, can be used long-term, is cost-effective and can be combined with other products, or following other treatment modalities with no reported side effects or irritability.
Azelac RU is effective, fast acting and safe in the treatment of melasma, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, sun spots, freckles, acne marks, uneven skin and dark spots on elbows, knees, underarms and knuckles, explained Gabriel Serrano, M.D., Ph.D., a dermatologist, founder and president of Sesderma.“The importance of Azelac RU for pigmentation lies in its ability to be used long-term,” he pointed out. “First-line prescription treatments, such as hydroquinone, are not conventionally prescribed for extended periods of time due to concerns about their long-term safety and efficacy. Azelac RU serum is ideal not only as a first choice, but also as a long-term maintenance treatment for use with, or after, other therapies such as hydroquinone or light-based treatments.”
Dr. Serrano explained that Azelac RU is a concentrated serum without fragrances or parabens. “It goes further than simply treating hyperpigmentation problems; it actually improves the signs of sun damage, including wrinkles and dryness or roughness. It also helps to regulate sebum production and reduces irritation.”
Zoraida C. Navarro, M.D., of Navarro Skin and Vein Care in West Palm Beach, Fla., includes Azelac RU in the treatment of pigmentation regimen of almost every patient she sees in her skincare practice. “It is very effective for melasma, and especially for dark skinned patients who have post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.It’s also excellent for my elderly patients who have sun spots and want a quick and easy fix but don’t want to spend a lot of money on light-based treatments,” she advised. “In addition, Azelac RU is quite effective for young people who want to eliminate freckles and don’t have the resources to invest in peels. It starts to work fairly quickly and I usually see improvement within two to three weeks in patients with the darkest skin.”
In Dr. Navarro’s opinion, being able to use Azelac RU long-term is what sets this product apart from other treatments. “When you consider that some of the other treatment modalities used for lightening the skin, such as hydroquinone, have been associated with safety issues from long-term use, Azelac RU is a very attractive option. For instance, there are concerns that continued use of hydroquinone may actually be associated with a predilection to skin cancer, and some light-based therapies and peels, if used repeatedly, can result in post-inflammatory changes to the skin or may instigate allergic reactions. Any bleaching agent has to be cycled – whereas patients can continue to use Azelac RU without any problems,” she stated.
Maribel Pedrozo, M.D., of the Biobell Oriental Medspa in Miami, Fla., uses Azelac RU ubiquitously in her dermatology practice. “I recommend Azelac RU to patients with melasma, and post traumatic hyperpigmentation, as well as before and after a laser or peel treatment,” she began. “It affords anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-bacterial and depigmentation effects and makes for a wonderful treatment that is fast and noticeable in just a short time.”
Dr. Pedrozo uses Azelac RU in male and female patients of any skin type between the ages of 30 and 60, and typically prescribes it to be used in the morning and night. “It has no secondary effects,” she said, “however, a sunblock should be used during the daytime and patients should avoid direct sun exposure.” She typically recommends that Azelac RU be used a minimum of one to three months to start, and then suggests that it be continued as a maintenance therapy on affected areas, only at night. “It does not irritate the skin and can be used during any season of the year on any skin type. It is highly efficient due to its nanotechnology formulation and with the anti-inflammatory benefits and the nanosome technology, the result is beautiful skin.”
According to Dr. Serrano, all of Azelac RU’s ingredients are encapsulated in nano liposomes, which deliver the ingredients to the deepest layers of the skin. “This is particularly important knowing that the melanocytes are located at the basal membrane level. Liposome encapsulation stabilizes and protects the ingredients, and owing to the phospholipid and water content, promotes a healthy, moisturized skin barrier. The high content of linoleic acid also provides anti-inflammatory, bleaching and sebum control effects.”
With a reinforced action, Azelac RU’s various bleaching and anti-aging ingredients act synergistically at different levels, Dr. Serrano advised. “For instance, 4-n-butylresorcinol acts at the intracellular level, inhibiting tyrosinase activity, while TPR-1 (tyrosinase related protein) acts at the extracellular level. Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine works via an alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (á-MSH) antagonist effect through the cAMP pathway. Azelac acid and retinol have an important role in controlling melanocyte hyperactivity,” he continued. “Encapsulation of the ingredients into nano liposomes makes them more stable, more resistant to degradation, more effective at reaching their target in the skin, and more consistent in their results.”
This combination of effective ingredients and the product’s elegant design make it ideal, Dr. Navarro pointed out. “The way this product is made, with the ingredients encapsulated, makes it very stable so it doesn’t degrade, as secondary degradation of the product is typically what causes irritation,” she added. Since Azelac RU is nanotechnology delivered, it works on not just eradicating the darkness, but also on triggering the cells to come to the surface of the skin faster so they don’t bring that extra melanocyte and melanin production to the skin, which is what keeps it dark. On the intercellular level it stops tyrosinase, which is necessary in order to produce melanin to begin with, so it works on many levels.”
Dr. Navarro likes Azelac RU because it provides all the benefits, but none of the drawbacks. “Often patients like the effects of high powered products like hydroquinone because when they use it they look 100% better within a week or two, but then eventually they come in saying that their skin is getting dark again and is irritated and I have to tell them that they can’t use it indefinitely,” she shared. “That doesn’t happen with Azelac RU. The way the product is made is very intelligent. It not only exfoliates the surface of the skin or poisons the melanocytes, it is working at the intercellular level, penetrating deep to where melanocytes are produced, and at the extracellular level it disables the á-MSH at every juncture that darkness and melanin could possibly be created.”
Azelac RU’s elegant formulation also fosters compliance, Dr. Navarro emphasized. “My patients keep this serum on the bedside table and actually look forward to using it because it feels good on the skin. People like the texture.I never hear, ‘I forgot to use it,’ or ‘I stopped using it because it irritated my skin.’ Non-compliance is not an issue with this product,” she reported.
Excellent results with visible improvement in a short period of time typically occur in 80% to 90% of patients, Dr. Pedrozo reported. “Patients do not suffer from irritated skin; there is significant improvement of spots and in the texture of the skin due to its fantastic anti-aging effects. Its liposome formula and the combination of anti-aging active ingredients firm the skin and bring a glow.”
Notably, Azelac RU can be used on any area of the skin, including face, hands, décolleté, arms, back, elbows, knees, underarms and knuckles. Dr. Navarro said her patients also use it to lighten skin in the vaginal area, and beneath the breasts.
In cases of melasma, it is applied once in the morning and once at night for best results. Use of a wide spectrum sunblock of SPF 30 or higher is strongly recommended. “Once the serum is applied, it is advisable to wait ten minutes before applying make-up and/or sunblock. Additionally, heavy sun exposure should be limited,” Dr. Serrano added.
