Algowhite unifies, illuminates, and clears away dark spots to restore your skin’s fragile and precious complexion.
The hands, face, and décolleté are particularly vulnerable to the appearance of unsightly dark spots induced by the sun’s UV rays. Their number increases with time and repeated exposure to the sun; they are often considered to be the first visible signs of ageing and are accompanied by a loss of radiance and evenness of the complexion.
Melanin is a pigment that is responsible for the colouration of the skin and hair. Under the effect of UV exposure, the melanocytes, which are located in the lower layers of the epidermis, synthesise melanin before transferring it to the keratinocytes where they take on their final colouration. The more melanin the melanocytes produce, the darker the pigmentation of the skin. The appearance of dark spots is due to an overproduction of melanin by the melanocytes.
Melanocytes possess long cytoplasmic extensions known as dendrites that enable them to transfer melanin to the keratinocytes. Not only do they synthesis melanin for the keratinocytes, but this synthesis is itself directly controlled by the keratinocytes.
The key steps in the synthesis and transport of melanin:
- Under the effect of UV exposure, the keratinocytes secrete two messengers : endothelin and αMSH.
- Endothelin binds to receptors on the surface of melanocytes, thus triggering the synthesis of melanin.
- Melanin is synthesised in vesicles known as melanosomes, thanks to tyrosinase.
- The melanosomes migrate in the dendrites and transfer the melanin to the keratinocytes.
- Inside the keratinocytes, the melanin is oxidised and takes on its final pigmentation.
- The melanin migrates to the superficial layers of the skin via the differentiation of the keratinocytes.
- Keratinocytes loaded with melanin differentiate into corneocytes; they migrate to the stratum corneum where they give the skin its final pigmentation.
