Anti-aging products are so advanced , it is necessary to have a basic understanding of the skin.

The skin has 3 levels, with multiple layers within each level. The first level, the epidermis has 6 layers. Along with melanocytes, the cells that add pigment to our skin, the basal or deepest layer of the epidermis, is responsible for cell division. It takes about 28 days for the new cells to make the journey to the surface. As we age, this surface layer of dead skin cells becomes hard and compacted. The new skin cells actually only reach the bottom of this hard upper crust of 20-30 layers that increases in depth with age. This is the “stratum corneum”, also called the “horny layer”. This hard layer can only be removed by microdermabrasion, ultrasound, chemicals, laser, or by surgical blade. The basis of a chemical peel, and microdermabrasion is the creation of what the skin sees as trauma. The result is a wound-healing response, which causes tissue regeneration and an improved skin appearance. Chemical peels performed by estheticians are directed at layers within the epidermis. Microdermabrasion creams are the only method safe for home use, and for all skin types. The epidermis also contains cells called “keratinocytes” that produce keratin, a water insoluble protein that hardens structures. The hardened cells, or “corneocytes” make-up 75% of the epidermis, and give the “stratum corneum” its name. When this hard layer is removed on a regular basis younger cells flood to surface, and ingredients are delivered to deeper tissues. Most skin care products affect the epidermis alone.

Physicians alone can perform chemical peels to the epidermal-dermal junction and below. Aging of the skin, although visible from the epidermis, happens here. This is the land of anti-aging product impact. All toning, or firming with lasting results occurs in the dermal layer.This photo shows two cross-sections of skin. Photo A is the before photo. The large, white dead compacted layers of the “stratum corneum or horny layer” of the epidermis are visible sitting on top of the thin dark line of the basal layer of the epidermis where cell division occurs.

The papillary dermis is the deeper colored section with projections in Photo A. Made of millions of cells of connective tissue the dermis contains, macrophages, Merkel cells, Langerhans cells, mast cells, blood vessels, sebaceous glands, hair shafts and roots, hormone receptors, sweat and sebaceous glands, lymph vessels, nerve endings, and fibroblasts that form elastin and collagen. The dermis supports and nourishes the epidermis. Together they work as a system and make up 90% of the skin mass. Photo “A” shows the deeper purple middle level of the dermis. Photo “B” shows the results of dermal thickening due to increased collagen and elastin production. Collagen and elastin are complex proteins that hold and release water. They are responsible for the structure of the skin. Damage to collagen and elastin occurs from cell damage. The weak, fragile fibers no longer support the structure of the skin and the dermal layer collapses. The third layer of skin is the hypodermis and contains subcutaneous tissue, lymph ducts and blood vessels. It acts as a protection from trauma and insulates the body. If you impact the epidermis, you impact the dermis.

Microdermabrasion always uses Corundum Crystal (Alumina), or by its chemical name, Aluminum Oxide (ALO2). Aluminum Oxide is the chemical name for the sapphire. When it contains Chromium, it is a ruby. When properly mined, and fused at high temperatures of over 2000”C ALO2 is an inert, insoluble compound succeeded in hardness on the Mohs scale only by the diamond. Not all Corundum Crystal is the same. Many products on the market use a laboratory synthesized Corundum made from Bauxite, a hydrous ALO2, and the principal ore of Aluminum. Bauxite has high levels of impurities and is too soft to impact the epidermis. NaturDerm^TM uses only medical-grade alpha fused pure Corundum Crystal (Alumina). The alpha Alumina, the natural form, has a blocky, hexagonal shape as seen in the photo below. Gamma Alumina is a cubic crystal that can become an alpha alumina when exposed to high heat. Although alpha Alumina is very fine, the natural blocky, hexagonal edges are sharp, and hightly effective at debridement. In the US, Corundum Crystal is in use as a new method of removing superficial dental caries. According to Richard Wachsman, a physicist from MIT, all crystals contain inclusion pockets. These pockets contain molecules of hydrogen and oxygen. When these crystals are applied to the skin in a product, they create a magnetic state with the hydrogen and oxygen molecules in the water on the skin. This creates a vibration, which flattens the skin. The dead skin is “attached” through this molecular force to the crystals. Microdermabrasion removes the surface layers of skin. Sebaceous glands deep within the dermis secrete an oily substance called sebum. Sebum is the natural moisturizer of the skin, and is usually deposited on the inside of hair follicles, where it is brought to the surface of the skin. Dead skin cells can mix with sebum and become impacted deep in the pores. Microdermabrasion not only removes the dead skin cells and surface debris, it catches the impacted debris and over time it is brought to the surface. You can see this process happen on your skin. Many skin conditions, like acne and rosacea, are related to skin health. Removal of this debris also allows for the deeper penetration of ingredients. Our Plastic Surgeons report absorption of ingredients can be increased by 50%, if a product is applied after microdermabrasion.

As cells migrate and die, the “horny layer” of the epidermis thickens and pressure builds making the dermal layer more susceptible to congestion and toxic build-up. The visible results are seen on the face as puffy, sagging skin, wrinkles and jowls. NaturDerm^TM is the first company to utilize mini-microdermabrasion as a tool for skin health, providing a powerful one- two punch, to transform puffy, wrinkled, sagging skin into sleek, glowy, firm youthful skin.

The NaturDerm^TM story began in the summer of 2000. The President and Founder of NaturDerm^TM , Amy Merwin, was a single mother whose daughter was on her way to model in the top venue of the world, New York City. The agency insisted her daughter could not compete with other models in NYC without microdermabrasion treatments, due to the clarity and translucence it gave to the skin. With a background of formulation, education and training that spans over 20 years in the health, beauty and wellness arena, as well as being a trained RN, Amy went to work to develop a product for her daughter. Epidermx^TM was born. The surprise came when her hormonal acne, and the adolescent acne suffered by the other kids, cleared up. Dad is a MD, and Grandpa is a Dermatologist, nothing they had prescribed for the kids acne worked as well as Epidermx^TM . Friends shared it with others; models passed it to makeup artists, who passed it to agents who passed it to other agents, and other models, and actors. It became a favorite in newsrooms with broadcasters who have to wear stage make-up; even farmers with crusty hands couldn't live without their Epidermx^TM . Epidermx^TM is used by models and agents with some of the top agencies in the world such as FORD, Elite, Wilhelmina, Womens, DNA, Fusion, LA Models, United Artists, CBS, ABC and FOX News. Epidermx^TM was the first natural-based manual microdermbrasion cream in the world.

Now, Amy and her team of PhD bio and cosmetic chemists, Naturopathic doctors (ND), Medical Doctors (MD), and estheticians are taking their company to the global forefront. NaturDerm^TM is the culmination of 6 years of effort, research and formulation. It was time to incorporate those scientific advances into Epidermx^TM , NaturDerm^TM brings you EpidermxII^TM microdermabrasion pro-treatment^TM . Each NaturDerm^TM product has its own hydrophilic balanced signature. This assures product mildness, stability and absorption. This is important for the skin because hydrophilic compounds attract water and are hydrated. The word humectant is often used in skin care to describe these compounds. Humectants are hydrophilic polar compounds. The ends of polar molecules have a slightly positive and slightly negative charge. This creates a “pull”. This molecular force is a measurement of the atoms attraction for electrons. Water is thought to be polar. Most polar compounds can dissolve in water, and are termed “hydrophilic”, or water-loving. For example, salt and sugar are polar molecules with a hydrophilic nature. Non-polar compounds are “hydrophobic”, or water insoluble at room temperature such as, fats, oils, proteins and silicones.

If you take a cup of water and add a drop of oil, the oil will appear to form into a ball in the water. This is due to the water molecules driven attraction to the other hydrophilic water molecules in the cup. The water molecules ignore the hydrophobic, non-polar oil compound. The molecules in the oil compound are squeezed tightly to allow the water molecules to increase their bonds. Hydrophobic, non-polar molecules do not attract or repel each other, which increases the pull between the water molecules. Water is a good solvent because hydrophilic compounds attract the hydrophilic water molecules and the two blend. For example, lubricants are not needed when a hydrophilic coating is used as on rubber. The water molecules are attracted to the hydrophilic coating and create a waterproof product. Hydrophilic coatings have a higher degree of wetness. Hydrophilic properties are powerful. The attraction of the water molecules is so extreme that the water molecules will push away all other molecules to gain access to a hydrophilic membrane. The bonds between hydrophilic molecules are very stable, strong hydrogen bonds. This process repels contaminants, which allows cells to remain clean and function.

The surface tension is caused by this attraction. EpidermxII^TM has a signature hydrophilic ratio, and is formulated to lower the surface tension on the skin. No other microdermabrasion cream is developed for this specific result. This allows EpidermxII^TM to maximize the impact of product performance and provide superior results.

The use of Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) is helpful to visualize the impact of EpidermxII^TM on the skin. Below are two figures showing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) on the skin and hair follicles of the skin surface, which contain debris and oils.

In Figure 1., we see how ineffective plain water is to remove soil and debris from the skin and hair follicles.

In Figure 2., we see the visible results of a hydrophilic balanced product designed to lower the surface tension of the skin and hair follicles. The soil and debris is nearly gone.

EpidermxII^TM takes manual microdermabrasion to the next level. EpidermxII^TM is a silky serum-based emulsion with a luscious tropical scent. Manual massage if desired is still possible; however, rather than the thick debris from pasty old microdermabrasion creams of the past that contain heavy waxes in the product with dead skin and crystals, EpidermxII^TM will yield a fine debris of dead skin and crystals. EpidermxII^TMmakes lengthy manual massage and hand-held tools an old option. A fast, easy, 10-20 second daily scrub yields superior results. EpidermxII^TM is the first natural-based, hydrophilic balanced, silicone-free manual microdermbrasion cream in the world.