What is Natural Moisturizing Factor and What is Sodium PCA?

Sodium PCA is the primary humectant in Natural Moisturizing Factor found in you skin

Let’s start with your skin. Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It is the barrier that protects you against dehydration, infection and puncture wounds; therefore it is very important to keep your skin healthy. Natural moisturizing factor is one of the ways your body keeps your skin healthy. The NMF is a collection of water soluble compounds that act as humectants to hold water in your skin. It is a key component within your skin and Sodium PCA is a key humectant in Natural Moisturizing Factor.  

The NMF compounds that fall under the term “Natural Moisturizing Factor” includes:

Where does NMF come from?

Natural moisturizing factor is in the outer layer of your skin called the Stratum Cornreum. It comes from enzymes breaking down a protein called Filiggrin. When Filiggrin is broken down it generates amino acids which go on to form pyrolidone carboxylic acid or PCA. The PCA binds with sodium to form sodium pyrolidone carboxylic acid or NaPCA. 3  Over time these key components are lost with natural aging and exposure to the environment. To help you keep your skin healthy, we fortify organic Aloe Vera Gel (juice) with NaPCA and Glycerin. Using AloeHydrate helps you keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

Functions of Natural Moisturizing Factor…

  1. Maintain hydration of the skin
  2. Keep your skin pliable to help protect it from outside damage
  3. Helps the normal peeling-off or shedding (desquamation) of epithelial cells.
  4. Optimizes the Stratum corneum barrier (outer most layer) to keep moisture in and environment agents out (bacteria, chemicals etc) 4
  5. Keep skin healthy

Benefits of Healthy Skin…

  1. Shiny, youthful looking
  2. Reduces the appearance of wrinkles7,8
  3. Fights itchy skin
  4. Aids in reducing excess oil
  5. Hydrated skin helps make-up foundation adhere better
  6. Helps to protect against skin infections, chemical agents and UV effects 8
  7. Resists conditions such as xerosis (dry, flaky, cracked skin) and others. dry skin disorders

 References

  1. Fowler, J , MD, FAAD, Understanding the Role of Natural Moisturizing Factor in Skin Hydration PRACTICAL DERMATOLOGY JULY 2012 p40,
  2. Rawlings A, Scott I, Harding C, Bowser P. Stratum corneummoisturization at the molecular level. J Invest Dermatol. 1994;103(5):731-741. [PubMed]
  3. Robinson M1, Visscher M, Laruffa A, Wickett R., Natural moisturizing factors (NMF) in the stratum corneum (SC). I. Effects of lipid extraction and soaking, J Cosmet Sci. 2010 Jan-Feb;61 (1):13-22.
  4. van Smeden J, Bouwstra JA., Stratum Corneum Lipids: Their Role for the Skin Barrier Function in Healthy Subjects and Atopic Dermatitis Patients.
  5. Curr Probl Dermatol. 2016;49:8-26. doi: 10.1159/000441540. Epub 2016 Feb 4.
  6. Harding, C.R, Rawlings, A.V, Effects of natural Moisturizing Factor, https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0413/dcb1253080a674d4320b05b9a026b3d42008.pdf
  7. https://www.wembleyclinic.co.za/beauty/benefits-hydrating-skin/
  8. https://www.sharecare.com/health/healthy-skin/why-important-keeping-skin-hydrated