Thinking of Using Allmedic PDT?
Having used the cleansers and skin repair products over the last 2 months I'm happy with allmedic and they will be products I will return to especially in the coming summer months. However, even going for a run in the Australian sun does affect my skin and I'm realising there is no quick solution.
I asked allmedic about the science behind their products, and they provided some articles which I've added as further reading. According to allmedic healthy skin has an acid mantle which provides an epidermal barrier, protecting the skin and preventing loss of natural oils. A lot of cosmetic soaps contain sodium laureth sulphate which strips the skin, allmedic skin repair aims to return skin to its normal state so that you wont need so much moisturiser. My experience is, however, that I do still need to use moisturiser daily, the Australian sun is unforgiving here, even in winter. One of my concerns is sun spots, so I asked allmedic whether their products (pre PDT) are good at reducing these. One of the directors, A/Prof Pete Smith is an allergist who told me:Most of the lightening creams put the sunspots into shock -- something like David Craig's 5% salicylic acid works okay. The melanocytes switch off and the area pales up
We are working on something better (at least 6 months formulation away) which will block tyrosine kinase which is important in melanin production Even better news is that it
may decrease hair growth in the area (often there is darker hair in these spots) and this product also contains massive amounts of protective anti-oxidants. It will work in darker skin types. The dark sun spots rather would be better treated with a cream as described whereas the PDT regime is for more severe skin trauma like fleshy sun spots (actinic keratoses)
I would like to see allmedic providing more research and evidence-base for their products, they are making some big statements about skin repair, treatments and preventing premature aging and I would like a a clear how-to-use, why, and how it works.
All in all, I like the allmedic products, nice to haves would be better absorption and fragrance and I am looking at their creams more as a treatment than a pampering experience. Now the Australian sun is threatening to come out in earnest I am glad to have them on hand to call upon. Included are pics of me before and after - I'm not sure there is much difference compared with previously but my skin feels better.Further reading:Elias PM, Hatano Y, and Williams ML (2008) Basis for the barrier abnormality in atopic dermatitis: Outside-inside-outside pathogenic mechanisms. Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 121,6 1337-43. Cork, MJ et al (2006) New perspectives on epidermal barrier dysfunction in atopic dermatitis: Gene-environment interactions. Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 118,1 3-21And if you want a summary of A/Prof Pete Smith's role at Allmedic:- With his background in molecular immunology, Associate Professor Smith was approached in early 2007 to participate in a project to create evidence based skin care. The aim of this like-minded group of doctors to create simple, cost effective skin care treatment with evidence based ingredients which are used at demonstrated efficacy, and created in a pharmaceutical environment, and with a minimal of ingredients which are likely to complicate things and cause reactions.
- We have also been focused on using photodynamic therapy where a compound called ALA is taken up into metabolically active (generally abnormal cells) in the skin and in the presence of light frequencies, abnormal cells are destroyed.
- This is being used in the US for field changes with several types of skin anomalies including superficial forms of skin cancer (not melanoma) although it is also used for skin rejuvenation. Through Allmedic, Associate Professor Smith is working on reducing pain associated with skin inflammation with PDT and he is going to be working towards skin pain with dermatitis in the next couple of year.
