Extraction of natural moisturizing factor from the stratum corneum and its implication on skin molecular mobility

The natural moisturizing factor (NMF) is a mixture of small water-soluble compounds present in the upper layer skin, stratum corneum (SC). Soaking SC water leads to extraction NMF molecules, which may influence molecular properties and lead brittle dry skin. In this study, we investigate how dynamics lipid protein components are affected by removal compounds. We then explore whether changes caused can be reversed subsequent addition one single component: urea, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA) or potassium lactate. Samples intact were investigated using NMR, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy sorption microbalance. It shown that reduced mobility keratin filaments lipids compared untreated SC. When complex replaced component, both regained. From propose general relation between amount polar solutes does not appear specific precise chemical identify