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Chlorophyll and Its Effects on the Skin
Patty Lee
#2418
July 2006
Chlorophyll and Its Effects on the Skin
Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants and in algae. Chlorophyll is the molecule that carries out photosynthesis in these organisms. Photosynthesis is the complex chemical process by which plants and algae transform carbon dioxide and sunlight from the atmosphere into carbohydrates and oxygen. That is why chlorophyll is sometimes referred to as concentrated sunlight.
The chemical structure of chlorophyll is similar in structure to that of hemoglobin, a molecule found in human red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the cells and carbon dioxide, a waste product, from the cells back to the lungs where it is exhaled. Both chlorophyll and hemoglobin have metallic ions at the center of their molecules, but chlorophyll is different from hemoglobin because its central metallic ion is magnesium while that in hemoglobin is iron. Magnesium is what makes chlorophyll green, while iron is what makes hemoglobin red.
Foods that are rich in chlorophyll include wheat grass, algae, green leafy vegetables, and seaweed. These foods are also rich in vitamin C, folic acid, B12, vitamin A, and vitamin K. Many of these are very important to the production of red blood cells in the human body. Wheatgrass juice, in particular, contains high concentrations of chlorophyll and has many therapeutic properties and uses.
Chlorophyllin is a water-soluble partially synthetic form of chlorophyll (natural chlorophyll is not water-soluble). Chlorophyll and chlorophyllin are available as nutritional supplements and can be taken in pill form, capsules, and liquid form. Topical skin preparations are also available. The many routes of delivery of chlorophyll to the human body are an indication of the many different uses there are for it both in the healthcare and aesthetician settings.
When taken orally, the chlorophyll contained in wheatgrass juice acts as a strong antioxidant. It binds to toxins in the body and escorts them out of the bloodstream, preventing them from exerting their harmful effects on the human body. This property may be what causes chlorophyll to be an anticarcinogenic, or an anti-cancer causing substance, reducing the risk of many types of cancer in people who take it. This has been found to be especially true with lung cancer, as research has shown chlorophyll to heal scarring in the lungs that can lead to lung cancer, as well as with cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, liver, pancreas, stomach, and colon.
Oral chlorophyll is also helpful in minimizing urinary and fecal odor in some circumstances. Chlorophyll may help ease constipation in some people as well. There is some preliminary indication that oral chlorophyll supplements could be beneficial in the treatment of kidney stone disease and that they may be able to prevent atherosclerosis, the hardening of blood vessels that can cause heart attacks, strokes, and blindness. People who take oral chlorophyll and chlorophyllin supplements should know that they may cause green discoloration of the urine and the feces and yellow or black discoloration of the tongue. This should not alarm people, as it is a harmless and non-toxic side effect due to the green pigment. Also, diarrhea can occur with use of these substances.
In the treatment of skin conditions, chlorophyll has many uses, both as an oral supplement and as a topical preparation. Because chlorophyll inhibits the growth of bacteria, it can be used topically as a wound healer. This helps both cuts and bruises to heal more quickly, which is done by increase the circulation to the wound and enhancing the production of new skin cells. Chlorophyll can also reduce the appearance of scar tissue in the skin once a wound has healed.
Chlorophyll’s antibacterial properties also make it useful as a skin cleanser and as an astringent agent. When used on the scalp, chlorophyll can help to treat dandruff and may even prevent hair from turning grey prematurely. Chlorophyll may also help reduce itching and burning caused by various irritating skin conditions such as eczema and impetigo.
Because most unpleasant kinds of odors are caused by odor-causing bacteria, chlorophyll products can also be used topically to reduce these odors due to their antibacterial properties. Chlorophyll has been used to diminish the odor caused by infected wounds and skin ulcers. It can also be used to treat the odors caused by colostomy bags or urinary incontinence bags. Yet another use for chlorophyll has been in the reduction of both common body odor and foot odor. Oral rinse preparations are available to combat halitosis, bad breath.
To summarize, chlorophyll is a naturally occurring molecule found in plants and algae that is responsible for photosynthesis and has many uses in the healthcare and aesthetician fields. As an oral preparation, chlorophyll has cancer-fighting ability due to its antioxidant effects. It removes toxins from the bloodstream, and improves red blood cell production and circulation to the skin and other organs. As for the skin, chlorophyll can be used to promote wound healing and minimize scar tissue formation, as well as fight bacterial skin infections and odor-causing bacteria. Chlorophyll can be used to naturally treat skin conditions such as dandruff, eczema, and impetigo and minimize the symptoms they cause.
Bibliography
1. Campbell, Neil and Reece, Jane. Biology (7th Edition). Benjamin Cummings Press, 2004.
2. Holdford, Patrick. The Optimum Nutrition Bible. Crossing Press, 2005.
3. Jensen, Bernard. The Healing Power of Chlorophyll (Magic Survival Kit). Bernard Jensen Publisher, 1973.
4. Michalun, Natalia. Milady’s Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary. Milady, 2000.
5. Park, KK. Chemopreventive activity of chlorophyllin against mouse skin carcinogenesis by benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide. Cancer Letters; 1996 Apr 19;102(1-2):143-9.
6. Winter, Ruth. A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, Fifth Edition. Three Rivers Press; 5th edition, 1999
Patty Lee
#2418
July 2006
Chlorophyll and Its Effects on the Skin
Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants and in algae. Chlorophyll is the molecule that carries out photosynthesis in these organisms. Photosynthesis is the complex chemical process by which plants and algae transform carbon dioxide and sunlight from the atmosphere into carbohydrates and oxygen. That is why chlorophyll is sometimes referred to as concentrated sunlight.
The chemical structure of chlorophyll is similar in structure to that of hemoglobin, a molecule found in human red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the cells and carbon dioxide, a waste product, from the cells back to the lungs where it is exhaled. Both chlorophyll and hemoglobin have metallic ions at the center of their molecules, but chlorophyll is different from hemoglobin because its central metallic ion is magnesium while that in hemoglobin is iron. Magnesium is what makes chlorophyll green, while iron is what makes hemoglobin red.
Foods that are rich in chlorophyll include wheat grass, algae, green leafy vegetables, and seaweed. These foods are also rich in vitamin C, folic acid, B12, vitamin A, and vitamin K. Many of these are very important to the production of red blood cells in the human body. Wheatgrass juice, in particular, contains high concentrations of chlorophyll and has many therapeutic properties and uses.
Chlorophyllin is a water-soluble partially synthetic form of chlorophyll (natural chlorophyll is not water-soluble). Chlorophyll and chlorophyllin are available as nutritional supplements and can be taken in pill form, capsules, and liquid form. Topical skin preparations are also available. The many routes of delivery of chlorophyll to the human body are an indication of the many different uses there are for it both in the healthcare and aesthetician settings.
When taken orally, the chlorophyll contained in wheatgrass juice acts as a strong antioxidant. It binds to toxins in the body and escorts them out of the bloodstream, preventing them from exerting their harmful effects on the human body. This property may be what causes chlorophyll to be an anticarcinogenic, or an anti-cancer causing substance, reducing the risk of many types of cancer in people who take it. This has been found to be especially true with lung cancer, as research has shown chlorophyll to heal scarring in the lungs that can lead to lung cancer, as well as with cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, liver, pancreas, stomach, and colon.
Oral chlorophyll is also helpful in minimizing urinary and fecal odor in some circumstances. Chlorophyll may help ease constipation in some people as well. There is some preliminary indication that oral chlorophyll supplements could be beneficial in the treatment of kidney stone disease and that they may be able to prevent atherosclerosis, the hardening of blood vessels that can cause heart attacks, strokes, and blindness. People who take oral chlorophyll and chlorophyllin supplements should know that they may cause green discoloration of the urine and the feces and yellow or black discoloration of the tongue. This should not alarm people, as it is a harmless and non-toxic side effect due to the green pigment. Also, diarrhea can occur with use of these substances.
In the treatment of skin conditions, chlorophyll has many uses, both as an oral supplement and as a topical preparation. Because chlorophyll inhibits the growth of bacteria, it can be used topically as a wound healer. This helps both cuts and bruises to heal more quickly, which is done by increase the circulation to the wound and enhancing the production of new skin cells. Chlorophyll can also reduce the appearance of scar tissue in the skin once a wound has healed.
Chlorophyll’s antibacterial properties also make it useful as a skin cleanser and as an astringent agent. When used on the scalp, chlorophyll can help to treat dandruff and may even prevent hair from turning grey prematurely. Chlorophyll may also help reduce itching and burning caused by various irritating skin conditions such as eczema and impetigo.
Because most unpleasant kinds of odors are caused by odor-causing bacteria, chlorophyll products can also be used topically to reduce these odors due to their antibacterial properties. Chlorophyll has been used to diminish the odor caused by infected wounds and skin ulcers. It can also be used to treat the odors caused by colostomy bags or urinary incontinence bags. Yet another use for chlorophyll has been in the reduction of both common body odor and foot odor. Oral rinse preparations are available to combat halitosis, bad breath.
To summarize, chlorophyll is a naturally occurring molecule found in plants and algae that is responsible for photosynthesis and has many uses in the healthcare and aesthetician fields. As an oral preparation, chlorophyll has cancer-fighting ability due to its antioxidant effects. It removes toxins from the bloodstream, and improves red blood cell production and circulation to the skin and other organs. As for the skin, chlorophyll can be used to promote wound healing and minimize scar tissue formation, as well as fight bacterial skin infections and odor-causing bacteria. Chlorophyll can be used to naturally treat skin conditions such as dandruff, eczema, and impetigo and minimize the symptoms they cause.
Bibliography
1. Campbell, Neil and Reece, Jane. Biology (7th Edition). Benjamin Cummings Press, 2004.
2. Holdford, Patrick. The Optimum Nutrition Bible. Crossing Press, 2005.
3. Jensen, Bernard. The Healing Power of Chlorophyll (Magic Survival Kit). Bernard Jensen Publisher, 1973.
4. Michalun, Natalia. Milady’s Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary. Milady, 2000.
5. Park, KK. Chemopreventive activity of chlorophyllin against mouse skin carcinogenesis by benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide. Cancer Letters; 1996 Apr 19;102(1-2):143-9.
6. Winter, Ruth. A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, Fifth Edition. Three Rivers Press; 5th edition, 1999