ProSina from Croda Personal Care is a new hand and nail care ingredient based on hydrolysed keratin. With proven efficacy in the treatment and protection of hands and nails, the product differs from most other keratins in its unusually high cystine content in the active S-sulpho form, the company claims.
Caring ingredient offers hand protection
The high proportion of these groups enables ProSina to cross-link with the keratin in nails, resulting in an increase in the integrity and cohesion of the nail plate. The natural moisturising properties conferred by the low molecular weight peptides are also said to improve skin hydration, elasticity and barrier function, and create visible improvements in skin texture.
“There are few products on the market with strong claims for the improvement of nail strength as well as improving the condition of skin. We have conducted a number of skin and nail studies which show that this novel ingredient provides outstanding conditioning and protection benefits for both hands and nails,” commented a Croda spokesperson.
In one study the product’s effects on nail integrity were demonstrated using a protein solubility test. Results show that nails treated with a cream containing 3% ProSina reduced the solubility of proteins within the nail by 62% compared to nails treated with the base cream. This demonstrates that the ingredient helps to improve the integrity and cohesion of the nails. The company adds that scanning electron microscopy of the free lateral edges and tips of nail plates offers further evidence of the superior integrity provided by ProSina.
The product is also supported by claims substantiation work on hand skin. Tests have shown that it consistently increases the hydration and elasticity of dry skin compared with a control. For hands repeatedly exposed to detergents that can irritate and damage the skin, a surfactant study demonstrated that ProSina enabled the skin to recover more quickly from exposure to sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) compared with a control cream.
