Opinion

Saururus chinensis
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
Modern research has produced evidence supporting the use of this plant in the dermatologic realm.
Opinion

Ulmus davidiana root extract
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
There are several areas in which the bioactivity of U. davidiana are under investigation, with numerous potential applications in...
Opinion

Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry seed oil) extract
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
Bilberries, consumed since ancient times, are reputed to function as potent antioxidants because of a wide array of phenolic constituents, and...
Opinion

Artemisia capillaris extract
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
Various parts of the shrub Artemisia capillaris, found abundantly in China, Japan, and Korea, have been used in traditional medicine in...
Opinion

Is benzophenone safe in skin care? Part 2: Environmental effects
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
Various UV filters, including BP-3, octinoxate, octocrylene, and ethylhexyl salicylate, are thought to pose considerable peril to the marine...
Article

Is benzophenone safe in skin care? Part 1: Risks to humans
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
The best known uses of these compounds are as perfume fixatives and sunscreen agents.
Opinion

The science of clean skin care and the clean beauty movement
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
The problem is that no one agrees on a clean ingredient standard for beauty products.
Opinion

Moisturizers and skin barrier repair
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
There are dozens of skin care products that claim to repair the barrier that do not have the science or ingredient content to back them up.
Opinion

Does the use of frankincense make sense in dermatology?
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
Terpenoids and essential oils are the primary components of frankincense and are known to impart anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity.
Opinion

The tryptophan photoproduct FICZ and its effects on the skin
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
Much more research is necessary to determine how best to harness and direct the useful activities of tryptophan and FICZ without incurring...
Opinion

Vetiver: More than a pleasant aroma?
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
An important ingredient in the contemporary perfume and cosmetics industries, vetiver, is the only grass cultivated throughout the world to retain...
Opinion

Exsanguinating the truth about dragon’s blood in cosmeceuticals
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
Dragon’s blood resin is one of the many botanical agents with roots in traditional medicine that are among the bioactive ingredients used in the...
Opinion
Synthetic snake venom to the rescue? Potential uses in skin health and rejuvenation
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
The peptides and the small proteins found in snake venoms are known to confer a wide range of biologic activities,...
Opinion

Cellular senescence, skin aging, and cosmeceuticals
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
We don't know enough yet, to have cosmeceuticals that affect cellular senescence and autophagy. But, it's not too early to learn about this...
Opinion

Seaweed and other marine-derived products in skin care, Part II: Cosmetic formulations, fucoidan, and salmon eggs
- Author:
- Leslie S. Baumann, MD
In the last couple of decades, secondary metabolites with bioactive properties have been identified in seaweeds.