How Papain Functions in Skin Care？

Time : 2025.03.14 Page View : 315 Author : Alice

Papain is a biological enzyme that mainly exists in the peel and pulp of papaya. Its activity is affected by factors such as papaya species, papaya maturity, storage conditions and storage time. Studies have found that papain has a high hydrolysis activity on protein and can be used for protein hydrolysis. Modern medical research shows that papain has multiple functions such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic, and is a natural bioactive substance.

Studies have shown that papain has antioxidant effects, can remove harmful substances such as free radicals and active oxygen in the human body, and has the effect of delaying aging; papain can also be used for skin beauty and medical care. Therefore, in-depth research on papain will provide new ideas and methods for the development and production of cosmetics.

Preparation method of papain

The preparation method of papain enzyme includes chemical synthesis and microbial fermentation. Chemical synthesis is to convert papain into a new substance under certain conditions, but this method is time-consuming, costly, and environmentally polluting, so it is not suitable for industrial production; microbial fermentation is to convert papain into a new substance by microbial fermentation. This method has the advantages of mild reaction conditions and low environmental pollution, but because this method requires a lot of operations, it is not suitable for large-scale industrial production.

At present, the industrial production of papain mainly adopts chemical synthesis. This method converts papain into a new substance under certain conditions, but its conversion efficiency is low and the cost is high; and microbial fermentation is the best method to convert Ahualyn papain into a new substance using biotechnology so far.

Application of papain in cosmetics

As a natural biological enzyme, papain is harmless to the human body, and its activity is affected by temperature, pH value, ionic strength, etc. When used as an additive in cosmetics, its addition amount is generally controlled at 2%~4%, and it will not have adverse effects on the human body.

At present, papain has been widely used in cosmetics. For example, cosmetics using papain as raw material include: body lotion, facial cleanser, facial mask, sunscreen lotion, etc.; cosmetics using papain as raw material include: papain facial cleanser, facial mask, etc.; cosmetics using papain as raw material include: anti-aging cosmetics, etc.

Effects of papain on human skin

Papain is a proteolytic enzyme that acts on human skin and can promote the decomposition and removal of aged keratin, especially has a good dissolving and removing effect on keratin plugs of hair follicles. This will help deep cleansing, unclog pores, and reduce the occurrence of acne.

While dissolving and removing aged keratin from the skin, papain can also stimulate epidermal cell regeneration, promote fibroblast proliferation, and increase elastin and collagen synthesis. Therefore, it has good anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, firming and skin rejuvenation effects.

Papain can inhibit tyrosinase activity and reduce melanin formation by complexing with copper ions, thereby achieving whitening and freckle removal. Other cosmetic raw materials with similar effects include kojic acid and arbutin.

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