”A fleur de peau” when Nobel Prize meets cosmetics

”A fleur de peau”… Any guesses? It’s a very poetic-sounding French expression meaning ‘hypersensitive’ or ‘thin-skinned’, but in this case, it’s the perfect way to describe the action of our active ingredient made from saffron crocus ‘fleur’ extract to sooth and calm sensitive skin. As well as targeting inflammation and skin barrier function, our active acts on receptors in our skin such as TRPV1 which is associated with touch, detecting heat, and skin discomfort. The fascinating discovery of these receptors by David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian recently earned them the 2021 Nobel Prize for Medicine.

But what is the link between TRPV1 and sensitive skin?

The ‘hot-flush’ feeling which is often described by people suffering with sensitive and reactive skin is transmitted from the skin tissue to our brain by these TRPV1 receptors. They convert this ‘heat’ signal into an electrical signal that the brain can interpret. They are also referred to as nociceptors or pain receptors, since their activation can lead to a burning sensation like in the presence of capsaicin, one of the active molecules present in chili peppers. It turns out that the expression of TRPV1, present on the surface of keratinocytes, is upregulated in people with sensitive skin, which also correlates with the intensity of symptoms.

Saffron crocus flower the solution for sensitive skin

It is therefore in this context that our upcycled saffron crocus flower active ingredient has been the subject of further research into its action on skin discomfort via TRPV1. The results obtained prove that the active has an antagonistic effect on this receptor, which explains the sensation of freshness felt by volunteers during our clinical study, as well as significant improvements in terms of skin comfort and reduced skin redness.

You’d like to know more about Sens’flower, the ‘upcycled’ saffron flower saviour for sensitive skin? Then don’t hesitate to get in touch with your usual sales contact! 

Références 

• Ehnis‐Pérez, Adriana, et al. “Relationship between transient receptor potential vanilloid‐1 expression and the intensity of sensitive skin symptoms.” Journal of cosmetic dermatology 15.3 (2016): 231-237.
• Bevan, Stuart, Talisia Quallo, and David A. Andersson. “Trpv1.” Mammalian transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels (2014): 207-245.