Glycerin is safe, effective in psoriasis model (Regulates the function of keratinocytes)

Medical XPress / Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University / Intl. Journal of Molecular Sci. ^ | Oct. 4, 2021 | Vivek Choudhary et al

[ConservativeMind]

Patients with psoriasis have reported that glycerin, an inexpensive, harmless, slightly sweet liquid high on the list of ingredients in many skin lotions, is effective at combatting their psoriasis and now scientists have objective evidence to support their reports.

They found that whether applied topically or ingested in drinking water, glycerin, or glycerol, helps calm the classic scaly, red, raised and itchy patches in their psoriasis model.

The studies also provide more evidence of the different ways glycerin enables the healthy maturation of skin cells through four stages that result in a smooth, protective skin layer. Psoriasis is an immune-mediated problem that typically surfaces in young adults in which skin cells instead multiply rapidly, piling up into inflamed patches.

"We have experimental data now to show what these patients with psoriasis are reporting," says Bollag, who nearly 20 years ago first reported that glycerin, a natural alcohol and water attractor known to help the skin look better, also safely helped it function better by helping skin cells mature properly.

Topically, glycerin is known to have a soothing, emollient effect. But another key part of its magic, which Dr. Bollag has helped delineate, is its conversion to the lipid, or fat, phosphatidylglycerol, which ultimately regulates the function of keratinocytes, our major skin cell type, and suppresses inflammation in the skin.

Glycerin gets into the skin through avenues like aquaporin-3, a channel expressed in skin cells, and the MCG scientists have shown that once inside, aquaporin 3 funnels glycerin to phospholipase-D-2, an enzyme that converts fats in the external cell membrane into cell signals, ultimately converting glycerin to phosphatidylglycerol.

In 2018, Bollag and team reported that topical application of phosphatidylglycerol reduced inflammation and the characteristic raised skin patches in a mouse model of psoriasis.

[ConservativeMind]

It appears glycerin directly calms and helps properly mature the crazed skin cells into normal cells.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Bkmrk

[OrangeHoof]

Bkmrk

[OrangeHoof]

From the Mayo Clinic:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/glycerin-oral-route/precautions/drg-20067747?p=1

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus—Use of glycerin may increase the chance of dehydration (loss of too much body water)

Confused mental states or
Heart disease or
Kidney disease—Glycerin may make these conditions worse

[ConservativeMind]

That is one route for using it, and they found that approach greatly helped.

However, direct application to the skin worked similarly.

[moovova]

I have a patch near my elbow about the size of a dime. Doc gave me some cream that has helped a lot and it’s almost gone. I considered myself lucky the spot was so small...hugely irritating!

[waterhill]

Daily doses of zinc help me immensely. And acv drink 3 x a day..

[OrangeHoof]

I wasn’t trying to say “don’t use it”, rather “be alert to possible side effects”. I have a terrible case of eczyma so I am looking at potential solutions. Thanks for posting this.