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Ectoine is a natural substance produced by specific microorganisms living in places that are difficult to reach for humans. Ectoine is used in the production of drugs used in cases of allergic reactions. Ectoine is also a component of cosmetics whose basic property is moisturizing and caring for atopic skin. What should you know about ectoine?
What is ectoine?
Ectoine is an organic chemical that is produced naturally by several species of bacteria. Ectoine is produced by fermentation by microorganisms called extremophiles. As the very name of these bacteria indicates, they are organisms that can survive in very difficult and unfavorable conditions of the natural environment. An exemplary extremophile will be inhabited by salt lakes, geysers, volcanic craters, deserts, and arctic ice sheets. The ectoine produced by these bacteria protects them against all adverse external conditions. Extremophiles can easily survive UV radiation, dry surroundings and extremely high and low temperatures. This means that ectoine is a substance that exhibits very strong protective properties. Depending on the place where extremophiles naturally occur, microorganisms take different names. The extremophiles that inhabit hot lakes and volcanoes are thermophiles, while the microorganisms in salt lakes are called halophiles. Microorganisms that can survive the lowest temperatures, for example under the surface of Arctic ice, are called psychrophiles.
What are the properties of ectoine?
Ectoine is a substance that has been appreciated in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries for its strong protective properties. Research has shown that ectoine, as in the case of bacteria, has a protective and stabilizing effect on the cells that make up the human body. Ectoine has been used as an ingredient in antiallergic drugs, but also as a supplement to cosmetics. Ectoine has the property of binding water molecules, thanks to which it moisturizes the skin, preventing or inhibiting the drying of the skin. The binding of water molecules by ectoine mainly consists in the formation of the so-called ectoine hydrocomplexes that create a specific armor that protects the skin against excessive water loss. It can therefore be concluded that the main properties of ectoine are antiallergic, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties.
Ectoine for allergy
Ectoine is a natural substance that is very popular especially among people struggling with allergies. Ectoine effectively relieves allergic symptoms, such as sneezing, nasal blockage, runny nose, watery eyes and reddening of the eyelids. Preparations that are helpful in cases of allergy symptoms are obtained by adding ectoine particles, for example, to nasal drops or eye drops. Beginning in 2013, ectoine became an ingredient of allergy medications available on the Polish market. Ectoine has enriched nasal drops, inhalation solutions and allergy lozenges.
Ectoine as an ingredient in cosmetics
Ectoine is a chemical compound that has also found application in dermatology. This substance is effective in alleviating and treating the symptoms of atopic dermatitis and other dermatoses. Creams enriched with ectoine help patients deal with dry skin, in cases where we are dealing with the dysfunctional effects of the so-called the skin’s hydrolipid mantle.
Before use, read the leaflet, which contains indications, contraindications, data on side effects and dosage as well as information on the use of the medicinal product, or consult your doctor or pharmacist, as each drug used improperly is a threat to your life or health.