Squalene is naturally present in our bodies. It is one of the most abundant lipids produced by human skin cells and makes up approximately 10% of sebum. On the surface of the skin, it acts as a barrier, protecting the skin from moisture loss and protecting the body from environmental toxins. In the body itself, the liver produces squalene as a cholesterol precursor. Squalene is a highly unsaturated hydrocarbon from the triterpenoid family, present as a major component of liver oil in some species of deep sea sharks. In addition, squalene is a component of the unsaponifiable fraction of vegetable oils – olive and amaranth. Squalene, if we talk about its effect on human skin, acts as an antioxidant, moisturizer and ingredient in ointments, and is also used in the treatment of skin diseases such as inflammation of the sebaceous glands, psoriasis or atypical dermatitis. Along with this, squalene is an antioxidant-rich emollient used as an additive in deodorants, lip balms, lip balms, moisturizers, sunscreens, and many beauty products. Since squalene “imitates” the natural moisturizers of the human body, it quickly penetrates through the pores of the skin and is absorbed quickly and without residue. The level of squalene in the body begins to decline after the age of twenty. Squalene helps to smooth the skin and soften its texture, but does not cause the skin to become oily. The light, odorless liquid based on squalene has antibacterial properties and can be effective in the treatment of eczema. Acne sufferers can reduce body fat production by using topical squalene. Long-term use of squalene reduces wrinkles, helps heal scars, repairs the body damaged by ultraviolet radiation, lightens freckles and eliminates skin pigmentation by counteracting free radicals. Applied to the hair, squalene acts as a conditioner, leaving hair strands shiny, soft and strong. Taken orally, squalene protects the body from diseases such as cancer, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, and shingles.
Squalene and squalene Squalane is a hydrogenated form of squalene in which it is more resistant to oxidation when exposed to air. Because squalane is cheaper, breaks down more slowly, and has a longer shelf life than squalene, it is the one most commonly used in cosmetics, expiring two years after opening the vial. Another name for squalane and squalene is “shark liver oil”. The liver of deep-sea sharks such as chimaeras, short-spinned sharks, black sharks and white-eyed spiny sharks is the main source of concentrated squalene. Slow shark growth and infrequent reproductive cycles, along with overfishing, are driving many shark populations to extinction. In 2012, the non-profit organization BLOOM released a report titled “The Terrible Cost of Beauty: The Cosmetics Industry Is Killing Deep-Sea Sharks.” The authors of the report warn the public that squalene-derived sharks could disappear in the coming years. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that more than a quarter of shark species are now being brutally exploited for commercial purposes. More than two hundred species of sharks are listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. According to a BLOOM report, the use of shark liver oil in the cosmetics industry is responsible for the deaths of approximately 2 million deep-sea sharks each year. To speed up the process of obtaining oil, fishermen resort to the following cruel practice: they cut out the shark’s liver while it is on board the ship, and then throw the crippled, but still alive animal back into the sea. Squalene can be produced synthetically or extracted from plant sources such as amaranth grains, olives, rice bran, and wheat germ. When buying squalene, you need to look at its source, indicated on the product label. The dosage of this drug should be selected individually, on average, 7-1000 mg per day in three doses. Olive oil contains the highest percentage of squalene among all vegetable oils. It contains 2000-136 mg/708 g of squalene, while corn oil contains 100-19 mg/36 g. Amaranth oil is also a valuable source of squalene. Amaranth grains contain 100-7% lipids, and these lipids are of great value because they contain ingredients such as squalene, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E in the form of tocopherols, tocotrienols and phytosterols, which are not found together in other common oils.