J&J latest anti-aging products mimic bioelectricity

The company claims that applying mineral microparticles to the skin can help promote the skin’s bioelectricity thereby encouraging repair and healing.

Cell communication​

According to J&J, which presented the research at last week’s annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, bioelectricity is one of the fundamental ways cells communicate with each other.

These bioelectric signals are used by the body in many ways, including neuronal messaging and initiating the heartbeat, Jeannette Chantalat, R&D manager at J&J consumer products explained.

"The skin uses bioelectric signals to activate key processes during the repair and healing process," ​she said.

J&J’s Cytomimic technology has been designed to mimic the body’s native electrical signals, by applying microparticles of zinc and copper to the skin, in an attempt to stimulate the skin’s own rejuvenation process.

‘Miniaturized batteries’​

Chantalat refers to these microparticles of elemental zinc and copper as ‘miniaturized batteries’. Applied topically in a gel or cream delivery system, they sit on the skin’s surface and mimic the body’s native electrical signals.

The Cytomimic technology has been incorporated into two of the company’s skin care brands: Neutrogena and RoC.

Neutrogena Clinical is a two-part skin care regime that starts with the application of the Ion2Complex gel serum containing the zinc and copper particles. This is followed by an activating cream, either a day formula with SPF 30, an eye product or a night cream.

According to the company, the application of the second product activates the Ion2Complex.

The company claims that using the skin care regime, which was launched early March in US stores, for four weeks, can improve wrinkles, crow’s feet and sagging skin.