Beiersdorf : Happy Birthday, Q10!

In the 1990s Beiersdorf researchers started their intensive studies on the modulation of skin aging processes. In the end the research team was able to reveal the essential importance of Q10 for the energy metabolism of skin cells: 'Q10 is essential for life,' Dr. Thomas Blatt, Principal Scientist at Beiersdorf R&D, says. 'This molecule is located in every single human cell and can activate about 95% of our entire body energy. It plays a central role in mitochondrial conversion of nutrients into cellular energy, but in its second function as an antioxidant, it is also able to scavenge damaging free radicals that accelerate skin aging,' the human biologist says.

After intensive research our scientists were also able to prove that Q10 levels in skin cells rapidly decreases with age, stress and UV radiation. 'This starts a vicious circle: the skin's metabolism is more and more error-prone accompanied by an increased generation of free radicals. As a result, the skin cells need more and more energy for repair and protection,' says Dr. Julia Weise, Lab Manager in Biological Testing. The solution: 'Our work has shown that this can be compensated for when the skin's own Q10 is made available with the help of our anti-aging products, replenishing the skin's Q10 depot,' the skin researcher says.