Skin

Silica
Is silica good for skin?
by PERRY ROMANOWSKI
Margot must knowIm wondering if skin would benefit from topical silica,
and if so, in what ways. I know its touted as being great for hair and nails,
and Ive even read claims that it can help heal acne and plump up skin
(when ingested). A little poking around the internet also lead me to believe
that maybe skin might see benefits from topical application, and I was
wondering if you guys might be able to tell me whether or not that was true.
The Beauty Brains respond:
Whats the scoop on silica?
Silica (aka silicon dioxide) is a trace mineral which is found in a variety of
fruits and vegetables. It plays an important role in maintaining healthy
bones, teeth, skin, tendons, blood vessels, nails and hair. As with other trace
minerals if your diet is deficient in the material then you may benefit from
taking dietary supplements. But you dont need much of it and if you get
enough theres no benefit to taking more.
What about topical application?
Rubbing silica on your hair, skin and nails wont provide any benefit. Thats
because silica is involved in the metabolism of collagen which occurs in the
deep in the dermis. Silica will not work the same way when rubbed on your
skin the metabolic pathways just dont work that way. (Its kind of like
saying that calcium is important for strong bones so Ill rub calcium on my
legs to make my femur stronger.)
In fact, if anything, rubbing silica on your skin will make it WORSE. Thats
because silica is a desiccant meaning it will pull moisture out of your skin.
Thats the last thing you want to do!
The Beauty Brains bottom line
If you have any reason to believe that your diet is deficient in silica then you
may benefit from taking supplements. But rubbing it on your skin is a waste
of time and may do more harm than good.

Side Effects of Silica Supplements

Last Updated: Aug 16, 2013 | By Elizabeth ThatcherThe herb horsetail is a

primary source of silica for supplements. Photo
CreditJupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Silica supplements can originate from either silica dioxide or the horsetail
herb. According to the Vital Health Zone, silica is a mineral that is only
required in small amounts. Silica exists "predominantly in the connective
tissues -- skin, blood vessels, cartilage, bone, teeth, tendons and hair." Thus,
silica is thought to promote healthy blood vessel walls, especially in the
heart. You should always be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration does not regulate supplements as it does prescription
medications. Thus, there are no strict guidelines that the manufacture of the
supplement must adhere to in order to guarantee the product is safe for use.
Vitamin Deficiency
Medline Plus indicates that long-term silica use may result in loss of other
essential vitamins from the body. For instance, silica supplements contain an
enzyme called thiaminese, which destroys the vitamin thiamine or vitamin
B1 in the body. After long-term use, you may discover that you are now
thiamine deficient, which can lead to loss of muscle control and eventual
paralysis. Medline Plus also warns that supplements labeled thiaminase-free
have not been validated and are not guaranteed to be safe since the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration does not regulate supplement companies.
Excessive Urination
Vital Health Zone says that silica supplements may cause excessive urination
that is counteracted in people that have edema. Also, it recommends that
you consume plenty of water while taking silica in order to prevent
dehydration and subsequent ill effects. Traditional suggestions of eight
glasses of water a day would be a bare minimum while taking this
supplement. The need to overhydrate may also lead to low potassium levels
since potassium is flushed out of your system.
Kidney Function
The University of Maryland Medical Center says that prolonged use of silica
supplements in any form is not recommended. Severe kidney trouble may
occur after prolonged use. Kidney stones have been reported in people
taking silica supplements, which may be due to a buildup of silica in the body
since only a small amount is needed for the body to function properly. Also,

general kidney deterioration, which is irreversible, will eventually occur with

excess silica in your system.
COPPER
Copper is a mineral. It is found in many foods, particularly in organ meats,
seafood, nuts, seeds, wheat bran cereals, grain products, and cocoa
products. The body stores copper mostly in the bones and muscles.
The liver regulates the amount of copper that is in the blood. Copper is used
as medicine.
Copper is used for treating copper deficiency and the anemia it may cause.
Having too little copper (copper deficiency) is rare. It sometimes occurs in
people who get too much zinc from diet or supplements, have intestinal
bypass surgery, or are fed by feeding tubes. Malnourished infants can also
have copper deficiency.
Copper is also used for improving wound healing, and treating
osteoarthritis and brittle bones (osteoporosis).
There is no evidence that people who eat a normal diet need
copper supplements. Not even athletes need extra copper if they have a
good diet.
Copper is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts no greater than 10
mg daily.
Copper is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in large amounts. Adults
should consume no more than 10 mg of copper per day. Kidney failure and
death can occur with as little as 1 gram of copper sulfate. Symptoms of
copper overdose include nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, fever, stomach
pain, low blood pressure, anemia, and heart problems.
Side Effects of Copper
Although side effects from low doses of supplemental copper are uncommon,
copper can cause serious health complications when it accumulates at high
levels in your liver and other vital organs. Copper is an essential element
that enables your body to utilize iron and contributes to the production of
healthy red blood cells. Copper facilitates sugar metabolism and plays roles
in the formation of nerves and connective tissues. Your doctor may prescribe
copper supplements if you have a gastrointestinal disorder that interferes
with copper absorption or a health condition that causes you to lose this
essential element. Consult your doctor for a medical evaluation before taking
copper supplements.

Recommendations
Your body needs very small amounts of copper for healthy physical function.
Copper occurs naturally in foods like organ meats, shellfish, nuts, beans,
chocolate and many fruits and vegetables. Diseases of the kidneys or
pancreas, severe burns and chronic stress may increase your need for
copper. The recommended intake of copper for men and non-pregnant
women ages 19 and older is 900mcg per day. If you are taking copper
supplements, the University of Maryland Medical Center advises that you
also take zinc supplements to prevent an imbalance of these nutrients, which
may cause health complications. Consult your doctor about the correct dose
of copper supplements to take for your condition.
Effects on Digestive System
The most common side effects of copper supplements affect your digestive
system. Nausea, heartburn, vomiting, abdominal pain or an upset stomach
are among the gastrointestinal side effects of copper. According to the
University of Maryland Medical Center, the gastrointestinal side effects of
copper are most likely to occur from using water contaminated by copper
pipes or foods and beverages prepared in unlined copper cookware. If you
experience diarrhea, weakness, nausea, black or bloody vomit or abdominal
pain while taking copper supplements, consult your doctor immediately.
Effects on Liver
Your body stores excess amounts of copper in your liver. According to the
Linus Pauling Institute, liver damage may occur from prolonged exposure to
high doses of copper. People with Wilsons disease, a disorder that causes
copper to build up in your liver, kidneys and brain, may experience severe
side effects from taking copper supplements. Because of the potential for
liver damage, the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine has
established a tolerable upper intake level of 10mg of copper per day for food
and supplements combined. For people who have Wilsons disease or other
metabolic conditions that promote copper accumulation, a dose of 10mg per
day of copper may be too high, the Linus Pauling Institute cautions.
Additional Side Effects
Copper may cause dizziness, fainting, headaches, pain with urination or
bloody urine. In rare cases, an overdose of copper may lead to kidney failure,

coma or even death. Although copper toxicity is more likely to result from
water or food contamination than from supplements, you should take copper
under medical supervision to avoid side effects and ensure effective
treatment. Report any symptoms of copper toxicity to your doctor
immediately.
Drug Interactions
Before you take copper supplements, consult your doctor about possible
medication interactions. Some drugs increase copper levels in your
bloodstream, which may put you at risk of copper toxicity if you take copper
supplements. Birth control pills, estrogen replacement medications, and
certain medications used to decrease stomach acid production in people with
heartburn and stomach ulcers may increase copper levels in your body. Take
copper supplements under medical supervision to prevent the side effects of
a copper imbalance.
TOPICAL USE
In ancient Egypt the ankh was the symbol of both eternal life and a
sacred metal, copper. It was believed to give magical powers to those
who wore it. While eternal life might be a bit of a stretch, it turns out
that copper does hold promise for the next-best thing: prolonging
youth."Every decade there's a new antiaging ingredientvitamin A,
collagen. Now it's copper," says Dorit Baxter, whose New York Day Spa
has been at the forefront of beauty treatments for more than 30 years.
Even often skeptical doctors are touting copper's ability to combat the
ravages of time. "Copper definitely plays an important role in
maintaining healthy skin," says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, director
of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai's Department of
Dermatology in New York. "It helps to develop collagen and elastin,
which maintain the strength of the skin, and it promotes the production
of skin-plumping hyaluronic acid." (Translation: less sagging and fewer
lines.) "It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which help
prevent infections," he adds, which is why it has been used in wound
care since the '60s (and shows high hopes for acne treatment too).
Best of all, copper-enhanced lotions and potions pose little danger.
"Unlike with other heavy metals, like silver, the risk of toxicity from
topically applied copper is low because it is metabolized by the body,"
Zeichner says. Baxter is one of the beauty experts putting the research
into action. She recently began offering a PostSurgery Copper
Facial ($135) for the nip-and-tuck crowd to speed up recovery. "The

copper helps heal and hydrate skin and is antiaging," she says. The
gentle treatment, which includes a lymphatic drainage massage before
a layer of copper moisturizer is applied under a paraffin mask, can also
reduce the redness and flaking caused by popular laser treatments like
Fraxel. Baxter uses Blue Copper 5 Firming Elasticity Repair
cream ($85) by Osmotics. "Compared with other antiaging ingredients,
the science, safety, efficacy, and clinical validation of copper peptides
make it unique," says Osmotics founder Francine Porter. The line claims
to increase luminosity and firmness without the risk of irritation
associated with retinoids and glycolic acids.
This month Osmotics is introducing Blue Copper 5 Prime
moisturizer ($138), with a new copper-peptide combo that targets
"mature" skin suffering from hormonal imbalances. Other top-notch
copper-infused anti-agers: StriVectin SD Advanced Intensive
Concentrate for Wrinkles & Stretch Marks ($79), Perricone MD
Blue Plasma Orbital ($65), Ole Henricksen Ultimate Lift Firming
Serum ($55), and Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream ($52).
Beauty sleep is getting a heavy-metal makeover as welland we're not
just talking serums. Cupron, a Virginia-based copper-technology
developer, has invented Iluminage ($60), a satin pillowcase embedded
with microscopic copper particles, which are absorbed by the skin while
you slumber. Biochemist Gadi Borkow, a professor at Hebrew University
in Jerusalem and the chief medical scientist of Cupron, was involved in
several double-blind trials. "After just one month of sleeping on the
pillow, we saw a significant reduction in wrinkles and fine lines," Borkow
says. For those worried about lopsided results, he adds that 70 percent
of the people in the study slept on both sides of their face. (Inquiring
minds wanted to know.) The antiaging Iluminage pillowcase is flying off
the shelves at Bergdorf Goodman.
The properties of copper peptides are now even being applied to hair.
New York dermatologist Dennis Gross, whose much beloved Alpha
Beta Peel pads ($82) already employ copper, is harnessing the metal
in his new Root Resilience Anti-Aging Scalp Serum ($54). "Any
issue you have when it comes to your hairvolume, texture, or shine
starts with the scalp," Gross says. "The copper peptides in the serum
stimulate the collagen in your hair follicle, which helps promote thick
hair and volume." (An independent lab study backs up the theory.)
Results can be seen in two weeks.
RapidLash Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancing Serum ($50) uses a
copper tripeptide to boost hair growth only in the facial areas where
that is actually desirable. Not content with topical solutions, the skincare brand Murad created Age Reform Youth Builder Dietary

Supplement($50 for a 30-day supply), which includes copper. "It works

with zinc and vitamin C to form elastin," says dermatologist and
founder Howard Murad. "Studies show a 34 percent reduction in fine
lines in five weeks." Pills or pillowcases, skin or scalp serums, one thing
is clear: Those copper-loving Egyptians were definitely onto something.
Now about that promise of eternal life.
COPPER PEPTIDES REASEACH PENDING LIQUID