Be
Beta-Glucan
Beta-Glucan · Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-GlucanSoothing
A long sugar from yeast, oats or mushrooms. Small studies suggest some forms help skin resist irritation and ease eczema itch.
What it does
It’s a long sugar molecule from yeast, oats or mushrooms, and each source is a different material. Neither the yeast nor the mushroom form has much evidence: the yeast form was tested by its maker, and the mushroom form in small studies.
The evidence, graded
moderateJesenak et al. (2016): in an open split-body study of 105 people with atopic dermatitis (80 completed), a cream with pleuran, a beta-glucan from oyster mushroom, significantly improved objective and subjective symptoms, including itch, on the treated side. Schiano et al. (2021): in 20 people, the pleuran-based cream visibly reduced UV-induced redness compared with the control area.Jesenak 2016 · Journal of Dermatological Treatment ↗
emergingZulli et al. (1998), from Mibelle AG Cosmetics, made carboxymethyl glucan (CM-glucan) from baker’s yeast. In placebo-controlled studies with healthy volunteers, pretreating skin with CM-glucan offered substantial protection against skin damage from a detergent challenge or UV-A irradiation, and it enhanced the renewal rate of the stratum corneum.Zulli 1998 · International Journal of Cosmetic Science ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Pairs worth knowing
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