Key ingredients of P.O.L. CREAM
Pure Omental Lipids
P.O.L. Cream is formulated to deliver the proven benefits of phospholipids— powerful natural antioxidants and the chief moisturizing agent in the skin which penetrate the skin to provide long lasting moisturizing and protection – to provide safe and effective treatment and protection of dry, cracked skin. Phospholipids are the prime building blocks of all forms of life – and thus Phospholipids are indispensable to all forms of life and healthy skin: assembling and strengthening skin cell membranes, stimulating microcirculation and accelerating the natural healing of superficial and serious traumatized skin.
P.O.L. Cream also delivers two other natural lipids, glycolipids and ceramides and contains the antioxidant vitamins A and E to protect and promote skin repair. Healing and soothing Allantoin helps maintain skin health. Hyaluronic Acid attracts and retains moisture, while Dimethicone and Glycerin protect, condition, and hydrate skin.
Vitamin E (tocopherol acetate)
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. It protects skin cell membrane lipids and slows the development of fine lines and wrinkles by preventing the formation of free radicals, which cause premature aging. Essential to tissue repair.
Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate)
Vitamin A is a natural antioxidant that stimulates the growth and development of skin. Vitamin A also helps regulate sebum production. Sebum acts as a protective barrier against infection.
Allantoin
This ingredient in P.O.L. CREAM helps create soft, silky, and smooth skin. It stimulates the skin-repair process and healthy tissue formation. It also helps eliminate chapping and cracking. Allantoin is also soothing, healing, and anti-irritating.
Hyaluronic Acid (sodium hyaluronate)
Thanks to this ingredient, P.O.L. CREAM attracts and retains water in the dermis to restore elasticity and enhance hydration to give skin a more youthful appearance.
Glycerin
This highly effective moisturizing agent keeps the intercellular layer intact, and acts as a natural barrier to help skin retain and attract moisture.
Stearoxy Dimethicone
This moisture barrier protects and conditions skin. It acts as an emollient (or lubricant) to give skin a soft, smooth appearance.
Propylene Glycol
Along with other glycols and glycerol, this moisturizer is found in many health and beauty products.
Proplyparaben
This safe, widely used preservative is found in many cosmetic products. Proplyparaben is believed to cause less irritation than some other preservatives.
Phenoxyethanol
This is a common cosmetic preservative.
P.O.L. Cream Formula Ingredients:
Purified Water (Aqua), Omental Lipids, Stearoxy Dimethicone, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol,Methylparaben, Triethanolamine,Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance (Parfum).
Scientific studies of Pure Omental Lipids
Omental lipids overview
The omentum is known to exhibit multiple therapeutic characteristics, and scientists continue to discover its remarkable benefits. Omental lipids come from the omentum, the tissue that helps protect the internal organs. It is able to limit the spread of infection while contributing to wound repair. University researchers originally developed omental lipids as an ingredient; since then, it has received 11 U.S. patents.
Studies have shown that omental lipids offer a number of unique characteristics:
- Protective benefits result from mobility and structure
- Defend against infections
- Adhere to infected areas
- Serve as effective surgical grafting medium
- Angiogenic factors stimulate growth of new blood vessels
- Rich in lipids, neutral glycerides, phospholipids, glycolipids, and gangliocides
- Contain polypeptide growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor) with angiogenic activity
The following clinical studies have also demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of Cabot P.O.L. Cream:
This study evaluated the effects of a product containing Pure Omental Lipids (Cabot P.O.L. CREAM) versus a typical moisturizer (Cetaphil® Moisturizing Lotion). The study was conducted in 21 subjects with moderate to severe dry skin of the lower legs. Cabot P.O.L. CREAM decreased skin surface dryness/roughness 94% versus 55% for the Cetaphil Moisturizer; increased skin hydration 167% versus 32%, respectively; and improved barrier function (TEWL) 13% versus 7%, respectively. Additionally, after both products had not been used for three days, the test sites for Cabot P.O.L. CREAM still demonstrated a 36% improvement in the overall condition and appearance of dry/rough skin, a 58% increase over the baseline moisture content of the skin, and a 16% improvement in barrier function (compared to 14%, 10%, and 9% for the same categories measured for Cetaphil).
This clinical evaluation examined the cases of 200 non-ambulatory patients between the ages of 50 and 99 with various pathologies. Products containing omental lipids were used to minimize the occurrence of decubitus ulcers. It was concluded that the early use of products containing omental lipids, in at-risk subjects, can minimize decubitus ulcer formation.
Bertoli et al (1999) conducted a study of 210 patients confined to bed: 22 presented decubitus ulcers, 45 local dystrophy, and 143 apparently unaffected skin where the medication was applied for pressure ulcer prevention. Period of application lasted 2-6 weeks (average 3.5 weeks). After treatment, 144 patients presented unaffected skin, two patients with ulcers went into remission, and 63 patients showed marked improvement in ulcers and local dystrophy (erythema, edema, de-epithelialization, maceration, and pain). The overall improvement was statistically significant (p<0.01).
Effectiveness and tolerability in patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency
Lisi et al (1993) studied 20 patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Evaluation of clinical effectiveness: excellent (disappearance of erythematic areas) 25%; good (considerable preventative action) 60%; satisfactory (slight preventative action) 15%.
Faster healing
In a study of 15 patients (data on file, 1990), each underwent four biopsies with 4mm diameter punches, two on the right parasacral area and two on the left parasacral area. One of the wounds made by the biopsies on each side was treated with a cream containing heterologous purified omental lipids (25%), while the other wound on each side was used as control. The cream was applied once daily for 28 days even after the wounds had healed. Measurements were made of the wounds’ external and internal diameters (with a micrometer and planimeter, respectively) and of their depth (with an ultrasound technique). The results showed that the wounds treated with the cream healed more quickly: 21.2 days as opposed to 25.1 days for the control wounds (p=0.001).
Significant improvement in skin conditions and increase in microcirculation in diabetic patients with polyneuropathic ulcers and skin dystrophy
Rinaldi et al (1993) studied 25 patients suffering from polyneuropathic ulcers and widespread skin dystrophy caused by diabetes. On one of the legs, the skin areas surrounding the necrotic tissues were treated with P.O.L. CREAM; on the other, used as a control, a product containing Hyaluronic Acid was applied. Application of both topical products was made twice daily for 30 days. At the end of the follow-up period, the measurements of TEWL (transepidermal water loss), corneometry, sebometry, and pH values all showed significant improvement on the limbs treated with omentum, while the control limbs underwent varying evolution with some slight improvements but also a few cases of worsened conditions. Monitoring of microcirculation with the laser-doppler velocimeter showed no changes in limbs where only Hyaluronic Acid had been applied, but 13 of the limbs treated with the diabetic skin cream containing omentum derivative experienced significant improvement with an increase of 20% with respect to baseline values.
Favorable results in burn patients with chronic itching
A Burn Impression Study (2005) followed 53 patients recovering from deep partial- and full-thickness burns with skin damaged to the point of destruction of sweat glands, leaving skin prone to chronic itching and dryness. 43 (81%) reported favorable results, six (11%) reported results equal to other interventions, while four (8%) reported unfavorable results.
Increase in oxidized hemoglobin in dystrophic skin
Derming Institute (2003) studied 13 subjects. P.O.L. CREAM was applied twice daily to the inside of one forearm; the other arm was left untreated as a control. The quantity of oxidized hemoglobin in the skin was measured using a spectrophotometer: there was a statistically significant growth (p<0.001) in treated arm after 2 and 4 weeks treatment, while no significant difference was observed in the untreated arms.
Milestones in the development of Pure Omental Lipids
1980s – Researchers at Boston University develop porcine omental extract (Angio-Medical)
1989 – “Omental Lipids” enters the CTFA Dictionary
1990 – P.O.L. CREAM is awarded 11 U.S. patents, with 12 pending
1991 – Angio-Medical licenses Difa Cooper for production in Europe
1992 – P.O.L. CREAM launches in Europe for the prevention of decubitus ulcers
2002 – New indications launch in Europe: diabetic skin conditions and burns
2005 – American health care professionals express interest in P.O.L. CREAM
2007 – Plans begin for marketing of P.O.L. CREAM in U.S.
2010 – P.O.L. CREAM now available in U.S.