Pineapple Extract for Skin Care

The extract made from pineapples (Ananas comosus) has a variety of positive effects on the skin and
promotes skin elasticity while removing dead damaged skin, while improving hydration and moisture
and promoting a more elastic and clear looking skin.

Cosmetic Properties of Pineapples

Pineapple fruit has some active principles with important effect on skin--sugars and a-hydroxy-acids
(AHA) as well as enzymes.These active principles are responsible for its moisturizing and anti-ageing
action, and also have an antifungal and purifying effect on the skin.

In studies it was also shown that bromelain, contained in pineapples, also has a strong anti-
inflammatory action and has a positive effect, interfering with the growth of malignant cells and
tumors.

The a-hydroxy-acids (AHA) are a group of organic acids that work on the corneal layer and reduce
the cohesion of the corneocytes. The result of the application of AHAs is a thinner corneal layer,
which improves its elasticity and flexibility regardless of the degree of skin hydration.The use of
AHAs gives better results than simple hydration; its action is more significant in cases of extreme
dryness with visible hydro-keratosis.

The sugars and derivatives form hydrogen bridges with. the water on the surface of the skin,
retaining it and thus maintaining the moisture of the horny layer to enhance the elasticity, resilience
and softness of the skin.Two newly discovered enzymes found in pineapple are also highly effective
in removing Facials damaged skin (debridement) as was shown when tested in burn trauma.

Traditional Use of Pineapples

In Africa, the dried, powdered root is a remedy for edema. The crushed rind is applied on fractures
and the rind Facial decoction with rosemary is applied on hemorrhoids. Indians in Panama use the
leaf juice as a purgative, emmenagogue and vermifuge.
Pineapple juice is taken as a diuretic and to expedite labor, also as a gargle in cases of sore throat
and as an antidote for seasickness.

Compounds found in Pineapples skin elasticity

Per 100 g, the fruit is reported to contain 47-52 calories, 85.3-87.0 g H2O, 0.4-0.7 g protein, 0.2-0.3
g fat, 11.6-13.7 g total carbohydrate, 0.4-0.5 g fiber, 0.3-0.4 g ash, 6-32 mg Ca, 8-12 mg P, 0.5 mg
Fe, 1-2 mg Na, 125-146 mg K, 32-42 mg b-carotene equivalent, 0.05-0.08 mg thiamine, 0.03- 0.04
mg riboflavin, 0.2-0.3 mg niacin, and 17-61 mg ascorbic acid. Cultivars may contain 1-5% citronic
acid (wild forms up to 8.6%), ca 3.5% invert sugars, 7.5% saccharose, approaching 15% at maturity.
Also reported are vanillin, methyln-propyl ketone, n-valerianic acid, isocapronic acid, acrylic acid, L(-
)-malic acid, b-methylthiopropionic acid methyl ester (and ethyl ester), 5-hydroxytryptamine and
quinic acid-1,4-di-p-coumarin.

Pineapple extract is classified in cosmetic application as Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract
and is chemically classed as a biological product and its function as Face and Neck Preparations
(Excluding Shaving Preparations).