Skin Cell Energy

Like the other body tissues, the cells of the skin need energy to maintain their vital functions, their ability to regenerate and repair themselves as well as to grow. This energy comes from intracellular metabolic processes.

The dermal blood supply provides the basal cells with nutrients like fats, carbohydrates, proteins and oxygen. Free fatty acids, if in sufficient supply, play the largest role in the energy production. Cells, like those in the stratum granulosum - into which little glucose diffuses - seem to use the fatty acids set free by the dissolution of the cell membrane to produce energy.

Running through every dermal papilla are called capillary loops, from which nutrients can diffuse, over a short distance, into the basal layer.

Methods of energy production
Energy is produced by cells in three different ways:

• Glycolysis
• Citrate Acid Cycle
• Respiratory Chain

Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm and is a quickly-activated form of energy production. The stages of the citric acid cycle and respiratory chain (also known as biological oxidation) proceed in the cell mitochondria.

In the third stage of the metabolism - the respiratory chain - hydrogen atoms are split into protons and electrons. The electrons are transported along the electron transport chain with oxygen as the ultimate acceptor. Along the way, the resulting energy is converted into chemical energy (ATP) by means of oxidative phosphorylation.

The respiratory chain - the master of energy production
The most energy is produced in the respiratory chain. All enzymatic degradation processes of fats, carbohydrates and amino acids end in this third stage of aerobic metabolism. The electron transport system plays a central role. Certain proteins localized almost exclusively in the inner mitochondrial membrane function as electron carriers. Substances like the NAD(P)-dependent dehydrogenases, ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10) or the cytochromes act as collecting points for reducing equivalents or as electron carriers.



The energy released in the electron chain is stored as chemical energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Skin aging and a special electron carrier
A deficiency of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the respiratory chain leads to a reduced cell regeneration capacity, which can result from aging or oxidative stress.. Patients with cardiovascular disease often take Co Q10 orally to make up for this deficiency. Topical application of CoQ10 can also reduce signs of aging.

Sources
Fritsch P. (1990): Dermatologie. 3. Auflage. Springer-Verlag * Heymann E. (1994): Haut, Haar und Kosmetik - Eine chemische Wechselwirkung. S. Hirzel Verlag Stuttgart * Plewig G., Jansen T., Schürer N. Y. (1997): Das Stratum corneum. Der Hautarzt 48: 510-521, Springer-Verlag * Raab W., Kindl U. (1991): Pflegekosmetik - Ein Leitfaden. Gustav Fischer Verlag Stuttgart, Govi-Verlag Frankfurt.