Using Silicone to Make your Skin Beautiful
When silicone is mentioned in terms of beauty, the first thought is that most have breaks implants, most of which are done with silica gel implants. But, interestingly, that isn’t the only use for silicone in the beauty market. There is actually a safer and more natural use for it, that is, in food supplements that are rich in bioavailable forms of silicone.
Silicone is an essential trace element that promotes the formation and maintenance of connective tissues. It helps to build the amount of hydroxyproline, one of the main amino acids needed for collagen and elastin production. Several studies have shown that by adding bioavailable form of silicone to tissue culture, type I collagen production levels will increase. There has also been some evidence that using silicone supplements will positively affect skin, hair, nails, and cartilage. At the University of Antwerp, a study was done that looked at the effects of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on the nails, skin, and hair. 50 women were studied using both double-blind and placebo-controlled methods. It was found that small but statistically significant differences (15-20%) were derived from the use of the supplements. The effects on the skin that were seen included smoother, firmer, and stronger skin. The nails and hair were also stronger.
More research is needed to validate these findings and discover the optimal doses and treatment times. If you don’t want to wait, there is a supplement of a bioavailable form of silicone that you can try. Choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid is commercially available (Biosil brand) in the same form as was used in the previously discussed study.
For the most part, the body usually accepts silicone. The recommended dosage is generally in the range of 5 to 20 mg. per day. As there is some silicone in food, it is not a good idea to exceed the supplemental doses that have been used for experimental purposes, at least until more studies have been done.