Nanoparticles, sometimes referred to as "nanos," are incredibly small particles, typically measuring less than 100 nanometers in diameter (for your visualization, that's about 1,000 times thinner than a human hair! Wow!), have a knack for sneaking into places that regular-sized particles could never dream of infiltrating. They can be made from a variety of materials like metals, ceramics, or polymers, and they possess unique properties due to their size and high surface-to-volume ratio.
First, let's talk on their benefits.
Nanoparticles purportedly benefit many scientific areas of discipline. For example, in the medical field, they are used to help direct targeted drug delivery, purportedly enabling doctors to address diseases without affecting healthy cells, just the ones needing corrected. Nanoparticles may also have a place within diagnostics. In environmental science, they allegedly help with pollution and water purification. Nanoparticles in the beauty sphere can lend superior coverage and create a flawless-looking finish. In titanium dioxide format, they can also enhance the sun protection factor (SPF) in sunscreens.
There are major concerns about the potential risks associated with nanoparticles in each field, and here we'll touch on those concerns in cosmetics.
Some studies suggest that certain nanoparticles may penetrate the skin and reach deep layers, raising questions about their long-term effects on human health; nanoparticles can interact with DNA, potentially altering it (!). In other fields, this can be a proposed 'perk,' since gene-editing tools that target specific areas of DNA could supply solutions for genetic diseases. However, in cosmetics, nanoparticles could potentially induce mutations or interfere with normal DNA functions, an ultimate 'no'! Therefore, Heal Yes! never uses them in our cosmetics or supplements.
Related: Particle Sizes in Makeup: Nanoparticles, Micronized, and Micron-Sized
