Natural spring water from the Lake District helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles
Posted By Journalist on September 24, 2010
A natural spring water from the Lake District has been shown to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles in women aged 24-43 by an average of 24% in a ground-breaking study using objective measurements for the very first time.
The eight week study set out to investigate whether drinking water really is good for the skin. It uniquely used a state of the art camera and software analysis system to measure the improvements objectively, rather than relying on human interpretation of the results.
The Canfield VISIA camera and software system was used at the start and the end of the study to provide objective and repeatable facial skin evaluations.
Half of the 53 men and women who completed the study were asked to drink 1.5 litres of Lake District Willow Water a day, while the other half were given another leading premium brand of bottled water. Neither cohort knew which water they were consuming.
The independent doctors analysing the results after eight weeks found an average 20% reduction in the appearance of wrinkles across the entire study. Significantly, in-depth statistical analysis showed that, among women in the key 24-43 age group, those drinking Willow Water saw an average 24% reduction in appearance of wrinkles. Those drinking the placebo water saw a reduction of 19%.
It is widely felt that further investigation into the findings could help put an end to the long running debate over whether drinking water is actually good for the skin. As a result, discussions are ongoing with a leading British university to carry out further investigations into the effects of drinking Willow Water.
Dr Thornton MacCallum, of Cotswold Medical Aesthetic, was the principal clinical investigator on the study, which was commissioned by Willow Water. He said: “It’s clear from the VISIA data that regularly drinking water can promote more youthful looking skin and can improve the skin’s appearance, particularly in the case of wrinkles. In the key target group of women between the ages of 24 and 43, it also appears that drinking Willow Water has an even greater impact.”
“The trial was double-blind and placebo-controlled and the state-of-the-art VISIA complexion analysis system provided very clear readings before and after the water consumption took place. The ability of the software to analyse people’s skin and, in the case of wrinkles, their length, depth and quantity was a key element of the trial. The results certainly merit further exploration.”
Co-investigator on the study, Harley Street doctor Peter Ashby, FRCS, said he had been surprised by the difference in the Willow cohort’s skin when he analysed subjects’ complexions. “I must admit I was sceptical when I was first told about the study – I thought it was going to be a waste of time but in all honesty I was amazed that those drinking Willow Water did see an extra improvement in their wrinkles,” he said.
At this stage it is hard to say why the changes came about. What is known about the water is that Willow naturally contains a unique blend of minerals and nutrients, including calcium and salicin. The spring where Willow Water is sourced rises where vast forests of white willow trees once grew on Cartmel Fell. The trace salicin comes from the willow bark.
Willow Water’s Managing Director, Clwyd Price-Jones, said they had commissioned the trial following an independent open study on 150 women in 2009. In that study more than 70% of subjects reported improvements in their skin after drinking 1.5L of Willow a day for six weeks.
“We’ve known for a long time that Willow Water can have an amazing effect on the skin, based on testimonials from thousands of regular drinkers who have noted positive changes to their complexions. We receive emails, phone calls and letters on a daily basis from customers who genuinely believe it has changed their lives and, although we didn’t launch Willow Water into the marketplace until 2003, it traces its roots back to the 12th century when the spring’s restorative properties were discovered by Augustinian Monks. We’re really pleased that these initial findings seem to back up our anecdotal evidence and we’re looking forward to spring, when we should have the next set of results,” he said.
The company is currently considering whether the results of this and follow up research will be submitted to the Food Standards Agency for consideration to be included in the list of permitted health claims allowed by the European Commission.
Source:cosmeticnewsportal.com
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