RESEARCH UNVEILED: PIGMENTARY SKIN DISORDERS & HAIR GREYING MOST COMMON CONCERNS IN INDIA
Recipients of the 5th annual IADVL- L’Oréal Indian skin and hair research grant announced
The 5th anniversary ceremony of the IADVL-L’Oréal Indian Skin & Hair research grant saw more than 100 Indian dermatologists and scientists sponsored for their research projects on Indian skin & hair. The grant which is a partnership between L’Oréal and the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologist (IADVL), aims to promote clinical and basic research into Indian skin & hair by Indian dermatologists. The partnership which is in its 5th year has provided grants to 52 projects conducted by Medical and academic university teams across India.
This grant supports one year research projects and the winners share a total amount of INR 20 lakhs each year. The program, strongly rooted in science, effectively promotes scientists and dermatologists from all across India. This new knowledge increases understanding of physiology of skin and hair in India, which is essential to establish preventive and corrective solutions. Selection of the projects is done by a national and international jury according to rules of scientific innovation, fairness and quality.
As of 2016, nearly 100% of grant recipients have completed their research on topics such as: pigmentary skin disorders, premature hair greying and hair loss which appear to be a major concern in India.
Research conducted by scientists has shown a higher frequency of pigmentation disorder occurrence in Indian population. This affects self-confidence, self-esteem, and the quality of life in general. Facial darkness, like melasma and dark circles touch 30% of Indians and can be prevented by daily sunscreens.
For premature greying, it was shown in a large sample of students (4840), that environmental and nutritional factors are as responsible as genetic factors. Another study showed that hair loss in women affects their quality of life and induces negative psychosocial effects. It was also demonstrated with a Hair Breakage specific technology that vegetarian food regimen doesn’t impair hair resistance to breakage.
To commemorate the 5th anniversary of the grant, the Best Publication award was attributed to Dr. Davinder Parsad and Dr A. J. Kanwar for their outstanding research about “Melanocyte-keratinocyte co-culture model to assess regulators of pigmentation and melanocytes”*.
Dr. Rashmi Sarkar, MD, MNAMS, Professor Dept of Dermatology Maulana Azad Medical College and LNJP Hospital New Delhi, says, “It is wonderful to have a special grant that promotes research into Indian skin and hair problems. In my practice, prevention is key in hair and skin disorders. Therefore all these studies are a strong base of information for educational programs to maintain healthy Indian skin and hair.”
* IJVDL | September-October 2012 | Volume: 78 | Issue: 5
As of 2009, this program has been recognized by IADVL as one of the most influential, authoritative and reputable programs in Indian Hair and Skin Science, thanks to high-quality academic articles published by leading Indian experts.
Dr. Michele Verschoore, Medical Director, L’Oreal Research & Innovation says, “L’Oreal’s Research & Innovation team is committed to study hair and skin of all ethnicities, all over the world. This new knowledge allows us to establish preventive and corrective strategies according to each one in his or her environment.”
About L’Oreal and IADVL Partnership:
In July 2009, the IADVL and L’Oréal Research and Innovation created a partnership for a Research Grant: “IADV-L’Oréal Indian Skin and Hair Research Grant”. The goal of this fellowship is to encourage Indian dermatological research in the field of Cosmetic Science and the physiology of Indian hair and skin. The 2016 jury was comprising scientists and dermatologists from IADVL (Dr. Marfatia, Dr. M Venkataram, Dr. M. Chatterjee, Dr. Panda), from Nice Hospital (Dr. T. Passeron) and from L’Oreal R&I (Dr. M.Verschoore, Dr. S. Commo, Dr. N. Roy and Dr. P. Hedge)
About IADVL:
The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL), the largest representing society of Indian Dermatologists was established on 28th January 1973. This association gathers more than 8 000 members and is present in all regions of India, organizes several national and international congresses and publishes Indian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology. www.iadvl.org
About L’Oréal
L’Oréal has devoted itself to beauty for over 105 years. With its unique international portfolio of 32 diverse and complementary brands, the Group generated sales amounting to 25.26 billion euros in 2015 and employs 82,900 people worldwide. As the world’s leading beauty company, L’Oréal is present across all distribution networks: mass market, department stores, pharmacies and drugstores, hair salons, travel retail, branded retail and e-commerce. Research and innovation, and a dedicated research team of 3,870 people, are at the core of L’Oréal’s strategy, working to meet beauty aspirations all over the world. In India, L’Oréal has 2 centers in Mumbai and Bengaluru who collaborate with the Indian scientific ecosystem including universities and dermatologists. www.loreal.com