Re: Barefooot henna?

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Posted by Ken Rice on November 10, 2001 at 01:24:34:

In reply to: Re: Barefooot henna? posted by Kenzi on November 7, 2001 at 00:32:25:

Kenzi, thanks very much for replying. You know far more about this
subject than I would know, and I am grateful to learn your thoughts.

As you note, I am not sure that making skin tougher (in the sense of
increasing its resistance to abrasion) and making it softer (in the
sense of making it more flexible) are inconsistent or contradictory
properties.

For example, both the abrasion resistance and softness of a piece of
top-grain rawhide are increased by exposing it to vegetable tannin.
This effect is supposed to be due to hydrogen bonding of the
polyphenolic tannin to collagen and keratin. In this case, a
collagen/keratin/tannin complex is more resistant to abrasion AND
softer than a collagen/keratin complex.

In fact -- I've tried it -- tannic acid makes the sole of the foot
boh tougher and softer, and the same thing might be true lawsone. I
would just use tannic acid, except that I have no idea what the long-
term effects of this practice might be. Henna has the advantage
here, as it is generally recognized as safe for long-term use.

(And it's prettier!)

I have tried to find out how lawsone binds to collagen and keratin,
but so far haven't learned anything useful. It does appear from the
literature that applying lawsone to the skin increases turnover time
in the stratum corneum, and this is also a property of tannin
application. (Stratum corneum turnover time is related to abrasion
resistance - the longer the turnover time, the greater the resistance
to abrasion, other things being equal.)

It is therefore possible that lawsone (a napthoquinone) and tannin (a
polyphenolic) might have similar effects on collagen even though the
two compounds don't resemble each other structurally. That is, they
might increase the toughness and softness of a keratin/collagen
complex.

It appears that lawsone was regarded as a tannin until its structure
was determined (hennotannin),indicating that chemists thought of it
as a compound that acted like tannin.

I am pretty sure that henna increases abrasion resistance
(toughness), and I believe that I have noticed increased flexibility
of the sole (softeness) though the effect is less pronounced.

That's about all I have.

If anyone knows about the chemistry of lawsone/collagen binding, I
would be grateful for references.

Thanks again for replying.

Ken Rice

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: Kenzi, thanks very much for replying. You know far more about this : subject than I would know, and I am grateful to learn your thoughts. : : As you note, I am not sure that making skin tougher (in the sense of : increasing its resistance to abrasion) and making it softer (in the : sense of making it more flexible) are inconsistent or contradictory : properties. : : For example, both the abrasion resistance and softness of a piece of : top-grain rawhide are increased by exposing it to vegetable tannin. : This effect is supposed to be due to hydrogen bonding of the : polyphenolic tannin to collagen and keratin. In this case, a : collagen/keratin/tannin complex is more resistant to abrasion AND : softer than a collagen/keratin complex. : : In fact -- I've tried it -- tannic acid makes the sole of the foot : boh tougher and softer, and the same thing might be true lawsone. I : would just use tannic acid, except that I have no idea what the long- : term effects of this practice might be. Henna has the advantage : here, as it is generally recognized as safe for long-term use. : : (And it's prettier!) : : I have tried to find out how lawsone binds to collagen and keratin, : but so far haven't learned anything useful. It does appear from the : literature that applying lawsone to the skin increases turnover time : in the stratum corneum, and this is also a property of tannin : application. (Stratum corneum turnover time is related to abrasion : resistance - the longer the turnover time, the greater the resistance : to abrasion, other things being equal.) : : It is therefore possible that lawsone (a napthoquinone) and tannin (a : polyphenolic) might have similar effects on collagen even though the : two compounds don't resemble each other structurally. That is, they : might increase the toughness and softness of a keratin/collagen : complex. : : It appears that lawsone was regarded as a tannin until its structure : was determined (hennotannin),indicating that chemists thought of it : as a compound that acted like tannin. : : I am pretty sure that henna increases abrasion resistance : (toughness), and I believe that I have noticed increased flexibility : of the sole (softeness) though the effect is less pronounced. : : That's about all I have. : : If anyone knows about the chemistry of lawsone/collagen binding, I : would be grateful for references. : : Thanks again for replying. : : Ken Rice
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