DoST produces VCO-enriched cream

WITH worries against contacting the Covid-19 virus, handwashing has become the prime sanitation protocol. However, frequent washing makes hands dry, ashy and cracking that puts one at greater risk of infection.

US dermatologist Dr. Joyce ImahiyeroboIvan Ip of Norwell, Massachusetts advises the liberal use of oil-based moisturizers because the skin is the first line of defense.

Luckily, the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DoST-ITDI) has been at work on developing a hand and body lotion and cream enriched with the much-advertised miracle oil — the virgin coconut oil or VCO.

Led by Dr. Rosalinda Torres, Scientist I and Chief of the Standards and Testing Division (STD-ITDI), together with her all-women team, is capitalizing on the unique properties of VCO.

Long established by chemists and pharmacologists in the West (referred as the

“miracle oil” for possessing antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties),VCO is enriched with antifungal properties.

To this end, Dr. Torres has conducted and proven in clinical tests the efficacy and safety of lotion and cream with five percent concentration of VCO were tried to determine their inhibitory activity and reactivity against two fungal strains, Microsporum canis and Candida albicans.

The former causes ringworm of the scalp and body. The latter can cause skin infection in the armpits, groin, and the skin between the fingers and toes.

As expected, the lotion and cream arrested growth and infection of the two fungal strains. Further, these were found to be safe for use as shown by the negative dermal irritation results.

These VCO-enriched lotion and cream will soon be available in the market for Filipinos to enjoy the benefits of an endemic product.