HAMBURG, Germany, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — NIVEA has developed a unique product especially for a young woman named Charlotte, who suffers from the rare photosensitive disease EPP. The research and development department of the skin care company Beiersdorf, which is behind the NIVEA brand, used its in-depth knowledge of skin and its research experience to adapt a cosmetic sun protection product uniquely to Charlotte’s needs, giving her thus a better quality of life. Research on high-energy visible light showed that special light-diffusing pigments needed to be added to a sunscreen for Charlotte. These can prevent light from penetrating the skin and allow the girl to be exposed to the sun for a short period of time and thus have a better quality of life.
- Thanks to NIVEA’s specially developed cosmetic sun protection, the “jumper shade” Charlotte can enjoy the sun for a short time.
- Four-year-old Charlotte suffers from a condition known as EPP – Erythropoietic Protoporphyria. People affected by this condition are often called “shadow jumpers” due to their inability to expose themselves to sunlight.
- This unique research and development project is clear proof of how NIVEA contributes to the purpose of Beiersdorf CARE BEYOND SKIN.
Charlotte, a four-year-old girl near Munster, was born with the rare genetic EPP light disorder. When her skin comes into direct contact with the visible and colored components of sunlight, a genetic defect causes neuropathic pain and skin burns. Even as a baby, Charlotte suffered and cried when sunlight touched her skin, so her parents did everything they could to find help. When this concern NIVEA and Dr. Ludger Kolbe, a research project for an innovative cosmetic sunscreen was launched to help Charlotte.
The research was carried out by Dr. Ludger Kolbe, chief scientist for photobiology at Beiersdorf, and his team. Thanks to their experience, they were able to develop the unique cosmetic sunscreen, tailor-made exclusively for Charlotte. Dr Kolbe explains: “We are pleased that we have found a special solution for Charlotte with the high standards of skin protection we look for at NIVEA. With the Personal Sunscreen, she still needs to be careful in the sun, but she can play a little more in the sun. outdoors with friends.”
The cream changed the family’s life. Applied in thickness, the protective function allows the child to be in direct sunlight for a short time – which was previously unthinkable. For Charlotte’s parents, this makes everyday life immensely easier: “The NIVEA brand and the research and development department at Beiersdorf did everything they could to find a solution for Charlotte. When we saw Charlotte laughing in the sun after applying the cream for the first time, we were impressed,” says Johannes Hesseling, Charlotte’s father.
The cosmetic sun protection was developed especially for Charlotte and her individual skin needs and is therefore not part of the existing NIVEA product portfolio or commercially available. The product cannot cure EPP and Charlotte still needs to be very careful in the sun, but the cream gives her a little more freedom when going out. In the summer of 2021, the product will be able to be used by Charlotte for the first time.
When the sun is a challenge
Ultraviolet light (the blue light from sunlight) causes intense pain in EPP patients, so they always seek shade when outdoors. Precisely for this reason, the disease was officially called “shadow leap” by psychologist Elisabeth Anna Rufener.[1] Shadowjumper disease is caused by a rare genetic defect: when exposed to sunlight, a precursor to the red blood pigment, protoporphyrin, is deposited in blood vessels. This ensures that visible light energy is absorbed, which triggers a chemical reaction – a burning in the vessels, which the affected person perceives as severe pain.[2] .
More information about Charlotte Cream: www.nivea.com/shadowjumper
And at: https://www.beiersdorf.com/newsroom/press-releases/all-press-releases/2023/01/16-nivea-develops-unique-cosmetic-sunscreen-for-a-young-girl
[1] Source: EPP Germany, Selbsthilfe EPP eV (2022/13/04) “When the sun hurts”. [Online verfügbar auf: http://www.epp-deutschland.de]
[2] Source: vfa: The Research Pharmaceutical Companies (2022/10/10) “Self-help EPP eV – Patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria”. [Online verfügbar auf: https://www.vfa.de/de/patienten/patientenselbsthilfegruppen/psg-vorstellung-169.html]
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