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Bamboo Charcoal In Skincare
What Is Bamboo Charcoal?
Bamboo charcoal is made up of pieces of the rapidly growing moso bamboo, Phyllostachys edulis, plant. As the moso bamboo matures, millions of tiny holes or pores form in the stalks.
These tiny holes increase the surface area of the bamboo. As a result a single gram (.035 ounces) of bamboo charcoal has as much as 600 square meters (718 square yards) of surface area.
When the bamboo reaches the age of five, it is harvested and cut into pieces. These pieces undergo a firing process at temperatures of 1800 degrees Fahrenheit to create the bamboo charcoal.
What Is Activated Bamboo Charcoal?
To “activate” bamboo charcoal it is ground into a powder and injected with steam (no other chemicals). This “activation” process increases the surface area twofold. The more surface available the faster the rate of adsorption.
This means that the powder is able to adsorb a greater volume of bacteria, toxins and micro-particles. While regular bamboo charcoal and activated charcoal have the same adsorption abilities, activated carbon has a tighter hold on the substances it adsorbs.
Adsorption vs. Absorption
When reading about charcoal, you will often see the word "adsorption." This is not a typing error. There is a difference between adsorption and absorption.
Adsorption is a process in which the toxins or chemicals attach or adhere to the surface of a material, like the charcoal.
This should not be confused with the word absorption, in which the toxins or chemicals would actually pass into and become part of the material--like a sponge absorbs water. Adsorption only involves the surface of the material while absorption involves the whole volume of the material.
For example, when you cut yourself, you may put a salve on your cut and the salve will be absorbed into your skin. When you cover the cut with an adhesive bandage, the bandage adheres to the surface of your skin. Activated charcoal adsorbs toxins, it does not absorb them. You can also think of a material that adsorbs, like charcoal, acting like a magnet to draw impurities to its surface.
History
While the addition of activated charcoal to personal care products may seem new, charcoal has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The first recorded use of medicinal charcoal comes from an Egyptian medical papyri written around 1500 BC when ancient Egyptians used charcoal to adsorb wound odor.
Today charcoal is still used to purify the water we drink. It is used in air filters to purify the air we breathe and in the ground to detoxify the soil in which we grow our food. Medicinal charcoal is used in the treatment of drug overdose and poisoning, in kidney and liver dialysis machines and in wound dressings. It is also an effective, natural deodorizer. It can be mixed with water and taken internally for poisoning, indigestion, and diarrhea, or used externally in poultices, compresses or baths to help treat of infections, pain, and detoxify the skin.
Why Bamboo?
Bamboo has become popular with environmentally conscious consumers because it is one of the most sustainable resources available. When harvested responsibly, bamboo can renew itself for generations without synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.
While activated wood charcoal has similar properties, activated bamboo charcoal is four times more porous than regular wood charcoal, which greatly increases its effectiveness to eliminate impurities and neutralize odors.
The other considerations are that wood charcoal comes from “mixed woods.” Since we do not know the composition of mixed wood charcoal, it could pose a problem for folks with allergies or sensitivities. We also cannot answer other questions like, "where did the wood came from?" "was it harvested sustainably?" or "was it sprayed with pesticides?"
Bamboo charcoal is an environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible ingredient. It is 100% natural and safe to use around pets and children.
How Bamboo Charcoal Works In Skin Care
Because of its natural ability to draw out dirt and debris from deep inside pores, activated bamboo charcoal has become a key ingredient in many skincare products. Activated charcoal . . .
- adsorbs impurities due to its super-porous structure--one teaspoon has the surface area of a football field
- has millions of pores to trap and store pollutants, impurities and other harmful substances so they can be washed away
- naturally deep cleans and gently exfoliates to remove dead skin cells without drying skin
- works especially well to deep clean oily, combination and blemish-prone skin types
- has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal properties making it a great choice for acne prone skin
- is gentle enough for all skin types
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