INGREDIENTS MATTER

---

Zap-H™ Ingredients 

Zap-H™ consists of ingredients that have been shown, using in vitro laboratory tests, to dissolve the viral protective envelope, including that of the herpes virus, which is the cause of cold sores/fever blisters, genital herpes and the shingles rash (i.e. Herpes Zoster).  Ingredients are non-toxic, considered either GRAS, Generally Recognized As Safe, and/or approved topical agents used in skin care. (GRAS is an FDA designation for an ingredient's acceptability for use in food.) 

 Zap-H™ INGREDIENTS LIST

* INGREDIENTS GENERATING BENEFICIAL PROPERTIES NOTED IN LAB TESTS

 Water: a water-based cream is used for Zap-H™, as it has numerous advantages over oil-based skin care creams, including minimizing skin irritation, which is not uncommon with oil-based formulations. The proprietary blend of ingredients (patent pending) improves skin absorption, which enhances the hydrating effect on skin sores and leaves a soothing feeling with no lasting residue on the skin. 

 Monolaurin, a derivative of coconut oil, is also the largest material in mother's milk besides water, where it measures at 20% of the milk's non-water materials. This means it is completely safe and an important defense agent. Other ingredients that are derivatives of plant oils include lauric acid and glycerin. Monolaurin and lauric acid (natural fats/oils) have been shown in lab tests to have selective antimicrobial, and antiviral, properties for decades. There are reports that applying coconut oil can help to treat cold sores but coconut oil is oil-based, as opposed to the water-based Zap-H™ emulsion. In this way, pure coconut oil may not have the rapid hydrating properties as Zap-H™, which may be the reason for its limited effectiveness for cold sores. 

 Citric Acid: a compound found in oranges, lemons, limes and numerous vegetables. Has antimicrobial properties, preservative properties, and is used for pH (acid-alkaline) balance.  

 Trisodium Citrate (TSC): used in conjunction with citric acid as a buffer to maintain a stable pH (proper acid - alkaline balance).

 Amino Acid: Glycine: hydrating and skin-replenishing ingredient, used to improve moisture retention, promote collagen production, and support skin repair and regeneration. 

* CONDITIONING AGENTS – These compounds function to 1) emulsify/ solubilize, i.e., dissolve and stabilize the fatty oils in a water-based formulation; 2) maintain long term heat stability; 3) generate a smooth creamy texture; 4) enhance skin permeability (adds to Zap-H™ efficacy).

 Lecithin: A plant-derived co-emulsifier to enhance water solubility of fatty oil ingredients. Replaces synthetic emulsifiers. It also acts as a skin permeation enhancer and has antioxidant effects that can enhance shelf life. 

 Cyclodextrins: sugar-derived compounds that improve oil-water solubility. They have a long history of use in the food and pharmaceutical industries with an excellent safety profile.  In addition to stabilizing fatty compounds in the water-based emulsion, they also enhance skin penetration for quick absorption of Zap-H™ cream. 

 Gum: (not the chewing type) Sclerotium Gum is utilized as a stabilizing agent to maintain long term stability of the emulsion, as well as a skin protectant.  It has been in use in skin formulations for nearly 50 years.  It is a natural fermentation product of certain bacteria. The Cosmetics Ingredient Review Board has deemed it safe. Sclerotium Gum is another name for scleroglucan, which is a type of beta glucan. Beta Glucans are considered GRAS per the FDA.  

 Additional solvent: Pentylene Glycol: (not propylene glycol) helps solubilize the fatty oils in the water-based Zap-H™.  It enhances skin absorption of Zap-H™ ingredients.  100% bio-based and made from renewable raw materials like sugar cane. It replaces propylene glycol, a petroleum-based compound that is used in the skin care industry.  Pentylene Glycol has much lower potential to cause skin irritation or allergic reactions compared to propylene glycol.   

 Menthol: provides a gentle cooling, soothing feeling with a pleasant fragrance. 

* PRESERVATIVES (prevents the cream from spoiling)

 Potassium Sorbate: a preservative, commonly used in skin care products, has been used for many years since its discovery in the 1850s. Its antimicrobial properties were first discovered in the 1930s.  It has documented safety and is considered GRAS per the FDA. 

 Sodium Benzoate: a preservative, not uncommonly used in combination with Potassium Sorbate to enhance preservative properties. It has been used as a preservative in skincare products since the early 1900s. It has a very good safety profile and is considered GRAS per the FDA. 

                                             ....................

The combination of all the above generates a water-based formulation with viral envelope disruption properties (based on in vitro lab tests and not proven in human skin care), along with enhancing skin absorption of ingredients (which improves efficacy), maintains a stable pH, is well preserved for long shelf-life stability, and has a nice soothing appeal once it is applied with rapid skin penetration such that no lasting film is visible.  The ingredients are like a tight, championship sports team, working together, with no abusive members.