Bee venom is a clear, odorless liquid substance secreted from the venom glands in the abdomen of worker bees (Apis mellifera L.) and collected in the venom sac located at the base of the bee's stinger. The amount of venom in a bee varies depending on the season and the bee's structure, ranging from 0.05-0.3 ml/bee. Only 0.1 micrograms of dry venom can be obtained from one bee, and approximately 10,000 bees are needed to obtain 1 gram of dry venom. Bee venom comprises various enzymes, proteins, and peptides, including melittin, apamin, adolapin, MCD, phospholipase, hyaluronidase, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Scientific studies have shown that bee venom's natural peptides, enzymes, and proteins positively affect the skin. As a natural part of the aging process, collagen and elastin production decreases in the skin, leading to a loss of skin tissue plumpness and the formation of wrinkles.
The beneficial effects of bee venom on the skin include:
- Supporting a plump skin appearance by increasing collagen and elastin production
- Accelerating skin regeneration
- Supporting a more radiant and smoother skin appearance by strengthening the skin barrier • Reducing the appearance of wrinkles
- Delaying the formation of new wrinkles by moisturizing the skin. It is important to note that bee venom should only be used topically in skin care products and not injected into the skin. Individuals allergic to bee stings should avoid using bee venom in any form.
References:
Ali, Aida, et al. "Cosmetic Applications of Bee Venom." Toxins, vol.13, no. 11, 2021, p. 810, doi:10.3390/toxins13110810. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1655167 https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/720151