History Of NeoStrata

Dr. Eugene Van Scott was born in Macedon, New York. After receiving B.S. and M.D. degrees from the Universities of Michigan and Chicago, respectively, Dr. Van Scott completed his internship and residency in dermatology at the University of Chicago. In 1968, he went to the Skin & Cancer Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as Professor of Dermatology. His early interests in neoplasia (new growth) led him into the field of cancer research. Prior to his tenure at Temple University, he spent almost two decades at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, where he explored determinants that control growth, as found normally in skin and hair roots. His research compared these growth determinants to those found in the skin disorder psoriasis, as well as those found in skin cancers. In 1972, for his studies in the therapy of what is known as "cutaneous t-cell lymphoma," he received the prestigious Albert Lasker Award. In 1998, Dr. VanScott was named a "Master in Dermatology" by the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dr. Ruey Yu was born in Taiwan. In his early years, Dr. Yu received both a Japanese and Chinese education. After receiving B.S. and M.S. degrees from National Taiwan University, he attended the University of Ottawa in Canada to pursue a doctorate degree. After receiving his doctorate, Dr. Yu was granted a post-doctoral fellowship to carry out research at the division of Biosciences, National Research Council of Canada. In 1967, Dr. Yu went to the Skin & Cancer Hospital, Temple University, as a Research Instructor and was later promoted to Associate Professor. He continued his graduate studies at several universities, received a Doctorate of Oriental Medicine, and was licensed to practice acupuncture. In 1973, Dr. Yu founded Minta Company, Inc., which assisted in research and development, leading to new discoveries for topical treatment of various skin conditions and dermatologic diseases.
Drs. Van Scott and Yu met in 1968 and joined their efforts in skin research. This partnership has led to many joint discoveries and has established them as leaders in dermatology. Their primary focus is a possible means to regulate the formation of new layers (neostrata) of the skin, particularly the outermost layers. Over the past two decades, Drs. Van Scott and Yu have been assiduously pursuing this research.
In his private practice of clinical dermatology, Dr. Van Scott applied new therapeutic treatments for many of his patients' skin ailments. Therapeutic answers to many of these ailments were to be found by the research pathway of "concept-to-clinic" pursued by the two doctors. One group of compounds they discovered which could regulate the formation of skin layers was the alpha hydroxyacids (AHAs), a group of non-toxic substances, many of which occur naturally in edible fruits and vegetables. Those which are suitable for use in treating cosmetic conditions and dermatologic diseases occur not only in food substances, but also in the body. Here AHAs take part in energy metabolism, as well as in formation of proteins and carbohydrates. Glycolic acid, the smallest molecule of AHAs and highly suitable for cosmetic use, is present in normal skin, blood and other tissues of the human body, and is a constituent of sugar cane juice.
Drs. Van Scott and Yu discovered that AHAs, applied to the skin in specially designed formulations, normalize the formation and shedding of the outermost skin layer, the stratum corneum. This was a clinically important finding, since over half of skin problems are due to disturbances in the formation or shedding of this outermost layer.
Continued work on the mechanisms of action of AHAs, alone and in conjunction with other physiologic substances, has led to a further finding. These substances, when applied to the skin in special formulations designed to deliver adequate amounts to the skin, can stimulate the formation of important substances often deficient in aging or photoaging skin.
In a search for ways to sustain funding of their continuing research, the two doctors formed a company in 1988 to develop and market the AHA products they discovered and perfected to benefit the skin. Appropriately, they named the company "NeoStrata." The AHA skin care products, which NeoStrata markets worldwide, are designed and formulated to perform as cosmetics. These products improve the appearance of the skin's outermost layer. The potential for improving the inner layers of the skin also exists. Drs. Van Scott and Yu envision expanding their research and development beyond cosmetics.
With a penchant for assigning names to their company and its products that have relevant meanings, they have relied on Latin and Greek for word roots. Other divisions of the company are TriStrata (three layers) and PolyStrata (many layers). The mission of each division, they state, is implied in the name.