Generally
associated with shaving, razor bump or shaving bump is a skin condition whose
real cause and best method of treatment had, for many years, been a source of
concern among skincare experts. One man however rose to turn the tide with his
groundbreaking discovery of the biochemistry of shaving bumps formation.
Meet Dr (Pharm.)
Aloysius Anaebonam, the renowned international expert on skincare
and shaving bumps treatment. In 1999, he became the first scientist to
correctly implicate melanin as being responsible for the higher incidence of
shaving bumps in black skin.
Dr Anaebonam elucidated
and published the biochemical pathways involved in shaving bumps formation and
developed a comprehensive ten-product line for its resolution and prevention.
He holds 12 United States pharmaceutical patents, and is a co-author of a
chapter in the Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Technology and the Pharmaceutical
Textbook, Tablets Volume II.
Dr
Anaebonam has over 30 years pharmaceutical and cosmetic technology experience,
including formulation development and testing, analytical method development,
quality control, stability testing, process development and scale-up,
manufacturing, packaging, validations, regulatory affairs and business
development.
He has
travelled extensively throughout the world working with top pharmaceutical and
cosmetic companies in Italy, Switzerland, France, England, Germany and Japan.
Background
and education
Anaebonam
Aloysius Onyeabo was born on 25 June, 1955, to the family of George Nwoye
Anaebonam and Maria Nneka (Ofoedu) Anaebonam, in Udi, Enugu State, Nigeria. His
father, George, commonly referred to as “Akunne” or “Otutu Abagana”, was a well
treasured member of his community. He served as the private secretary to the
military governor of Eastern Nigeria, Lt. Col. Ojukwu, from February 1966, till
the end of the civil war. He also served as the secretary to several local
governments in eastern Nigeria at different times before retiring as the deputy
permanent secretary of the Ministry of Works, Enugu State, in 1984.
Dr
Anaebonam was an exceptional student with a great flair for the sciences. He
gained admission in 1973 to study Pharmacy at the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, and obtained his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree with first class honours
in 1978. He then relocated to the United States in 1980 for further studies and
soon obtained his master’s and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Industrial
Pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Boston Massachusetts, in
1983 and 1986 respectively.
Career
Dr
Anaebonam started his career as a research scientist at Pfeiffer Pharmaceutical
Science Laboratories, Boston, from 1981 to 1986. After his doctoral studies, he
worked as product development scientist at Fisons Corporation, Bedford,
Massachusetts, from 1986 to 1989. He was later promoted to the position of
manager pharmaceutical development, Fisons Corporation in Rochester, New York,
a position he held from 1989 to 1991.
Dr
Anaebonam moved to Ascent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., now known as Ascent
Paediatrics, in Billerica, Massachusetts, in 1991. He served as the
director of product development and quality control from 1991 to 1994, before
being promoted to the position of assistant vice president, product development
and quality control, from 1994 to 1996.
In 1996,
Anaebonam rose to the position of vice president, product development and
quality control, Ascent Paediatrics, Wilmington, Massachusetts. He has been
working in this capacity since then. He is also a pharmaceutical and
biotechnology consultant assisting start-up companies in drug development,
testing, pre-submission reviews and provision of turnkey services for the costing
and layout of new pharma and biotech production and testing facilities.
Dr
Anaebonam is founder and CEO of BREEJ Technologies, Incorporated, a company
that develops and markets the world’s most advanced bump treatment system for
skin problems. Established in 1999, BREEJ Technologies also develops and
markets advanced personal care products for people of colour worldwide.
Path to
prominence
Dr
Anaebonam was the first scientist to disagree with the widely held view that
shaving bumps are caused by “in-grown” hairs – wiry, curly hairs that curl and
grow back into the skin. Ingrown hairs or, more appropriately, entrapped hairs,
result when existing shaving bumps block the opening of the hair follicles on
the skin, forcing the normally growing hairs to grow into the existing bumps.
Dr
Anaebonam postulated that “shaving bumps are primarily caused by the trauma
from shaving, resulting in inflammation of the shaved area manifested as
‘bumps’ as the body reacts to the trauma, compounded at times by
bacterial/fungal infections. Induction of melanogenesis by irritated
keratinocytes during shaving produces additional inflammatory mediators
exacerbating the condition. This is the main reason why black people with
higher levels of melanin, have a higher incidence of shaving bumps.”
In June
2007, Dr Anaebonam published the definitive paper on the real cause and
treatment for shaving bumps, titled “A New Hypothesis for the Cause and
Treatment for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae”. Later that year, he presented a paper
titled “Shaving Bumps Impact on the Premature Aging of Black Skin” where he
linked shaving bumps to premature skin ageing in black people at the
cosmeceuticals summit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, (February 21 to 22, 2007).
Recently,
he published an article on shaving bumps – “Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (Shaving
Bumps); Ingrown Hairs – Real Cause, Treatment & why Black Men are
Disproportionately Affected – Sofw Journal, Thannhausen Germany, Vol 144; March
2018.
Affiliations
and achievements
Dr
Anaebonam is a member of many notable academic and professional societies,
including the American Association of Pharmaceutical Science, the Rho Chi
Society, and the Beta Simga Society, University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he
served as governor from 1976-1977. He was also the chairman of the New England
Chapter of the United States Society of Cosmetic Chemists (1994, 1999, 2009).
Dr
Anaebonam holds patents for stabilization of pentamidine isethionate solutions,
calcium polycarbophil sprinkles, terfenadine oral powder, and extended release
acetaminophen particles among others.
Dr
Anaebonam is happily married to Nneka Chinyere Esimai Anaebonam.
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