Effects of a cosmetic 'anti-ageing' product improves photoaged skin [corrected].
BACKGROUND
Very few over-the-counter cosmetic 'anti-ageing' products have been subjected to a rigorous double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial of efficacy. Previously we have shown that application of a cosmetic 'anti-ageing' product to photoaged skin under occlusion for 12 days can stimulate the deposition of fibrillin-1. This observation infers potential to repair and perhaps clinically improve photoaged skin.


OBJECTIVE
We examined another similar over-the-counter cosmetic 'anti-ageing' product using both the patch test assay and a 6-month double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT), with a further 6-month open phase to assess clinical efficacy in photoaged skin.


METHODS
For the patch test, commercially [corrected] available test product and its vehicle were applied occluded for 12-days to photoaged forearm skin (n = 10) prior to biopsy and immunohistochemical assessment of fibrillin-1; all-transretinoic acid (RA) [corrected] was used as a positive control. Sixty photoaged subjects were recruited to the RCT (test product, n = 30 vs. vehicle, n = 30; once daily for 6-months; face & hands) [corrected] with clinical assessments performed at recruitment and following 1-, 3- & 6-months of use [corrected]. Twenty-eight subjects had skin biopsies (dorsal wrist) at baseline and at 6 months of treatment for immunohistochemical assessment of fibrillin-1 (test product, n = 15; vehicle, n = 13). All subjects [corrected] received test product for a further 6-months. Final clinical assessments were performed at the end of this open period; 27 subjects received test product for 12-months [corrected].


RESULTS
In the 12-day patch test assay, we observed significant immunohistological deposition of fibrillin-1 in skin treated by test product and RA as compared to untreated baseline (P = 0.005 and 0.015 respectively). In the clinical RCT, at 6 months, compared to baseline assessment, 43% of subjects on test product had an improvement in facial wrinkles (P = 0.013), whereas only 22% of subjects using vehicle had clinical improvement (P = ns). Between group comparison of test product and vehicle was non-significant (P = 0.10). After 12 months, there was a significant benefit of test product over that projected for vehicle (70% vs. 33% of subjects improving; combined Wilcoxon rank tests, P = 0.026). There was significant deposition of fibrillin-1 in skin treated for 6 months with test product (mean +/- SE; vehicle, 1.84 +/- 0.23; test product, 2.57 +/- 0.19; P = 0.019).


CONCLUSIONS
An over-the-counter cosmetic 'anti-ageing' product demonstrated clear benefit over vehicle in fibrillin-1 deposition over a 6-month trial period. There was a corresponding but non-significant trend towards clinical improvement in facial wrinkles. Clinical improvements in the treated group were increased after a further 6-months of use. This study demonstrates that a cosmetic may improve the appearance of wrinkles and further supports the use of fibrillin-1 as a robust biomarker for repair of photoaged dermis.
Dermatological Sciences Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK. rachel.watson@manchester.ac.uk
R E B
RE
Watson
S
S
Ogden
L F
LF
Cotterell
J J
JJ
Bowden
J Y
JY
Bastrilles
S P
SP
Long
C E M
CE
Griffiths
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D000071838:Fibrillin-1; D000071837:Fibrillins; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010328:Patch Tests; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D054392:Adipokines
D003358:Cosmetics; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000071838:Fibrillin-1; D000071837:Fibrillins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D014212:Tretinoin; C000605722:FBN1 protein, human; D054392:Adipokines