title: Improvement of facial skin characteristics using copper oxide containing pillowcases: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, randomized study.
abstract: Copper plays a key role in several processes of skin formation and regeneration. Copper has been shown to be absorbed through intact skin. We hypothesized that sleeping on fabrics containing copper-impregnated fibres would have a positive cosmetic effect on the skin. The aim of this study was to confirm our hypothesis. A 4-week, double blind, parallel, randomized study was carried out in which 57 volunteers aged 40-60 years used either copper oxide containing pillowcases (0.4% weight/weight) or control pillowcases not containing copper. Photographs were taken by a professional photographer of each participant at the beginning of the study and at 2 and 4 weeks after the commencement of the study. Two expert graders (a dermatologist and a cosmetologist) evaluated the pictures for the effect on several cosmetic facial skin characteristics. The copper-containing pillowcases had a positive effect for the following facial characteristics: reduction of wrinkles (P < 0.001) and crow's feet/fine lines (P < 0.001) and improvement of general appearance (P < 0.001) at both 2 and 4 weeks. The differences were statistically significant (Wilcoxon scores and chi-squared tests). Consistent sleeping for 4 weeks on copper oxide containing pillowcases caused a significant reduction in the appearance of facial wrinkles and crow's feet/fine lines and significant improvement in the appearance of facial skin. In most trial participants, this effect was already noticeable within 2 weeks of using the copper oxide containing pillowcases.
authors.affiliation: Cupron Inc., North Industrial Area, Beth Shemesh, Israel. gadi@cupron.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borkow
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gabbay
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lyakhovitsky
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huszar
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; C030973:cupric oxide