title: Reduction of conspicuous facial pores by topical fullerene: possible role in the suppression of PGE2 production in the skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conspicuous facial pores are therapeutic targets for cosmeceuticals. Here we examine the effect of topical fullerene on conspicuous facial pores using a new image analyser called the VISIA® system. Ten healthy Japanese females participated in this study, and they received applications of 1% fullerene lotion to the face twice a day for 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fullerene lotion significantly decreased conspicuous pores by 17.6% (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test) after an 8-week treatment. A self-administered questionnaire indicated that this reduction achieved cosmetically appreciable effects. In addition, to investigate the mechanism of effect of fullerene, we examined its effect on UVB-induced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in reconstructed human epidermis (RhE). The results showed that irradiation of RhE with 1000 mJ/cm2 increased PGE2 production by 62.3% (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U-test) and the addition of 28 μM fullerene significantly suppressed the UVB-induced PGE2 production by 18.3% (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fullerene lotion significantly decreases conspicuous facial pores after an 8-week treatment possibly through the suppression of PGE2 production in the epidermis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2, G2, Yamadaoka, Suita -shi, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. inui@r-derma.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inui
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Sayuri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hyodo
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Itami
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D037741:Fullerenes; D015232:Dinoprostone