Efficacy Evaluation of a Cosmetic Product for the Periocular Area in Caucasian Women Aged Over 40 Years Old.

Purpose: The present study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a cosmetic product in improving the appearance of periocular skin. Patients and Methods: An open-label study on 40 female subjects showing clinical signs of skin aging in the periocular area (including bags under the eye and dark circles) was conducted. At day 0 and day 28 the bags under eye volume, dark circles color, skin texture, skin moisturization, skin elasticity, and skin radiance were measured. The instrumental measurements were integrated by clinical analysis carried out by a board-certified dermatologist and by a self-assessment questionnaire carried out by each subject participating in the study. Results: After 28 days of product use the volume of the bags under the eye was decreased by 6.8% (p = 0.005), the dark circle color red and blue component improved by 7.1% (p = 0.001) and 4.0% (p = 0.001), respectively, wrinkle depth and skin roughness decreased by 15.8% (p = 0.001) and 6.3% (p = 0.011), respectively, skin moisturization increased by 11.7% (p = 0.000), the skin distensibility decreased by 8.9% (p = 0.000), the overall skin elasticity increased by 10.4% (p = 0.000), and the skin radiance increased by 16.3% (p = 0.000). The instrumental measured effects were also confirmed by the clinical analysis of the dermatologist and the self-assessment questionnaire output. Conclusion: Conclusions: our results suggest that the test product is effective for periocular skin aesthetics (reduction of imperfections undermining the periocular area) and wellness.

Oral intake of a new full-spectrum hyaluronan improves skin profilometry and ageing: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Skin aging is a physiological condition which leads to structural and functional changes in skin. Common signs of aging are the gradual decrease of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the skin and the appearance of wrinkles. Therefore, effective HA supplementation could counteract HA deficiency and improve skin parameters, providing a safe profile for use which is easily incorporated into daily routine. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a food supplement containing a wide range of hyaluronans of different molecular weights (full-spectrum hyaluronan [FS-HA]) in order to ameliorate skin conditions in adult females. MATERIALS & METHODS: Sixty subjects showing mild-to-moderate skin aging signs were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to receive 200 mg/day of FS-HA (ExceptionHYAL® Star), or placebo, for 28 days. Dermatological parameters were evaluated at T0d and T28d. Product efficacy and tolerance were further evaluated using a self-assessment questionnaire. In addition, HA serum levels were weekly evaluated in a proportion of enrolled subjects. RESULTS: After only 28 days, subjects in the active arm showed a statistically significant improvement in all evaluated dermatological parameters related to skin aging. Skin became more hydrated (+10.6%) and protected from dehydration, with a decrease in both wrinkle depth (-18.8%) and volume (-17.6%) and increase in elasticity and firmness (+5.1%). Instrumental results were further confirmed by self-assessment questionnaire outcomes. CONCLUSION: Administration of a food supplement based on innovative hyaluronans from bio-fermentation, characterized by a wide range of molecular weights, resulted in a quick and significant amelioration of typical signs of skin aging.

Efficacy of a probiotic supplement in patients with atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial long-standing inflammatory skin disease with a high incidence worldwide in both adults and children. According to the recognized correlation between skin and intestine-the so-called "gut-skin axis"-gut unbalances can affect skin by inducing systemic inflammation and triggering dermatological diseases such as AD. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of a food supplement containing selected strains of probiotics in ameliorating AD symptoms and skin conditions in adult volunteers. MATERIALS & METHODS: Eighty adult subjects showing mild-to-severe AD, skin dryness, desquamation, erythema and itching were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial to receive, for 56 days, a placebo or a mixture of lactobacilli (L. plantarum PBS067, L. reuteri PBS072 and L. rhamnosus LRH020). The latter was chosen according to the patients' production of post-biotic metabolites and B-group vitamins, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant capacity and anti-microbial activity. Clinical and instrumental dermatological evaluation was performed at T0d, T28d and T56d, and then at T84d (after a one-month wash-out). Inflammatory cytokine levels from skin tape stripping, sampled close to AD lesions at T0d and T56d, were also measured. RESULTS: Subjects receiving the probiotic mixture showed an improvement in skin smoothness, skin moisturization, self-perception, and a decrease in SCORAD index as well as in the levels of inflammatory markers associated with AD at T28d, with a positive trend up to T56d which was maintained at T84d. CONCLUSION: Administration of selected probiotic strains resulted in a fast and sustained improvement in AD-related symptoms and skin conditions.

Antioxidant and reduced skin-ageing effects of a polyphenol-enriched dietary supplement in response to air pollution: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution exposure is one of the major threats to skin health and accelerates skin ageing mainly through oxidative stress mechanisms. Since it is difficult to minimize skin exposure to air pollutants, especially in urban areas, strategies to protect the skin are needed. Plant phenolic compounds have been found to be effective in attenuating cellular oxidative stress and inflammation induced by different air pollutants and a dietary approach based on these compounds could provide an efficient protection measure. OBJECTIVE: Here we investigated the efficacy of a commercially available polyphenol-enriched dietary supplement (Zeropollution®) in reducing pollution-induced oxidative stress and in improving different skin parameters related to skin ageing of Caucasian and Asian subjects exposed to air pollution. Zeropollution is composed of four standardized herbal extracts: Olea europaea leaf, Lippia citriodora, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Sophora japonica. DESIGN: A double-blind randomized, parallel group study was carried out on 100 outdoor workers living in a polluted urban European area (Milan) to assess the efficacy of the dietary supplement. The total antioxidant capacity on saliva (FRAP), the oxidative damage on skin (lipoperoxides content), skin moisturization (corneometer), transepidermal water loss (tewameter), skin radiance and colour (spectrophotometer), skin elasticity (cutometer), skin sebum content (sebumeter), and the skin roughness (image analysis) were measured. RESULTS: Both inter-group and intra-group analysis proved that the dietary supplement improved all clinical and biochemical-monitored parameters, in both Caucasian and Asian individuals. Some of the positive effects such as decreased wrinkle depth, increased elasticity and firmness, improved skin moisturization and transepidermal water loss, and reduced dark spots pigmentation were statistically significant as early as 2 weeks of product consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study indicate reduced oxidative stress-induced skin damage in both Asian and Caucasian women living in a polluted urban area. Therefore, the oral intake of this four-plant based supplement could be considered a complementary nutrition strategy to avoid the negative effects of environmental pollution exposure.