Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology最新文献

Background: Intradermal botulinum toxin injections have been shown to reduce sebaceous gland activity and improve skin texture in patients with oily and acne-prone skin. However, needle-based application is associated with discomfort and potential side effects.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of transdermal delivery of botulinum toxin (150 kDa) using Transdermal Application (TDA) technology for the treatment of oily and acne-prone skin.

Methods: In this single-center observational study, 19 participants (aged 20-50) underwent treatment with the DERMADROP MED TDA device according to the BIOBOTOX protocol. Objective assessments included Sebumeter measurements and 2D/3D skin imaging. Subjective evaluation was conducted using validated patient-reported outcome measures (OSIS, OSSAS) at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks posttreatment.

Results: A statistically significant reduction in sebum levels was observed, accompanied by notable improvements in self-reported skin clarity and satisfaction. No adverse events were reported.

Conclusion: Transdermal application of botulinum toxin using TDA-based DERMADROP MED technology is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective noninvasive treatment modality for reducing sebaceous activity and improving the appearance of oily and acne-prone skin.

Background: Calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) is a well-established biostimulatory filler approved for hand rejuvenation. Recent approaches have explored dilution with polymicronutrient (PMN) solutions to enhance cellular metabolism and extracellular matrix (ECM) regeneration.

Aims: To evaluate the biological and clinical effects of CaHA diluted in a PMN solution (CaHA + PMN) compared with the conventional CaHA diluted in saline solution (CaHA + SS) for hand rejuvenation.

Methods: An in vitro study was conducted to assess fibroblast proliferation and gene expression of ECM components (COL1A1, COL3A1, and ELN) after exposure to CaHA diluted with PMN or SS. A prospective, split-hand, double-blind clinical trial (n = 22) compared both formulations regarding Hand Grading Scale (HGS), Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), skin hydration (corneometry), and dermal thickness (ultrasound imaging) at baseline, 15 and 90 days after treatment.

Results: In vitro, CaHA + PMN induced greater fibroblast proliferation and upregulated COL1A1 and ELN gene expression compared to CaHA + SS. Clinically, both treatments led to significant improvement from baseline in HGS (p < 0.001), skin hydration and dermal/hypodermal thickness, with no statistically significant differences between-group. Investigator-assessed GAIS and patient-reported satisfaction on a 5-point Likert scale also showed improvement in both groups.

Conclusion: Both treatments demonstrated comparable clinical outcomes, suggesting that the strong biostimulating effect of CaHA may have overshadowed potential additive effects of PMN. Nonetheless, in vitro findings confirmed enhanced biological activity with CaHA + PMN, supporting its investigation as a complementary strategy in future studies.

Introduction: Melasma is an acquired facial hyperpigmentation disorder that disproportionately affects sun-exposed areas. Current treatments show limited efficacy and tolerability.

Aim: To assess, in a non-controlled prospective pilot trial, the efficacy of a fluid cream SPF 50+ sunscreen containing ellagic acid, niacinamide, and a non-UV-filtering extract of Polypodium leucotomos (PLE).

Methods: Twenty women (mean age 40 ± 10 years) with melasma or sun-induced hyperpigmentation applied the sunscreen every morning and every 2 h during sun exposure for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) at week 12 and week 24 (follow-up). The secondary endpoints were Line-field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography (LC-OCT) evaluation of pigment distribution and hyper-reflective cells. Local tolerability was also assessed.

Results: All subjects completed the study. Baseline MASI (6.9 ± 3.2) decreased to 4.4 ± 3.3 at week 12 and 3.9 ± 3.1 at week 24 (-44% from baseline, p = 0.0001). LC-OCT pigment scores declined from 2.2 ± 0.8 to 1.5 ± 0.6 at week 24 (p = 0.04), and hyper-reflective cells decreased from 47% to 26%. The product was well tolerated, with tolerability scores near to zero.

Conclusion: This pilot proof-of-concept study suggests that an SPF 50+ sunscreen containing ellagic acid, niacinamide, and PLE may reduce melasma severity and improve hyperpigmentation with excellent tolerability. These findings warrant confirmation in larger controlled trials.

Trial registration: clinical registration number ISRCTN18053239.

Objective: Acne is a common skin condition that seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. In addition to the standard acne treatment, anti-acne skin care products are gradually becoming essential in preventing and treating acne. Herbal Balance Solution contains multiple botanical ingredients with potential anti-inflammatory and barrier-supportive properties. This pilot study aimed to explore the safety and preliminary clinical effects of Herbal Balance Solution in patients with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with mild or moderate acne vulgaris were treated with Herbal Balance Solution once every 3 days for 4 weeks. At baseline (Week 0, W0), Week 2 (W2), and Week 4 (W4), acne lesion counts (total, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory lesions) and the severity index were measured to assess the treatment efficacy, and transepidermal water loss was tested to assess face irritation.

Results: The number of closed comedones was significantly reduced (p < 0.01) at each time point after using the test product. Furthermore, the transepidermal water loss rate significantly decreased (p < 0.05). At Week 4, reductions in total inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesion counts were observed and were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: In this open-label pilot study, use of Herbal Balance Solution was associated with short-term improvements in acne-related clinical parameters and skin barrier function and was well tolerated in patients with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris. These preliminary findings warrant confirmation in randomized, vehicle-controlled clinical trials.

Background: Practitioner trust and satisfaction drive patient retention. The impact of structured consultation frameworks, including formal facial assessment and treatment planning, remains underexplored and has not been systematically evaluated at scale.

Aims: Determine whether formal assessment and treatment planning improves patient retention.

Patients/methods: Retrospective, non-interventional cohort analysis of de-identified records from 17 clinics sharing a unified backend customer relationship management database. Eligible patients were aged ≥ 18 years, had their first cosmetic injectable treatment between April 2019 and January 2025, had received at least two treatments and had consented to the use of their data. Patients were categorized as pre- or post-implementation of the clinic's structured assessment plan, introduced in March 2022. Six-month retention, as a surrogate for patient satisfaction, was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models with start-stop structure were fitted to evaluate the impact of post-plan exposure, adjusting for age, sex, and assessment frequency.

Results: The analysis population comprised 14 916 patients. Most (93.82%) were female, mean age at first visit was 42.5 years (range 18-89) and mean time retained in clinic was 2.11 years (range 0-5.79). Overall six-month retention rates were high in both groups (Pre-plan: 84.72%; Post-plan: 70.81%). Post-plan initiation was associated with a 2.5-fold higher chance of six-month retention (HR: 2.532, 95% CI: 2.426, 2.642; p < 0.0001). Treatment-specific analyses (neuromodulator, filler, and biostimulator) each demonstrated consistent, higher retention following plan introduction.

Conclusions: Structured assessment and planning improved patient retention across treatment types. Large-scale, multi-clinic databases provide a robust and novel platform for identifying opportunities for quality improvement in aesthetic medicine.