The study also provides evidence that Restylane Vital, stabilized non-animal hyaluronic acid, has a greater effect on clinical appearance and skin physiology on the backs of hands, when compared with Teosyal Meso, a non stabilized hyaluronic acid product.

The randomised, in vivo study was carried out by Dr Stefanie Williams and Co-workers at Harley Street based private Dermatology clinic “European Dermatology London”, and Cosmetic Science Group, University of the Arts, London.

Dermatologist Dr Stefanie Williams says,” The study is significant because it provides undisputed evidence that injectable HA not only improves the clinical appearance of ageing skin on the back of the hands, but also benefits its physiological function. It was interesting to note that the stabilized HA outperformed the non stabilized product.”

Study findings:

Skin elasticity and skin smoothness

o Intradermal injections of stabilized hyaluronic acid (HA) generated significant improvement in skin elasticity and skin smoothness. On the hands treated with non stabilized HA there was improvement but it was not significant.

Hydration and transepidermal water loss

o Skin hydration with stabilized HA started to improve after the first treatment and was maintained until 3 months after the last treatment

o Hands treated with stabilized HA displayed a significantly higher hydration level and lower transepidermal water loss compared with the non stabilized HA after the treatment course.

Duration of effect

o At week 24, the treatment effects began to return to baseline but the stabilized HA continued to offer better results compared to the non stabilized HA.

In the study, 15 patients, (12 women, 3 men) of varying skin phototypes, aged between 33 and 62 years, received injections (one product in each hand) at weeks 0, 4 and 8, amounting to 3 injection sessions in total. Measurement of biophysical parameters was carried out prior to the subsequent treatment at weeks 0, 4 and 12 and week 24 (i.e. at baseline before treatment, 4 weeks after the first treatment, 4 weeks after the third=last treatment, and at 16 weeks after the last treatment). At each treatment session, 0.5 ml of product was injected into each hand using a series of approximately 20 micropunctures.

Changes in cutaneous elasticity, skin surface roughness, stratum corneum, hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were assessed at each measurement session. A dermatologist clinical score, based on the assessment of appearance according to several different parameters, including visible skin roughness, dryness and atrophic crinkling, was also included at baseline and week 12.

Up to now rejuvenating treatment of the hands has been challenging and the results disappointing. Treatments have focussed mainly on reducing pigmentation. But one of the factors affecting cutaneous ageing is the depletion of endogenous HA which results in the skin becoming less efficient in binding water which contributes to skin wrinkling and a dehydrated, crêpey skin appearance. So supplementing HA in ageing skin to restore skin volume and physiology is a logical approach.

Dr. Stefanie Williams adds, “The best way to introduce large amounts of skin-identical molecules of hyaluronic acid into deeper layers of the skin is by injection with a needle. The study was designed to investigate whether injecting HA into the skin on the hands has an impact on clinical appearance and skin biology and whether there was a difference between stabilized HA and non stabilized HA in both these aspects. The study demonstrates unequivocally the benefits of injectable HA and that Restylane Vital has proven impressive efficacy in skin rejuvenation of the hands. The old saying that a woman’s hands always give away her real age, might be a thing of the past.”

Female hand rejuvenation patient:

“This was an interesting study in which I was happy to take part, both as a lecturer in cosmetic science and as an ageing 50 something consumer. I have no fear of needles and whilst I cannot say that the injections were totally pain free, what I felt was really little more than discomfort, which soon abated. The final effects were remarkable - and indeed still are - I have rather thin hands with prominent veins and tendons and even now the left hand [comment: treated with Restylane Vital] is smoother and more even in surface texture than the right. Definitely a treatment worth having.”

Male hand rejuvenation patient :

“I don’t like applying hand cream, as men usually don’t, I suppose. However, after having had the skin revitalization treatment on the backs of my hands, my skin looked younger and also appeared much softer. In a way it was like I had an “injected hand cream, lasting 4 months”. I hate needles, but half an hour after the numbing cream was applied, I hardly noticed anything. I am really pleased with the result and would definitely go again.”

SOURCE: Q-Med