Topical growth factors and home‐based microneedling for facial skin rejuvenation

Abstract

Background Cosmeceutical products are an important therapeutic option for facial rejuvenation. Of these, topical application of growth factors has been shown to increase dermal collagen synthesis, improve skin texture, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Limited data exist for the use of growth factors in combination with microneedling. Objective This prospective, single‐center, uncontrolled study evaluated the efficacy of topical growth factor treatment in conjunction with transdermal delivery of growth factors via home‐based microneedling for facial skin rejuvenation. Patients/Methods Eleven healthy female individuals aged 33–61 years, with mild‐moderate facial wrinkling were included in the study. Over 3 months, participants received twice‐daily application of a topical recombinant human growth factor preparation (SkinGenuity® Regenerative and Reparative Serums) along with twice‐weekly transdermal delivery of growth factors using a home‐based microneedling (0.2 mm) device. Objective skin analysis (VISIA®) and a subjective patient‐reported outcome (FACE‐Q®) assessment measuring satisfaction with appearance were performed at baseline and after 3 months. Results Objective skin analysis showed a significant improvement in skin texture (17.6%, p < 0.001), wrinkles (17.3%, p < 0.001), red areas (12.4%, p =0.004), and brown spots (6.0%, p =0.03) at 3 months follow‐up. FACE‐Q scales showed a significant improvement from baseline, including satisfaction with skin, facial appearance, nasolabial folds, cheeks, and lower face/jawline (all p ≤ 0.02). Numerical improvement in adverse effects related to skin was also observed (p = 0.07). No serious adverse effects were reported. Conclusions Three months of twice‐daily topical growth factor treatment in conjunction with transdermal delivery of growth factors via microneedling improved skin analysis parameters and participant‐reported outcome measures, indicative of facial skin rejuvenation.

Topical growth factor preparations for facial skin rejuvenation: A systematic review

“…This review concentrated on the use of growth factor monotherapy for facial rejuvenation. Besides their use as monotherapy, various growth factor preparations have also been combined with other skin‐rejuvenating treatments, such as lasers, 9,10,67–70 microneedling, 22,24–26,71 radiofrequency, 72 and chemical peels to amplify the results reported in this review. We also recognize that preparations containing growth factors have evolved substantially since the first results were reported 20 years ago.…”

“…After scanning their titles and abstracts, 48 potentially eligible studies that met the criteria for inclusion remained. After a review of the full paper, 15 studies were excluded because growth factors were not the main component of the preparation (n = 6); [14][15][16][17][18][19] the study did not include treatment of the face (n = 2); 20,21 the study involved combination treatment but did not report outcomes for the growth factor preparation alone (n = 5) [22][23][24][25][26] or the growth factor preparation was not applied regularly (n = 2). 27,28 This left 33 studies, involving a combined total of 1180 participants, for inclusion in the systematic review (Table 1).…”

“…A more recent systematic review by Miller-Kobisher et al 66 that included five trials in our review also supported the effectiveness of the topical application of recombinant EGF formulations for facial rejuvenation, while noting the variety of study designs supporting current evidence.This review concentrated on the use of growth factor monotherapy for facial rejuvenation. Besides their use as monotherapy, various growth factor preparations have also been combined with other skin-rejuvenating treatments, such as lasers,9,10,[67][68][69][70] microneedling,22,[24][25][26]71 radiofrequency,72 and chemical peels to amplify the results reported in this review. We also recognize thatpreparations containing growth factors have evolved substantially since the first results were reported 20 years ago.…”

Fibroblast‐derived growth factors and exosomes as cosmeceuticals

“…Thus, dermal FB play a key role in maintaining skin structure and function. FB derived growth factors have been successfully used in skincare since 2001 with multiple clinical studies showing improvements in skin quality parameters and no reports of serious adverse events 20 . The source of growth factors in these products is a conditioned medium of FB culture which has been shown to provide higher biological activity in human skin models than other sources of growth factors or secretome 26…”

“…FB‐derived growth factors or secretome currently account for the largest number of published clinical studies on use of topical growth factors for skin rejuvenation 20 . Human foreskin FB and umbilical cord MSCs (UC‐MSC) share similar surface markers, strong multilineage differentiation capacity and similarities in mRNA expression profile and metabolites 21 .…”