Sunday, April 06, 2008
Research
By Simon Pitman
2/21/2007 - Scientists say that new research points towards evidence that dermal fillers may help to partially restore the structure of sun-damaged skin, due to its collagen stimulating properties.
Collagen has long been a target for anti-aging treatments as maintaining levels is known to help maintain the skin's structure, consequently helping to keep wrinkles at bay.
One of the most popular anti-aging treatments aimed at replenishing collagen has proved to be dermal fillers, often based on hyaluronic acid, which has proved very popular with individuals looking for non-invasive anti-aging solutions that have a tangible effect.
Hyaluronic acid is a compound that occurs naturally in the skin and connective tissue, and its depletion is associated with wrinkling, often caused by sun damage.
However, dermal fillers have proved to be such an effective treatment that scientists have been studying the effects they have on the skin in an effort to establish exactly how it helps to fight wrinkles.
With this in mind, a group of scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School, headed by Frank Wang, M.D., set about to try and establish the effect hyaluronic acid has on individuals suffering from sun damaged skin.
The research team carried out tests on the forearms of 11 volunteers with an average age of 74. All were fair-skinned and eight had moderate sun damage.
Each individual received three injections of non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) 2 to 5cm apart in one forearm and three injections of saline solution on the other arm.
Through examining the results under an electron microscope the researchers found that NASHA appeared to fill spaces in the skin structure.
"To further investigate potential mechanisms for this filler's long-lasting cosmetic benefits, we assessed the biological response of skin to NASHA," Wang said.
"We found that NASHA injections induce type 1 collagen production in photo-damaged forearm skin."
Wang described the collagen production as 'robust', adding that this was likely due to the mechanical stretching of the skin cells that secrete collagen proteins, which in turn encourages the support of collagen growth and suppresses their chemical breakdown.
The researchers added that because forearm skin has the same basic structure as other skin on the body, it is assumed that this effect will be the same for facial skin.
As testimony to the growing popularity of dermal filler treatments, a recent survey in the US found that 22 million women over the age of 35 would be willing to use such a treatment as a means of fighting signs of aging.
The research, carried out by BioForm Medical, said that the treatments popularity was down to its affordability, efficacy, durability and the fact that there was a growing body of evidence to suggest that it helped to naturally stimulate collagen growth.