Daily Cosmetic Research Analysis

BACKGROUND: Small extracellular vesicles from adipose-derived stem cells (ASC-sEVs) are gaining attentions rapidly for inherent therapeutic values in skin care and cosmetics. However, the optimal combinations of ASC-sEVs and certain natural compounds for synergistic anti-aging effects have not been systematically studied. METHODS: Human ASC-sEVs were purified from culture supernatant of ASCs and multi-omics datasets of miRNAs, proteins and lipids of ASC-sEVs were analyzed for pathways regulating skin homeostasis. ASC-sEVs were then loaded with nicotinamide riboside (NR), resveratrol (RES), vitamin C (VITC), retinol (RET) and arbutin (ARB) at different concentrations by the sonication-incubation method. Their anti-oxidant, anti-wrinkle and anti-melanogenic effects were tested in vitro using the human keratinocyte HaCaT cells exposed to UVB radiation and human melanocyte B16F10 cells. RESULTS: Multi-omics data analysis of ASC-sEVs identified key bioactive molecules regulating collagen formation, pigmentation, oxidative stress and inflammation. In the in vitro screenings for anti-aging effects, the compound-loaded ASC-sEVs outperformed the sEV- and compound-only treatments. Specifically in UVB-exposed HaCaT cells, 2 μg/mL sEVs loaded with 20 μg/mL NR, 2 μg/mL RES, 5 μg/mL VITC reduced reactive oxygen species level by 22.0%; while combination of sEVs and 2 μg/mL RES, 2.8 μg/mL RET significantly reduced MMP3 and upregulated PLOD1 expressions. B16F10 cells incubated with 2 μg/mL sEVs loaded with 2 μg/mL RES, 0.5 mM ARB had intracellular and extracellular melanin content lowered by 21.4% and 22.4% respectively. All the combinations caused no cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated the superiority of ASC-sEVs to deliver both endogenous biocargos and exogenous compounds to achieve synergistic skin anti-aging effects.

INTRODUCTION: With the growing demand for skin-enhancing products in the market, research into edible plants has expanded significantly. Numerous studies have shown that plant extracts rich in phytochemicals can effectively improve skin issues such as wrinkles, pigmentation, and dullness. However, clinical studies focusing on the effects of combined ingredients are still limited. OBJECTIVE: This study combined three plant ingredients known for their skin-beautifying effects and clinically tested their functional properties. METHODS: Sixty healthy subjects were screened and randomly divided into two groups: a test group (TG) and a placebo group (PG). TG took two tablets of multi-plant concentrated powder daily, while PG took placebo tablets without active ingredients. The study lasted 12 weeks. Plasma Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured at week 0 (W0), week 8 (W8), and week 12 (W12). Skin brightness (L* value), skin tone (Individual Typological Angle (ITA°)), erythema (a* value), skin spots, and wrinkles were assessed at week 0 (W0), week 4 (W4), week 8 (W8), and week 12 (W12). RESULTS: The study showed significant improvements in all three antioxidant markers in the blood after consuming the compound ingredient tablets compared to the PG (p < 0.01). L* value and ITA° significantly increased from 8 weeks (p < 0.1). Skin spots significantly decreased at W8 and W12 (p < 0.1). While a* value and skin wrinkles showed noticeable reductions within the group in week 12 (p < 0.1), there were no significant differences compared to the PG. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of multi-plant concentrated powder improved skin whitening, brightened skin tone, reduced skin spots, and showed some improvement in wrinkles and erythema. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05988567.

BACKGROUND: Transconjunctival orbital fat removal has exhibited an increasing trend in Japan. This study, conducted in more than 100 clinics in Japan, aimed to contribute to the evolving body of evidence guiding surgical procedures. METHODS: We analyzed data from our institutional database of 127,505 patients who underwent orbital fat removal for dark circles under the eyes at our clinic. Parameters evaluated included age, sex, occupation, number of debridement sites, medications, and comorbidities. RESULTS: The number of procedures has been increasing annually, surpassing 70,000 in 2023. A total of 86.5% of patients were women and 13% were men. The top 3 occupations of patients included company employees (46.2%), housewives (10.4%), and others (9.9%). The median age of patients was 43 (range 33-51) years, showing a trend toward older age. Nearly all excess orbital fatty areas were removed via total resection. Patients undergoing total resection were significantly older on average compared with those undergoing partial resection. Comorbidities, including hypertension, glaucoma, and retinal disease, tended to increase annually. Both steroids and antiplatelet/anticoagulant medications were increasingly used, with the former accounting for 26.5 patients per month and the latter for 10.8 patients per month in the last year. CONCLUSIONS: The number of middle-aged and older patients is increasing, suggesting a future increase in procedures. The aging demographic will likely lead to a higher prevalence of comorbidities and high-risk medications in the patient population. Surgeons must be aware of these risk factors and possess the skills to manage them safely and effectively.