TUESDAY, Feb. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Injecting photodamaged skin with a hyaluronic acid filler stimulates collagen synthesis and may be useful in treating lines and wrinkles, according to a study in the February issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
Frank Wang, M.D., and colleagues from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor injected 11 healthy elderly volunteers (mean age, 74 years) with photodamaged forearm skin with a cross-linked hyaluronic acid filler (nonanimal stabilized hyaluronic acid, sold as Restylane) in one forearm and saline in the other forearm. New collagen synthesis was assessed through skin biopsies taken four and 13 weeks later.
The researchers found that collagen deposition increased around the filler. At both time points, there were also significant increases in prolyl-4-hydroxylase, types I, II, and III procollagen, and several profibrotic growth factors. Fibroblasts from filler-injected skin appeared stretched, the authors note.
"Injection of cross-linked hyaluronic acid stimulates collagen synthesis, partially restoring dermal matrix components that are lost in photodamaged skin," Wang and colleagues conclude. "These findings imply that cross-linked hyaluronic acid may be useful for stimulating collagen production therapeutically, particularly in the setting of atrophic skin conditions."
Medicis Aesthetics donated the drug used in the study, but did not fund the study, which was supported by grants.
Abstract
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