Comparing the Cutaneous Impacts of a Topical Restructuring Serum versus. Injected Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and Their Combination as Potential Anti-Aging Strategies in Chinese Women: An In Vivo Study.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the respective anti-aging efficacies of a restructuring serum alone, its combination with a hyaluronic acid (HA) single injection, and a single HA injection alone in vivo over a short period. METHODS: Three cohorts of Chinese women of comparable sizes (n = 31-32), aged 25-40 years, were included in this 28-day, nonrandomized, evaluator-blinded comparative study. The three regimens consisted of: (1) twice-daily application of a marketed skin restructuring serum alone, (2) application of the same serum after a HA injection, and (3) a single HA injection only. Participants were instructed to apply approximately 0.5 g on full face twice daily. At successive timings (T0-T28 days), clinical evaluations allowed for the grading of some facial signs, skin quality, and skin tone. Image analysis from standardized photos and dedicated analyzing cameras were performed. A self-reported questionnaire was filled to record the tolerance of the three regimens. RESULTS: All three regimens improved the severity of facial signs, skin quality, and skin tone. However, their efficacy was of different extents. In many cases, although the serum provided significant improvements, its combination with HA injection led to slightly greater improvement and in almost all cases, the HA injection alone exhibited a lower efficacy, i.e., 2-3 times smaller in some criteria. Adverse reactions (pain, stinging, tightness etc.) to the HA injection were only recorded 1 h postinjection and were statistically of modest amplitudes. CONCLUSIONS: Although limited to a short period and to women presenting modest marks of facial aging (early aging), the study demonstrated that all three regimens showed improvements in several evaluated facial ageing parameters. The combination of the restructuring serum with an HA injection provided an additional benefit compared with HA or serum alone.