AGE SPOTS: 2 effective treatments against photoaging

These topical products – applied locally – contain either human platelet extract or vitamin C and fight with similar effectiveness against photoaging in the hands, concludes the clinical trial.

Lead author Dr. Saraya Wyles, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist, adds that “with these

2 types of over-the-counter products,

the results seem superior to those of more invasive treatments.”

Brown spots on the handssometimes called age spots, are a common cosmetic problem caused by sun damage to the skin. Skin rejuvenation and resurfacing treatments, such as chemical peels, injections, and intense pulsed light or laser treatments, have focused primarily on the face, with less attention paid to the hands and skin. other visible parts of the body.

• In recent years, new products containing human platelet exosomes (HPE) containing extracts of human platelets have attracted “considerable attention” as topical treatments for skin photoaging. Safely derived from specially processed human platelets, these products have been shown to induce objective and significant improvements in the overall appearance of the skin.
• Topical products containing vitamin C and other antioxidants have also been proven to effectively reduce the signs of facial aging.

The study, a clinical trial, compared products based on HPE and based on vitamin C for the treatment of photoaging of the hands, in 60 patients, aged on average 52 years, presenting moderate photoaging on the back of the hand. Each patient followed a standardized skin care routine, including twice-daily topical applications of HPE on the right hand and vitamin C on the left hand. Digital imaging and other assessments were used to evaluate measures of photoaging after 12 to 26 weeks of use. These analyzes conclude that:

• HPE and vitamin C are 2 effective treatments for skin rejuvenation;
• at 12 weeks, both products provided similar reductions in the skin area affected by dark spots and wrinkles, and improved the luminosity and uniformity of skin color;
• at 26 weeks, the area of ​​brown spots had decreased by approximately 23% with HPE and 26% with vitamin C;
• These results appear similar to those obtained with intense pulsed light therapy, an established non-surgical treatment for photoaging.

Although human platelet extract, or platelet exosomes, and vitamin C may have similar rejuvenating effects, topical vitamin C may increase photosensitivitydisrupt the skin’s pH balance and present stability problems, making it human platelet extract a more reliable and skin-friendly alternativenevertheless conclude the researchers.