Effect of Topical Human Platelet Extract (HPE) for Facial Skin Rejuvenation: A Histological Study of Collagen and Elastin
September 2024 | Volume 23 | Issue 9 | 735 | Copyright © September 2024
Published online August 9, 2024
Saranya P. Wyles MD PhDa, Sydney L. Proffer MD MSa, Patricia Farris MDb, Lindsey Randall BSc, Matthew L. Hillestad PhDd, Mary P. Lupo MDe, Atta Behfar MD PhDd
aDepartment of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
bP.K. Farris MD, Metairie, LA
cGraduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
dDepartment of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
eLupo Center for Aesthetic and General Dermatology, New Orleans, LA
Abstract
Background: Regenerative aesthetics has garnered significant attention. In this toolkit, exosomes are small extracellular vesicles derived from various sources such as platelets.
Objective: To characterize the cosmetic effect and tolerability of topical human platelet-derived extract (HPE), Intense Serum (Rion Aesthetics, Inc., Rochester, MN), on facial skin rejuvenation after 12 weeks of twice daily use without any confounding aesthetic procedures.
Materials and Methods: This prospective, single-arm, non-randomized, evaluator-blinded clinical study evaluated subjects at baseline and 12 weeks using participant questionnaires and photo-documentation with Canfield VISIA-CR 3D PRIMOS. The histological evaluation included Masson's Trichrome for collagen and Verhoeff-Van Gieson staining for elastin. Electron microscopy characterized collagen bundle thickness.
Results: Fifty-six participants (mean age: 54 years old) were enrolled. Following topical HPE use, 87.3% of subjects reported improvement in facial skin aging including sustained pigment reduction and improvement in luminosity and color evenness at 12 weeks (P≤0.001). Histology revealed a significant increase in collagen fibril thickness at 12 weeks (P≤0.0001). No serious adverse effects.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates improvement in facial skin health after topical HPE use, supported by collagen and elastin formation in the dermis. The product is well-tolerated, and participants were satisfied with the overall cosmetic outcome.
J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(9):735-740. doi:10.36849/JDD.8162
INTRODUCTION
Men and women alike suffer from premature skin photoaging due to free radicals1 and environmental toxicities, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation to exposed areas, including the face, neck, hands, and decolletage. In 2020, nearly 1 million Americans sought minimally invasive laser skin resurfacing procedures to ameliorate these problems.2 The holy grail of aesthetic dermatology is a non-invasive therapy that can reverse the aging process, turning back the hands of time. A desirable treatment is a topical anti-aging product that can be used by consumers in the privacy of their homes to address multiple skincare problems, such as large pores, fine lines, wrinkles, loss of luminosity, redness, and dark spots. Such a product should be easy to incorporate into a daily skincare routine to maximize consumer compliance.
One of the latest developments in aesthetic regenerative medicine is using exosomes as an ingredient in commercial skin treatment products. Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular cargos found in a variety of body fluids.3 They are secreted by most cells to communicate with each other.1 Exosomes have a stable lipid bilayer structure carrying diverse biomolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, based on their cellular origin.4 The cellular origin of exosomes affects their content and ability to act on recipient cells. Exosomes also have low immunogenicity along with high hemocompatibility.5 Exosomes trigger several effects considered beneficial for skin tissue regeneration, including (1) angiogenesis, (2) collagen synthesis, and (3) regulation of inflammation.6 Exosomes from platelets are of particular interest due to their high propensity for skin healing.
