Glycolic Acid Treatment Increases Type I Collagen mRNA and... : Dermatologic Surgery (original) (raw)

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Glycolic Acid Treatment Increases Type I Collagen mRNA and Hyaluronic Acid Content of Human Skin

BERNSTEIN, ERIC F. MD*; LEE, JASON MD†; BROWN, DOUGLAS B. MS†; YU, RUEY PHD, OMD‡; VAN SCOTT, EUGENE MD§

*DakDak Photoaging Technologies, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

†Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

‡Ambler, Pennsylvania

§Abington, Pennsylvania

Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Eric F. Bernstein, MD, DakDak Photoaging Technologies, Wynnewood, PA 19096.

E.F. Bernstein, MD, J. Lee, MD, and D.B. Brown, MS have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters. R. Yu, PhD, OMD and E. Van Scott, MD have a financial interest in NeoStrata Co., Inc., Princeton, NJ.

Acknowledgment Dr. Bernstein is the recipient of a Small Business Innovation Research Award (R44 AR45853) awarded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Chronic solar irradiation results in both morphologic and functional changes in affected skin. α-hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid, have been shown to improve photodamaged skin.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate alterations in collagen gene induction and epidermal and dermal hyaluronic acid production as a result of administered glycolic acid.

METHODS

In this study we compared collagen gene expression from skin biopsy specimens, and epidermal and dermal hyaluronic acid immunohistochemical staining between glycolic acid-treated and vehicle-treated skin. Forearm skin was treated with 20% glycolic acid lotion or a lotion vehicle control twice a day for 3 months.

RESULTS

Epidermal and dermal hyaluronic acid and collagen gene expression were all increased in glycolic acid-treated skin as compared to vehicle-treated controls.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that epidermal and dermal remodeling of the extracellular matrix results from glycolic acid treatment. Longer treatment intervals may result in collagen deposition as suggested by the measured increase in mRNA.