Abstract
Background Laminin 5, which is found in the basement membrane of dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ),
is a major adhesive component and associated with proliferating and migrating keratinocytes.
In this study, we hypothesized that the topical application of the skin care products
containing the novel peptides might restore the DEJ structure by deriving deposition
of laminin 5 and promoting the keratinocyte migration. Here, we evaluated the restoration
of DEJ by measuring the skin thickness.
Methods Single-center retrospective analysis was performed on a total of 13 patients who
underwent skin care using Baume L.C.E. (France, Laboratories d' Anjou) between January
and March 2021. All patients applied the skin care agent for 2 weeks only on their
left hand dorsum. Before the initiation of the application and after 2 weeks, both
their hands were evaluated on photography and ultrasound. And the patients were asked
to rate their satisfaction with the questionnaire after 2 weeks.
Results There was no obvious improvement in photographic assessment and questionnaire. The
post–pre difference of skin thickness in ultrasound images was, in left hand, 0.1 ± 0.37
in distal point and 0.1 ± 0.35 in proximal point; and, in right hand, 0 ± 0.17 in
distal point and 0 ± 0.15 in proximal point, respectively. The pre–post difference
was statistically significant in proximal point (p = 0.035).
Conclusion Topical application of novel peptide derivative comprising laminin 5 demonstrated
cutaneous changes including skin thickness, as assessed by ultrasound. Further studies
using other modalities including dermal density measurement, three-dimensional photography,
optical coherence tomography, or skin biopsy would be helpful to determine the skin-improving
effects.
Keywords
basement membrane - laminin - ultrasound
