Introduction: Aging skin is a condition that affects (or will affect) all people, and its treatment is considered a clinical challenge. Growth factors and their analogues are emerging as a promising therapeutic option. Objectives: To evaluate the safety profile of some dermocosmetic products with formulations based on growth factors – or their analogs intended for that purpose – using in vitro human skin cell culture models. Methods: Two types of cell cultures were studied, and the effects of the study products on the proliferation of melanoma cells and normal human fibroblasts were evaluated. Results: No significant morphological alterations were found in the cultured human melanoma, and no significant decrease in the number of healthy cells was verified in the normal fibroblasts culture. In some cases there was even a proliferation of those cells. Conclusions: These preliminary data demonstrate that cosmeceutical products containing growth factors as an active principle can be considered safe for topical application.

Keywords: INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING PEPTIDES AND PROTEINS, SKIN, SKIN AGING

Introduction: The skin is the largest organ of the human body and constitutes a covering layer that has many essential functions such as defense, sensorial, thermoregulatory, and aesthetic. Therefore, maintaining its integrity is extremely important for the homeostasis of the organism. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a cutaneous moisturizer that, in addition to traditional substances, contains in its composition other ingredients capable of stimulating the function of the aquaporins. Methods: One hundred volunteers were clinically evaluated through medical examination and subjective self-evaluation, regarding the efficacy and safety of the product. Of these, 30 also underwent instrumental analysis through corneometry (assessment of the skin's hydration), pH metry (measurement of the skin's pH) and TEWLmetry (assessment of TransEpidermal Water Loss). Results: During a 90-day study, all efficacy variables subjectively analyzed showed clinical improvement (dryness, hydration, softness, desquamation, and itching). In the analysis of objective variables, it was observed that the corneometry measurements showed a significant increase in skin hydration. Conclusion: With the present study's clinical outcomes, the test product was proven effective for having significantly increased skin hydration (according to corneometry) and extremely efficient for its action on the signs and symptoms of skin xerosis (according to theassessment of the physiciansand volunteers).

Keywords: HYDRATION, DESICCATION, AQUAPORINS.

Introduction: Modern life in large urban centers exposes its residents to new factors related to extrinsic aging, such as pollution, poor diet and emotional stress. Treatments proposed for this cause of aging include the use of cosmeceutical products with antioxidant action.
Objective: To evaluate a formulation containing antioxidant substances in the treatment of skin affected by the effects of urban life.
Methods: Prospective clinical study evaluating 33 volunteers residing in urban centers. Clinical and instrumental measurements were carried out through the use of specific questionnaires and images captured using a VISIA device at baseline and twenty-eight days after using the product twice a day, in combination with sunscreen.
Results: The comparison of the data obtained from questionnaires applied in the initial and final visits showed a statistically significant improvement in most of the analyzed variables. There was a reduction of 15.78% in the extrinsic aging score. The image analysis demonstrated a statistically significant improvement (p <0.05) for the variables color uniformity and reduction of pores.
Conclusions: The use of the combination of active antioxidant substances led to an improvement in clinical and instrumental parameters of extrinsic aging caused by the phenomena linked to urban life ("urban damage"), arising as an alternative for this new indication.

Keywords: COSMETICS; ANTIOXIDANTS; ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Introduction: The use of moisturizers improves the skin barrier’s function and might be useful in atopic dermatitis.
Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of an active moisturizer-barrier repairer based on glycerin, erythritol, Imperata cylindrica and homarine as an adjuvant treatment in atopic dermatitis.
Methods: Application of the moisturizer in children with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis for 1 month, with subjective and objective evaluations after 15 and 30 days.
Results: Data from 35 children — 20 girls (57.15%), 15 boys (42.86%) / 26 Caucasians (74.29%), 6 mulattos (17.14%), 3 dark skinned (8.57%) — aged 1 to 10 years (mean age = 5.6) were analyzed. The values of the variables sleeping disorders, dryness, desquamation, pruritus and softness of the skin had significantly decreased on the 30th day of treatment as compared to the baseline. The objective evaluation of the severity using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis severity index revealed a decrease to 9.30 from 25.27 (p <0.0001). There was a reduction in the use of dexchlorpheniramine and hydrocortisone to 5.72% each on the 30th day, from 25.71% (p = 0.0233) and 34.29% (p = 0.0075) on the 15th day, respectively.
Conclusions: The use of the moisturizer for 30 days improved the analyzed symptoms with a significant reduction in the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis severity index with decreased need for antihistamines and topical corticosteroids. The use of a suitable moisturizer was effective and safe as an adjuvant treatment for children with atopic dermatitis.

Keywords: DERMATITIS, ATOPIC; HYGROSCOPIC AGENTS; CHILD

INTRODUCTION: Stretch marks are an everyday challenge to the dermatologist. In the search for alternative therapies, we find 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and microneedling for associating the following properties: inhibition of fibrosis, stimulation of collagen renovation and induction of skin pigmentation. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 5-FU, in isolation or associated to microneedling, for the treatment of white stretch marks (striae alba).
METHODS: Comparative, double-blind study over 180 days, between 3 groups: Group A: microneedling and 5-FU; Group B intralesional 5-FU and Group C microneedling without medication. We measured improvement through a numerical scale of skin coloration, considering positive results those with reduction of the discrepancy between the adjacent skin and the stretch mark. We also evaluated patient satisfaction and irritation with each technique.
RESULTS: Group A achieved 10% of excellent clinical improvement, 10% very good and 60% mild. In group B, none of the patients had excellent of very good improvement. In group C, there was 20% of very good clinical improvement and 70% of mild.
CONCLUSIONS: All techniques showed some degree of improvement of the lesions. Therefore, we propose new studies comparing all three techniques, with a larger sample, to evaluate if more treatments would result in better results.

Keywords: Cosmetic Techniques; Fluorouracil; Striae Distensae; Therapeutics