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A topical antioxidant solution containing vitamins C and E stabilized by ferulic acid provides protection for human skin against damage caused by ultraviolet irradiation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2008.05.004Get rights and content

Background

Skin cancer and photoaging changes result from ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative stress. Topical antioxidants may protect skin from these effects.

Objective

We sought to determine whether a stable topical formulation of 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% alpha-tocopherol, and 0.5% ferulic acid (CEFer) could protect human skin in vivo from substantial amounts of solar-simulated UV radiation.

Methods

CEFer and its vehicle were applied to separate patches of normal-appearing human skin for 4 days. Each patch was irradiated with solar-simulated UV, 2 to 10 minimal erythema doses, at 2-minimal erythema dose intervals. One day later, skin was evaluated for erythema and sunburn cells, and immunohistochemically for thymine dimers and p53. UV-induced cytokine formation, including interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α, were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

CEFer provided significant and meaningful photoprotection for skin by all methods of evaluation.

Limitations

The number of patients evaluated was relatively small.

Conclusion

CEFer provided substantial UV photoprotection for skin. It is particularly effective for reducing thymine dimer mutations known to be associated with skin cancer. Its mechanism of action is different from sunscreens and would be expected to supplement the sun protection provided by sunscreens.

Section snippets

Experimental protocol

Studies were conducted at with the approval of our institutional review board. Nine adults with Fitzpatrick skin type II or III (white skin with the ability to tan slightly to moderately in response to UV irradiation) were entered into the protocol. Two solutions were applied (2 mg/cm2) daily for 4 days to separate patches of back skin. Subjects were instructed not to wash the area for at least 2 hours. One solution was an aqueous solution containing 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% dl-α tocopherol, and

Erythema

CEFer provided substantial protection against UV-induced erythema when compared with vehicle-treated skin (Fig 1, Fig 2). At 2 to 6× MED irradiance, colorimeter readings for vehicle versus CEFer revealed significant (P < .01) protection by CEFer at all irradiance levels (Fig 2). Moreover, CEFer provided significant protection (P < .01) at 8× MED and 10× MED irradiances when compared with 6× MED-irradiated vehicle-treated skin.

Sunburn cells

Sunburn cell enumeration (Fig 3) of 6× MED-irradiated skin when

Discussion

This study demonstrates that a combination of physiologic antioxidant vitamins C and E stabilized by a powerful plant antioxidant, ferulic acid, can be applied topically to skin and supplement the skin's own antioxidant pool to protect against UV-induced oxidative damage. In addition to protecting the skin against erythema and apoptosis associated with cellular damage, protection was also provided against UV-induced DNA mutations that have been demonstrated to be associated with skin cancer.

UV

References (38)

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Supported by a grant from SkinCeuticals-L'Oreal, New York, NY.

Disclosure: Dr Pinnell is a consultant for SkinCeuticals-L'Oreal. Dr Murray, Mr Burch, Mr Streilein, Ms Iannacchione, and Dr Hall have no conflicts of interest to declare. C E Ferulic is a patented formulation, US Patent No. 7,179,841 issued to SkinCeuticals.

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