Skin's "Tipping Point" Identified by P&G Researchers

P&G Beauty & Grooming scientists have identified the "skin tipping point" of skin aging and suggested topical ingredients that may slow this tipping point down.

P&G Beauty & Grooming scientists have identified the "skin tipping point" of skin aging and suggested topical ingredients that may slow this tipping point down. At the 69th Annual Meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology in Montreal on May 6-9, 2009, scientists from the company presented research that offers important insight on the skin aging process.

Findings from a recent clinical trial indicate a relatively sudden change in the appearance of skin as it ages, identified as the skin tipping point. A follow-up study conducted to evaluate the efficacy of topical ingredients in delaying the skin tipping point demonstrated significant improvement in skin’s elasticity.

To investigate the skin aging process, the scientists used a multi-layered skin elasticity model to evaluate sudden change in skin appearance. Findings suggested that loss of elasticity causes the skin tipping point, resulting in a sudden visible increase in noticeability of fine lines, wrinkles and sagging.

In the study presented, researchers assessed the validity of the skin tipping point by conducting a clinical trial of 102 healthy, Asian females aged 25 to 55. The scientists compressed the subjects’ skin to varying degrees with a newly developed skin compression imaging system in order to analyze the subsequent skin deformation, or wrinkling. The study found an abrupt change in noticeability of skin wrinkling among subjects in their 30s, with significant differences in wrinkling observed between ages 20 and 30, and 30 and 40.

Researchers then conducted a second clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of hydrating topical antiaging ingredients in improving skin elasticity. The trial, conducted over an eight-week period in 72 healthy, Japanese females age 35 to 55, showed significant improvement in skin elasticity with the topical application of 0.1% olive oil-derived fatty acids modified with PEG-7, 5% niacinamide and yeast ferment filtrate.

Analyses of the data indicate application of these ingredients delays the skin tipping point between three to four years. “While it is often assumed that skin ages gradually, our research explored this new skin elastic tipping point model, which prior to this time has not been examined in clinical studies,” said lead study author Kukizo Miyamoto, PhD, R&D for beauty and grooming at Procter & Gamble Japan in a company press release. “These clinical study findings confirm sudden changes in skin appearance demonstrated by simulation with the multi-layered skin elasticity model. Furthermore, our research provides critical insight into topical ingredients that are driving new research directions and that will impact future product formulations.”