Summary: A clinical trial found that human platelet extract (HPE) and vitamin C provide similar improvements in reducing age spots and photoaging of the hands, with both being effective alternatives to more invasive treatments.
Key Takeaways
- Comparable Effectiveness: Human platelet extract (HPE) and vitamin C both provided similar improvements in reducing age spots (photoaging) on the hands, with neither treatment being significantly superior to the other.
- Non-invasive Alternatives: Both HPE and vitamin C were as effective as more invasive treatments, such as intense pulsed light therapy, in improving skin appearance, making them viable over-the-counter options for hand rejuvenation.
- HPE’s Stability Advantage: While vitamin C can cause photosensitivity and stability issues, HPE is seen as a more skin-friendly and reliable alternative, potentially offering longer-term benefits without disrupting the skin’s balance.
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Topically applied products containing human platelet extract or vitamin C provide similar improvements in age spots (photoaging) of the hands, as reported in a clinical trial within the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
“Our study demonstrates that two topical therapies effectively treat photoaging of the skin on the hands of middle-aged or older adults,” says Saraya Wyles, MD, PhD, of the Mayo Clinic Department of Dermatology in Rochester, Minn. “With both types of over-the-counter products, the outcomes appear similar or superior to those of more invasive treatments.”
HPE vs. Vitamin C for Hand Photoaging Comparison
Brown spots on the hands, sometimes referred to as age spots or liver spots, are a common cosmetic issue caused by sun damage to the skin. Treatments for skin rejuvenation and resurfacing—such as chemical peels, injectables, and intense pulsed light or laser treatments—have primarily focused on the face, with less attention to the hands and other visible parts of the body.
In recent years, products with human platelet extract containing—platelet exosomes (HPE) have drawn “tremendous attention” as topical treatments for photoaging skin. Safely derived from specially processed human platelets, HPE products have shown improvements in overall skin appearance.
Topical products containing vitamin C and other antioxidants have also been shown to effectively reduce signs of facial aging. Wyles and colleagues designed a clinical trial to compare HPE and vitamin C for treating photoaging of the hands.
The study included 60 patients, with an average age of 52.5 years, with moderate photoaging on the back (dorsum) of the hand. Each patient followed a standardized skincare routine, including twice-daily topical applications of HPE to the right hand and vitamin C to the left hand. Digital imaging and other assessments were used to assess measures of photoaging after 12 to 26 weeks of use.
HPE and Vitamin C Both Effectively Rejuvenate Skin
Based on a wide range of photoaging parameters, topical HPE was “non-inferior” to vitamin C. After 12 weeks, the two products produced similar reductions in the skin area affected by brown spots and wrinkles and improved skin luminosity and color evenness.
By 26 weeks, the brown spot fractional area had decreased by approximately 23% with topical HPE and 26% with vitamin C. The outcome measures were not statistically different between the two topicals. The paper includes before-and-after photos illustrating the improvement observed with both topicals. Outcomes with both topicals were like those reported in previous clinical trials of intense pulsed light therapy—an established nonsurgical treatment for photoaging.
“While both human platelet extract, or platelet exosomes, and vitamin C may have similar rejuvenating effects, topical vitamin C can increase photosensitivity, disrupt skin’s pH balance and have stability issues, making HPE a more reliable and skin-friendly alternative,” Wyles says.
The researchers suggest further studies to assess the possible synergistic effects of using both topical therapies together or in combination with other treatments.