Background: Collagens have long been used in pharmaceuticals and food supplements for the improvement of skin.
Aim: We evaluated the efficacy of high advanced-collagen tripeptide (HACP) on wound healing and skin recovery.
Methods: Using an in vitro model, we performed HaCaT cell migration assays and collagen gel contraction assays using HACP concentrations of 1, 10 and 100 μg/mL. In this pilot study, eight healthy volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. Both the control and experimental groups received fractional photothermolysis treatment, but in the experimental group, four subjects received 3 g/day of oral collagen peptide (CP) for 4 weeks. To assess transepidermal water loss in each patient before and after the treatment, we used a Corneometer and a Cutometer, and we also assessed the patient's Erythema Index.
Results: The cell migration assay showed that HACP enhanced wound closure, but not in a dose-dependent manner. The collagen gel contraction assay showed increased contractility when patients were treated with 100 μg/mL HACP, but the results were not significantly different from those of controls. We found that post-laser erythema resolved faster in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, the recovery of skin hydration after fractional laser treatment was greater in the experimental group than in the control group by day 3 (P < 0.05), and the experimental group showed significantly improved post-treatment skin elasticity compared with the controls by day 14 (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Collagen tripeptide treatment appears to be an effective and conservative therapy for cutaneous wound healing and skin recovery after fractional photothermolysis treatment.
© 2014 British Association of Dermatologists.