Skin hydration in postmenopausal women: argan oil benefit with oral and/or topical use

Abstract

The aim of this study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of daily consumption and/or application of argan oil on skin hydration in postmenopausal women.

Material and methods: Sixty postmenopausal women consumed butter during the stabilization period and were randomly divided into two groups for the intervention period: the treatment group absorbed alimentary argan oil (n = 30) and the control group olive oil (n = 30). Both groups applied cosmetic argan oil in the left volar forearm during a sixty days' period. Evaluation of skin hydration, i.e. transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and water content of the epidermis (WCE) on both volar forearms of the two groups, were performed during three visits at D0, D30 and after sixty days (D60) of oils treatment.

Results: The consumption of argan oil has led to a significant decrease in TEWL (p = 0.023) and a significant increase in WCE (p = 0.001). The application of argan oil has led to a significant decrease in TEWL (p = 0.01) and a significant increase in WCE (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the daily consumption and application of argan oil have improved the skin hydration by restoring the barrier function and maintaining the water-holding capacity.

Keywords: argan oil; postmenopausal women; skin hydration.

Fig. 1

Recapitulative scheme of the statistical results of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and water content of epidermis (WCE) during the phase of intervention

Fig. 2

Overall protocol of the study

Fig. 3

Volar forearm transepidermal water loss (TEWL) evolution after oils consumption and/or argan oil application. A) At the right volar forearm (RF) in the group consuming argan oil. B) At the right volar forearm (RF) in the group consuming olive oil. C) At the left volar forearm (LF) in the group consuming argan oil. D) At the left volar forearm (LF) in the group consuming olive oil. The difference between the 3 paired means (± SD) of TEWL (taken at D0, D30 and D60) of the two volar forearms (RF and LF) of each group (argan and olive) were analyzed using ANOVA test for repeated measures followed by Bonferroni post-hoc test (if ANOVA test for repeated measures was statistically significant). p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant (results of ANOVA test for repeated measures). NS: ANOVA test for repeated measures shows no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). *p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant (results of Bonferroni post-hoc test)

Fig. 4

Volar forearm water content of epidermis (WCE) evolution after oils consumption and/or argan oil application. A) At the right volar forearm (RF) in the group consuming argan oil, B) at the right volar forearm (RF) in the group consuming olive oil, C) at the left volar forearm (LF) in the group consuming argan oil, D) at the left volar forearm (LF) in the group consuming olive oil. The difference between the 3 paired means (± SD) of WCE (taken at D0, D30 and D60) of the two volar forearms (RF and LF) of each group (argan and olive) were analyzed using ANOVA test for repeated measures followed by Bonferroni post-hoc test (if ANOVA test for repeated measures was statistically significant). p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant (results of ANOVA test for repeated measures). NS – ANOVA test for repeated measures shows no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). *p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant (results of Bonferroni post-hoc test)