Wrinkle Drug’s Action Found

2007-02-20 | 02:24

A popular injectable anti-wrinkle treatment, Restylane, appears to stimulate skin cells to make natural collagen, a basic skin protein, according to a study whose findings suggest Restylane’s effects may last longer than expected. Restylane, sold in the U.S. by Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., has been thought to smooth wrinkles by physically filing in space created through collagen loss and other aging processes. The study by the University of Michigan Medical School researchers, in this month’s Archives of Dermatology, suggests the product’s temporary benefits are also caused by a biological response, which explains why injections seem to have longer-lasting results after repeated treatments. The study focuses on skin cells known as fibroblasts. In a young person, the fibroblasts that make collagen are normally stretched, according to John J. Voorhees, chairman of the university’s dermatology department. The study using Restylane was designed to see if the fibroblasts could be restretched and that is exactly what happened said Dr. Voorhees. The initial anti-wrinkle benefit of Restylane is caused by its physical presence, but after three or four weeks, new collagen formation begins, the study showed. Dr. Voorhees isn’t clear how long the new growth continues because the study was only for 13 weeks. The Restylane injections also inhibited the breakdown of collagen by an enzyme that acts on aging skin. Dr. Voorhees cautioned against generalizing the findings to other substances because of their technical differences.