Collagen and its peptides are natural ingredients used in food supplements and nutricosmetics with the claim of providing benefits for skin health and beauty. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of oral supplementation with hydrolyzed fish cartilage for the improvement of chronological and photoaging-induced skin changes. A total of 46 healthy females aged 45 to 59 years were enrolled and divided into two groups: G1—placebo and G2—oral treatment with hydrolyzed fish cartilage. Measurements of skin wrinkles, dermis echogenicity and thickness, and morphological and structural characteristics of the skin were performed in the nasolabial region of the face before and after a 90-day period of treatment using high-resolution imaging, ultrasound, and reflectance confocal microscopy image analyses. A significant reduction in wrinkles and an increase of dermis echogenicity were observed after a 90-day period of treatment with hydrolyzed fish cartilage compared to the placebo and baseline values. In addition, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) image analysis showed improved collagen morphology and reduced elastosis after treatment with hydrolyzed fish cartilage. The present study showed the clinical benefits for the skin obtained with oral supplementation with a low dose of collagen peptides from hydrolyzed fish cartilage.

Cosmetic formulations with natural antioxidants can reduce the oxidative stress caused by solar radiation and pollution. In this context, the aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the clinical efficacy of cosmetic formulations containing olive extract (OE) and Spirulina sp. (SP). For this, rheological behavior, texture, and sensory properties were evaluated. In addition, 31 healthy women with an age of 39 to 60 years, with skin phototypes II and III, and the presence of signs of photoaging on the face were recruited and divided in Group 1 (vehicle formulation) and Group 2 (vehicle with active substances) for this clinical efficacy study. Both groups applied sunscreen daily during the day. The formulations showed non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviors and good sensory properties. The clinical evaluation using instrumental measurements showed an increase in skin hydration, an improvement of the skin barrier, and morphological characteristics of the epidermis after 12 weeks of application of the formulations. There was a significant increase in the brightness of the stratum corneum, which suggested a film-forming effect. In addition, both groups had an improvement in the dermis echogenicity, due to the use of sunscreens. Finally, the proposed formulation was effective in protecting the skin and reducing skin changes related to photoaging.

Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive imaging technique with near-histological resolution that allows evaluation of the morphological and structural characteristics of the skin. In this context, the aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the application of a cosmetic formulation on the skin morphological characteristics by RCM. The study included six female subjects, aged 40 to 50 years. Measurements in terms of epidermis thickness, dermal papillae depth (DPD), interkeratinocytes brightness (IB), furrows morphology, skin surface homogeneity (SSH), honeycomb pattern, skin hyperpigmentation, dermal papillae and dermis morphology were performed using RCM before and after a 90-day period of formulation application on the face. The studied formulation showed a significance increase of DPD after the 90 day period, showing an improvement on the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ). In addition, an increase of IB in the granular layer and an improvement of dermis morphology were observed after the treatment. In conclusion, the obtained results by RCM showed an improvement of morphological characteristics of the skin after application of the studied cosmetic formulation for 90 day period when compared to the initial baseline, as it improved epidermis and dermoepidermal junction morphology. Keywords: Clinical efficacy, Reflectance Confocal Microscopy, cosmetic formulation