The Effectiveness of Epidermal Growth Factor Serum in Improve Facial Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Pigmentation, and Wrinkles.

The Effectiveness of Epidermal Growth Factor Serum for the Improvement of Facial Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Pigmentation, and Wrinkles at the Institute of Dermatology: a Single-centered Pilot Study With a One-group Before-and-after Design

EGF is a polypeptide that promotes cell differentiation and collagen production while decreasing melanin production. This study is designed to study its effectiveness in improving the texture and appearance of facial skin after daily topical application. We hypothesized that EGF would improve facial skin hydration, elasticity, pigmentation, and wrinkles.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Aging
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Epidermal Growth Factor

Detailed Description

All patients gave written informed consent for epidermal growth factor serum application on the face. The pilot study enrolls thirty patients compared to pre and post-serum used to evaluate facial skin hydration, transepidermal water loss, elasticity, pigmentation, and wrinkles measured by corneometer, tewameter, cutometer, visioscan, and mexameter respectively on day 0, then 8, 12, and 16 weeks. The study evaluates subject satisfaction and side effects after serum application as secondary outcomes.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 28
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Thailand
  • Bangkok, Thailand, 10400
    • Institute of Dermatology

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Thai
• Mild to moderate facial skin condition, as measured by 1-2 points on the hyperpigmentation status scale or 2-3 points on the wrinkle severity grading scale.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of lotions or skin care products containing ingredients such as vitamin A/C, hydroquinone, or anti-aging agents.
• Sunbathing
• Hypersensitivity to serum components
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding
• Active skin diseases such as eczema or atopic dermatitis at the application site

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Epidermal Growth Factor Serum Application; Participants received Epidermal growth factor serum application on the face daily for two months compared to pre and post-results of skin quality.	Drug: Epidermal Growth Factor; Apply facial twice daily.; Other Names: Epidermal Growth Factor Serum

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Facial Skin Hydration	Facial skin hydration was measured using a Corneometer, which provides readings in arbitrary units (a.u.). Measurements were taken at baseline (Day 0), Week 8, Week 12, and Week 16 under standardized environmental and procedural conditions to ensure reliability and accuracy. Higher values indicate better skin hydration, while lower values indicate increased dryness.	4 months (Baseline, Week 8, Week 12, Week 16)
Transepidermal Water Loss	measured by tewameter on day 0, then at 8, 12, and 16 weeks.	4 months
Facial Skin Elasticity (R2 Parameter Via Cutometer)	Skin elasticity was assessed using a Cutometer with the R2 parameter (Ua/Uf), which measures gross elasticity. R2 values range from 0 to 1.0, with higher values indicating better skin elasticity. Measurements were collected under standardized conditions at Baseline (Day 0), Week 8, Week 12, and Week 16.	Baseline, Week 8, Week 12, Week 16
Facial Skin Wrinkles	Visioscan measurements were taken at baseline, then at 8, 12, and 16 weeks by using a 4-grade percentage wrinkle improvement scale.	4 months
Facial Melanin Index	Facial pigmentation was assessed using the Mexameter, which measures melanin content via light absorption and reflection. The device reports values on a scale from 0 to 999, where higher values represent greater melanin concentration. Measurements were collected at standardized facial sites at Baseline, Week 8, Week 12, and Week 16. Higher scores indicate worse pigmentation.	4 months
Overall Facial Skin Appearance (Photo Evaluation Using SGAIS)	Facial skin appearance was evaluated using the Subject Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (SGAIS), a 5-point scale where higher scores indicate greater improvement. Scores were assigned by two board-certified dermatologists who assessed photographs taken by the Visia-CR imaging system at Baseline, Week 8, Week 12, and Week 16. SGAIS scoring definition: 1 = Worse, 2 = Mild improvement (<25%), 3 = Moderate (25-49%), 4 = Much improved (50-74%), 5 = Very much improved (≥75%).	4 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Subject Satisfaction in Improving Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Wrinkles, and Pigmentation	Using a quartile grading system, (0 = unsatisfied), (1 = slightly satisfied), (2 = satisfied), and (3 = very satisfied)	4 months
Adverse Events	Adverse events were systematically monitored at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks post-treatment initiation.	4 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Institute of Dermatology, Thailand
• Collaborators: Chumsaeng Chumsaengsri
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Chumsaeng Chumsaengsri, Institute of Dermatology

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 30, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 5, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 12, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 30, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 9, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): February 13, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 31, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 14, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Mitosis Modulators; Mitogens
• Other Study ID Numbers: 008/2565

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No