2025-10-29 08:14:28
Presenters: Huang P,1 Makino E,1 Cheng T,1 Rodgers N,2 Maitra P1
Affiliations: 1Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie Company, Irvine, CA; 2SGS North America, Inc., Richardson, TX
Background: Skin hydration influences overall facial appearance. Well-hydrated skin looks dewy and plump, while insufficient hydration leads to dryness and fine lines. The next generation hydrator HCH is a topical serum that improves skin hydration by supporting the natural levels of key biohumectants including hyaluronic acid.
Objective: This single-center, 24-week clinical study assessed immediate and long-term efficacy and tolerability of HCH for improving facial dryness in participants with self-perceived sensitive skin.
Methods: Adults with mild to severe facial dryness, lack of dewiness, skin roughness, and fine lines/wrinkles applied HCH twice daily alongside a basic skincare regimen for 24 weeks. Investigator-assessed clinical grading, hydration measurements, participant self-assessments, and tolerability grading (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe) were conducted at baseline, post application (with HCH on skin), and at Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 (without HCH on skin). FACE-Q questionnaires were administered at baseline and Weeks 12 and 24. For 10 participants, surface skin samples were analyzed for lipid composition at baseline and Weeks 12 and 24. Safety was monitored throughout.
Results: Of 53 participants, 91% were female with mean age of 41.7 years. Significant immediate improvements from baseline were observed in investigator-assessed clinical grading of dewy hydrated skin (15.6%, P < 0. 001), visual skin smoothness (12.0%,
P < 0.001), radiance (13.9%, P < 0.001), fine lines (-6.8%, P = 0.002; decrease indicates improvement), and overall skin appearance (11. 1%, P < 0.001); significant improvements continued throughout the 24-week study suggesting long-term benefits. Stratum corneum hydration significantly increased from baseline by 52.5% (P < 0.001) immediately post application and by 46.4% (P < 0.001) at Week 24. Lipid composition analysis showed an increase in natural moisturizing factors (NMF) and long-chain ceramides at Week 24. FACE-Q overall mean scores increased from baseline by 58% in Satisfaction With Skin, 41% in Satisfaction With Facial Appearance, and 33% in Aging Appraisal at Week 24. On FACE-Q Patient-Perceived Age Visual Analogue Scale, participants reported looking three years younger at Week 12 and 3.5 years younger at Week 24 than at baseline. The majority of participants felt that HCH delivered instant hydration (87%) and made their skin dewy and fresh after 24 weeks of use (93%).
Tolerability grading for erythema and itching remained consistently low (< 1) throughout. One participant experienced two treatment-related adverse events (moderate erythema and edema) which resolved without sequelae.
Conclusion: HCH delivered immediate and long-term improvements in skin hydration and multiple skin quality parameters, including dewy, hydrated appearance, smoothness and radiance. HCH supports the natural levels of NMFs and ceramides in the stratum corneum, which are critical for skin barrier function, highlighting an additional pathway by which HCH improves hydration beyond enhancing the skin’s biohumectants. HCH was well tolerated and was associated with high overall satisfaction based on participant assessments.
Disclosures: N Rodgers is a full-time employee of SGS and may own company stock. P Huang, E Makino, T Cheng, and P Maitra are full-time employees of AbbVie Inc., and may own company stock.
Funding: Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, funded this study and participated in the design, research, analysis, data collection, interpretation of data, and the review and approval of the publication. All authors had Access to relevant data and participated in the drafting, review, and approval of this publication. No honoraria or payments were made for authorship. Medical writing support was provided by Battuya Bayarmagnai, PhD, of AbbVie Inc., and funded by AbbVie Inc.
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