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Improvement of facial skin characteristics using copper oxide containing pillowcases: a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel, randomized study
Author(s) -
Borkow G.,
Gabbay J.,
Lyakhovitsky A.,
Huszar M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of cosmetic science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1468-2494
pISSN - 0142-5463
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2494.2009.00515.x
Subject(s) - copper , placebo , double blind , medicine , randomized controlled trial , skin type , significant difference , copper oxide , double blind study , dermatology , surgery , metallurgy , materials science , pathology , alternative medicine
Synopsis Copper plays a key role in several processes of skin formation and regeneration. Copper has been shown to be absorbed through intact skin. We hypothesized that sleeping on fabrics containing copper‐impregnated fibres would have a positive cosmetic effect on the skin. The aim of this study was to confirm our hypothesis. A 4‐week, double blind, parallel, randomized study was carried out in which 57 volunteers aged 40–60 years used either copper oxide containing pillowcases (0.4% weight/weight) or control pillowcases not containing copper. Photographs were taken by a professional photographer of each participant at the beginning of the study and at 2 and 4 weeks after the commencement of the study. Two expert graders (a dermatologist and a cosmetologist) evaluated the pictures for the effect on several cosmetic facial skin characteristics. The copper‐containing pillowcases had a positive effect for the following facial characteristics: reduction of wrinkles ( P < 0.001) and crow’s feet/fine lines ( P < 0.001) and improvement of general appearance ( P < 0.001) at both 2 and 4 weeks. The differences were statistically significant (Wilcoxon scores and chi‐squared tests). Consistent sleeping for 4 weeks on copper oxide containing pillowcases caused a significant reduction in the appearance of facial wrinkles and crow’s feet/fine lines and significant improvement in the appearance of facial skin. In most trial participants, this effect was already noticeable within 2 weeks of using the copper oxide containing pillowcases.