Efficacy of topical application of a mixture of amniotic membrane stem cell metabolic products and vitamin C after microneedling treatment in patients with photoaging

Background Extrinsic factor-related aging is associated with a decrease in growth factors that results in degradation of the skin structure. Amniotic membranes are currently promising candidates for use in cellular therapy and regenerative medicine. When amniotic membrane stem cells (AMSCs) are cultured, several bioactive materials are secreted into the medium as metabolic products. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is widely used in dermatology as an antioxidant and to promote depigmentation and collagen synthesis. Microneedling facilitates the penetration of these molecules and thus improves the efficacy of the mixture of AMSC-metabolic products (AMSC-MPs) and vitamin C in skin rejuvenation. Topical combinations of metabolic products of AMSCs (AMSC-MPs) and vitamin C are expected to have an effect on improvement of clinical photoaging. Methods A total of 60 photoaging women were included in this analytic, controlled, matched-pair experimental study. They were allocated to receive a topical facial combination of AMSC-MP and vitamin C in the intervention group or AMSC-MPs alone in the control group. A Dermapen® was used to enhance epidermal penetration. Three treatment sessions were given at intervals of 4 weeks. Results Compared with the control group, subjects in the treatment group showed significant improvement in wrinkles (p = 0.008), ultraviolet spots (p = 0.046) and pores (p = 0.046). Conclusion The combination of AMSC-MPs and vitamin C is an effective treatment for photoaging.