Poster Session
Context: In the post-partum period, women can notice stretch marks, loss of skin firmness and elasticity that appear during pregnancy. It is important to offer topical products that could help to reduce these symptoms in order to help increase mothers’ self-esteem regarding their physical appearance. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a firming cream for the postpartum period containing Proteasyl and hydroxyprolisilane. Methods: An open-label prospective study. Patients: 32 postpartum women with an Individual Clinical Stretch Marks (ICSM) Score higher than 2. Interventions: Women were instructed to apply the product twice daily on the abdomen (abd) and hips for 4 weeks. Main outcome measures: The efficacy of the product was assessed through the evaluation of the firming effect (FE), skin elasticity (SE) recovery and anti-stretch mark effect at D0 and D28. FE and SE were evaluated by Cutometer. The anti-stretch mark effect was evaluated by the dermatologist using an ICSM score (0=no stretch marks, 5=severe stretch marks, evaluating the color, thickness and depth of stretch marks). All these measures were reported at abdomen and hip levels. Subjects also evaluated the efficacy through self questionnaire. The dermatologist evaluated the tolerability. Results: FE improved significantly (p< 0.001) at D28 versus D0 for Abd (-7.1%) and Hip (-18.4%). SE increased significantly (p< 0.001 for Abd and p=0.01 for Hip) at D28 versus D0 for Abd (7.6%) and Hip (4.8%). In addition, ICSM score decreased significantly (p< 0.001) at D28 versus D0 for Abd (-31.15) and Hip (-36.1%). These results were confirmed as 97% of the subjects reported that the product left skin smoother and thinner; 98% indicated that the product intensively moisturized skin, left it more flexible and elastic, improved skin firmness and helped attenuate the recent stretch marks; and 88% reported it eased skin recovery. The dermatologist reported a good tolerance of the product. Conclusion: This firming cream for post-partum skin damage recovery has been shown to improve firmness, elasticity and to help attenuate stretch marks after 4 weeks of use. The dermatologist investigator reported good tolerance of the product.