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LONDON, England / The Times / Science News / April 29, 2009
The effects of the cream were visible in before,
left, and after photographs
By David Rose
A skin cream sold on the high street has been clinically proven to reduce fine wrinkles and improve the appearance of weathered skin, scientists say.
Dermatologists at the University of Manchester carried out a trial on 60 volunteers with signs of sun-damaged skin and found that the cream, made by Boots, could help to reduce the most common signs of ageing.
The study, published online today by the British Journal of Dermatology, found that 70 per cent of people who used the cream for a year had significantly fewer wrinkles compared with volunteers using a placebo.
It is thought to be the first time that a cosmetic has been subjected to such rigorous testing, producing results that were visible and could be verified by a doctor.
Related Link
The face in the mirror: getting rid of blemishes
The No7 Protect & Perfect beauty serum was hailed as a wonder cream and sold out after the same research team highlighted its effects on the BBC Two Horizon programme in 2007. A rebranded version, No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum, goes on sale tomorrow, costing £19.75 for a 30ml tube. Boots predicts boom sales. The cream was originally launched in 2006 as No 7’s Refine and Rewind cream, costing £16.75.
Chris Griffiths, a professor of dermatology at Manchester who led the study, said that the effects varied from person to person but were visible on before and after photographs after six months. On a ten-point clinical scale of photo-ageing, the difference was equivalent to a reduction from an average of 5.2 points to 4 across those who used the cream, but the effect applied only to wrinkles, and not other signs of ageing. The research was funded by Boots, but independently controlled. The findings would have been published even if they had not produced positive results.
Professor Griffiths said that limiting sun exposure or using sun block was still the best way to maintain young-looking skin, but added: “Boots was actually very brave to subject its product to this kind of testing. It is rare for such benefits to be reported for an over-the-counter anti-ageing product and this study paves the way for larger studies with more statistical power.”
Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: “Approximately one in five people using the cream will get something extra for their money over plain moisturisers.”
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd
The effects of the cream were visible in before,
left, and after photographs
By David Rose
A skin cream sold on the high street has been clinically proven to reduce fine wrinkles and improve the appearance of weathered skin, scientists say.
Dermatologists at the University of Manchester carried out a trial on 60 volunteers with signs of sun-damaged skin and found that the cream, made by Boots, could help to reduce the most common signs of ageing.
The study, published online today by the British Journal of Dermatology, found that 70 per cent of people who used the cream for a year had significantly fewer wrinkles compared with volunteers using a placebo.
It is thought to be the first time that a cosmetic has been subjected to such rigorous testing, producing results that were visible and could be verified by a doctor.
Related Link
The face in the mirror: getting rid of blemishes
The No7 Protect & Perfect beauty serum was hailed as a wonder cream and sold out after the same research team highlighted its effects on the BBC Two Horizon programme in 2007. A rebranded version, No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum, goes on sale tomorrow, costing £19.75 for a 30ml tube. Boots predicts boom sales. The cream was originally launched in 2006 as No 7’s Refine and Rewind cream, costing £16.75.
Chris Griffiths, a professor of dermatology at Manchester who led the study, said that the effects varied from person to person but were visible on before and after photographs after six months. On a ten-point clinical scale of photo-ageing, the difference was equivalent to a reduction from an average of 5.2 points to 4 across those who used the cream, but the effect applied only to wrinkles, and not other signs of ageing. The research was funded by Boots, but independently controlled. The findings would have been published even if they had not produced positive results.
Professor Griffiths said that limiting sun exposure or using sun block was still the best way to maintain young-looking skin, but added: “Boots was actually very brave to subject its product to this kind of testing. It is rare for such benefits to be reported for an over-the-counter anti-ageing product and this study paves the way for larger studies with more statistical power.”
Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: “Approximately one in five people using the cream will get something extra for their money over plain moisturisers.”
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd
