Treatment of Photodamaged Skin: Use of Melumine and Arginine to Improve the Texture of Photodamaged Skin

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was used to assess a topical preparation containing the antiglycation ingredients meglumine and arginine for the ability to improve smoothness, texture, and overall appearance of photodamaged skin after a 4-week treatment period. Eighteen subjects with moderate photodamage and dryness on the lateral aspect of the upper arm were treated with applications of a base cream containing placebo on one arm and a base cream containing meglumine and arginine on the other arm twice daily for 4 weeks. An expert grader assessed the visual texture or crepiness, visual dryness, and tactile dryness or roughness of the treated areas at the beginning of the study and after the 4-week period. A greater improvement was seen in the 3 assessments of dryness and texture for the cream containing meglumine and arginine than that achieved with the placebo cream after 4 weeks of treatment. After 4 weeks of treatment, the cream containing meglumine and arginine reduced crepiness by 26%, visual dryness by 64%, and roughness by 48%.