This is the extent to which people go to try and reverse the natural aging process. Did you know that ‘Mesotherapy’, commonly known as “biorejuvenation” or “biorevitalization”, is a technique used to rejuvenate the skin by means of a injection of a multivitamin solution and natural plant extracts, under the skin. I can’t think of anything more ridiculous!, but that is thought to improve the signs of skin aging.

Thanks goodness for this excellent research paper by these dermatologists, which has confirmed that this technique is of absolutely no use. Women often ask me ‘which facial is best for me?’, ‘Is pumpkin facial any good’, ‘Is lime any good for my face?’. So you tell me- if injecting something under the skin doesn’t work, will applying it on the skin do anything?

Efficacy of mesotherapy in facial rejuvenation: a histological and immunohistochemical evaluation

Background? Mesotherapy, commonly known as “biorejuvenation” or “biorevitalization”, is a technique used to rejuvenate the skin by means of a transdermal injection of a multivitamin solution and natural plant extracts that are thought to improve the signs of skin aging.

Objectives? This prospective study aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of mesotherapy applied to periorbital wrinkles and to quantitatively evaluate histological changes in the skin occurring in response to the same treatment.

Methods? Six volunteers with Fitzpatrick skin types III or IV and Glogau class I–III wrinkles were subjected to a three-month course of mesotherapy injections in the periocular area (six sessions administered at two-week intervals). Standard photographs and skin biopsies were obtained from the treatment area at baseline, at the end of treatment, and at three months post-treatment. Quantitative evaluation of collagen types I, III, and VII, newly synthesized collagen, total elastin, and tropoelastin was performed using a computerized morphometric analysis.

Results? The clinical evaluation of volunteers at baseline, end of treatment, and three months post-treatment revealed no significant differences. Histological and immunostaining analysis of collagen types I, III, and VII, newly synthesized collagen, total elastin, and tropoelastin showed no statistically significant changes (P > 0.05) after mesotherapy injection.

Conclusions? The present study indicates that mesotherapy for skin rejuvenation does not result in statistically significant histological changes or clinical improvement.

Article first published online: 12 JUL 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05184.x

© 2012 The International Society of Dermatology

Issue

International Journal of Dermatology

Volume 51, Issue 8, pages 913–919, August 2012