Chaichana Srituravanich¹, Paisal Rummaneethorn¹

Background: The quality of skin, especially its elasticity, hydration, and collagen, diminishes with age, contributing to visible signs of aging. Poly-D,L-lactic acid (PDLLA) has emerged as a biostimulator that can potentially improve facial skin quality through collagen stimulation.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of PDLLA in improving facial rejuvenation markers in late middle age Thai women.

Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental design was conducted for a before-and-after design. Fifteen eligible participants, aged between 45 and 60 years old, were recruited from Mae Fah Luang University Hospital Asoke, Bangkok, Thailand. Two sessions of subdermal PDLLA injections were administered to each participant. Eight skin quality parameters were assessed at baseline, two, four, and six months using the Cutometer MPA580 for skin elasticity, Sebumeter SM815 for sebum level, Corneometer CM825 for skin hydration or skin capacitance, Tewameter TM300 for transepidermal water loss or TEWL, and Visia CR system for spots, pores, wrinkles, and texture.

Results: Significant improvements were noted in skin elasticity, hydration, TEWL, pores, and wrinkles compared to baseline. Skin elasticity increased by 0.11±0.02 at six months (p<0.001), and skin hydration improved, with skin capacitance rising by 6.19±0.86 at four months (p<0.001). TEWL dropped by 6.49±0.68 g/m²/hour at four months (p<0.001), pores reduced by 3.04±0.51 at four months (p<0.001), and wrinkles decreased by 7.62±1.13 at six months (p<0.001). In contrast, the remaining three parameters, sebum level, spots, and texture, showed no statistically significant changes in the time series measurement. No severe adverse effects were reported.

Conclusion: PDLLA is an effective and safe biostimulator for enhancing facial skin quality in the late middle age Thai women.

Received 26 December 2024 | Revised 24 April 2025 | Accepted 8 May 2025

DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2025.6.457-463-02252