Table 6.
Applications of the rhEGF in aesthetic medicine
| Authors and year of publication | Type of study | Country of origin | Number of participants | Intervention protocol | Follow-up period | Results | Adverse events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKnight B et al 2015[37] | Clinical trial | USA | - | Topical daily application of the human epidermal growth factor in the senile purpura | 6 Weeks | Topical rhEGF decreases the appearance of senile purpura by thickening the skin, and it prevents late-stage dermatoporosis. | They did not report. |
| Kwon SB et al 2017[38] | Clinical trial | Korea | 40 Patients: 20 in the control group and 20 in the experimental group | Cream with phytosphingosine-1-phosphate and EGF twice a day for 4 weeks | 6 Weeks | Improved elasticity, density, and dermal hydration; reduction of periocular wrinkles; and phytosphingosine-1-phosphate showed synergistic effects with EGF. | They were not observed. |
| Vivó-Sesé I et al 2015[26] | Clinical trial | Spain | 18 Patients in A or experimental group and in B or control group | Before peeling, A group received EGF HA product by digital transdermal introduction, and B group received treatment by manual mesotherapy in 2 sessions (day 7 and day 21). | Days 0, 21, and 35 | The product effectively attenuates wrinkles. The digital transdermal application produced effects faster, and it was the only one that had effects on the depth of wrinkles. | They were not observed. |
| Ha JM et al 2017[35] | Clinical trial | Korea | 20 Patients on the left and right sides of the face | For 4 weeks, a patch of microspicles with EGF was applied on the experimental side and the control side. The EGF cream was applied on periocular wrinkles. | Days 0 and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks | The patch of EGF produced a statistical increase in dermal density compared with the control group at 4 and 8 weeks. | They were not observed. |
| Barone F et al 2019[33] | Quasi-experimental clinical trial | USA | 41 Patients | Serum with EGF twice per day for 12 weeks. Expert qualifications and evaluations with a corneometer and cutometer were made. | 12 Weeks | Improved the firmness and hydration of the skin; improved the appearance of periocular wrinkles. Ultrasound showed an increase in dermal restructuring. | They did not report. |
| TechapichethvanichT et al 2018[29] | Clinical trial | Thailand | 19 Patients on the right and left side of the face for control and experimental groups | Patients received laser carbon dioxide fractional treatment on both cheeks. They applied EGF ointment daily on one side of the face and Vaseline on the other side. | The hyper pigmentation was evaluated at 2, 3 weeks and at 1, 2 months. | There were no statistically significant differences. However, topical EGF provides significant repair stimulation. | Pruritus |
| Schouest JM et al 2012[39] | Quasi-experimental clinical trial | USA | 21 Patients | Topical application twice a day for 3 months | Every 30 days up to 3 months | Statistical improvement was found in the rhytids, in the reduction of pore size and pigmentary alterations by photodamage. | Mild inflammation controlled |
| Gawdat HI et al 2017[40] | Clinical trial | Egypt | 20 Patients on the experimental side (EGF) and the control side (PRP autologous) | Intradermotherapy every 2 weeks for 3 months, EGF side, and PRP side. The thickness of the epidermis and dermis was evaluated by tomography. | 1 Month to 6 months after the previous session. | Both procedures increased skin turgidity and vitality. The thickness of the epidermis and dermis increased in both groups without differences. | Transient burning sensation in both groups |
| Park GH et al 2015[30] | Clinical trial | Korea | 25 Patients | A 532 nm laser was applied. In addition, the experimental group applied the cream with growth factor and the control group applied the control cream. | Days 0, 3, 7, and 35 | The cream with EGF showed statistically significant differences at the end of the study, being more effective in preventing inflammatory hyper pigmentation after laser treatment. | They did not report. |
| Draelos ZD 2016[41] | Clinical trial | USA | 60 Patients | Daily application of serum hyaluronic acid with serum growth factor | Weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 | Both products improved the skin, with statistically greater differences in serum AH + EGF | They did not report. |
| Lee DH et al 2014[42] | Quasi-experimental clinical trial | Korea | 23 Patients | EGF serum and hyaluronic acid were applied to the entire face. Photo damage was assessed with photographs and skin and rhytids with a visiometer. | Days 0, 4, and 8 weeks | Periorbital wrinkles improved with statistically significant differences, captured by both the physician and the visiometer. | They were not observed. |
| An JH et al 2019[36] | Clinical trial | Korea | 50 Patients divided into experimental and control groups | Patches with acetyl hexapeptide, control patch, and patch with EGF were applied in the nasolabial fold and periorbital area, once a week. | Days 0, 1, 3, 5, 8, and 29 | On day 29, there were statistically significant improvements in wrinkles and skin hydration with the microneedle patch / AHP-8. | They were not observed. |
| Ruri P.2018[43] | Number of cases | Indonesia | 8 Patients | rhEGF gel using microneedling, 3 sessions every 10 days | Before and after 4 weeks of treatment | Seven patients showed improvement in texture, fine lines, and wrinkles, especially in the periorbital region, reducing the signs of photoaging | Erythema associated with the microneedling |
| Seidel R and Moy RL 2015[34] | Quasi-experimental clinical trial | USA | 8 Patients | Application twice a day of serum with EGF in the areas of atrophic acne scars for 12 weeks | Before and after, 3 times at 4-week intervals | Overall, 25% of patients improved their hypertrophic scars mid-level Goodman scale. Researchers surveyed a perceived improvement of 49% in 6 patients. | They were not recorded. |
| Kim J et al 2012[44] | Preclinical trial in vitro and in vivo | Korea | 32 Mice | Application of the EGF once a day in the photodamaged and hyperpigmented area for 4 weeks. Previously applied microporation twice a week | 28 Days | Hyperpigmentation improved with EGF. EGF decreased wrinkles, and in-depth and histological analysis indicated re-densification. | - |
| Kim D et al 2015[10] | Preclinical trial in vitro | Korea | Cell cultures of young fibroblasts and aged fibroblasts in collagen 3d matrices | Later cultivation was made: Proliferation assay (72h); migration assay (4h); contractility assay (2h); immunohistochemicals (3h) | EGF increased migration and contraction of aged fibroblasts. It improved the collagen matrix more efficiently than young fibroblasts. | - | |
| Park B et al 2011[45] | Preclinical trial in vivo | Korea | 12 Rabbits | The inguinal fat was grafted with EGF or with saline (control) solution in the auricular pavilion to observe the volume and changes of adipose tissue. | The grafted fat was collected 3 months later. | In EGF, the survival rate was higher than in the control, increased neovascularization, and maintained fat cell morphology. | - |
| Draelos ZD et al 2017[46] | Quasi-experimental clinical trial | USA | 40 Patients | Serum EGF obtained from a culture in dextran to low-tension oxygen tension for 8 weeks was applied daily for 90 days. | At 90 days | Statistically significant improvements were found in skin hydration through corneometry, as well as in the global evaluations of researchers and patients. | Not reported |
| Yamamoto A et al 2016[47] | Preclinical trial in vitro in hyaluronic acid (HA), collagen (Col), EGF, vitamin C (VC), glucosylceramide (GC), poly (γ-glutamic acid) (PGA), and Argentina (Arg) | Japan | The proliferation of fibroblasts in culture cells with the product HA, Col, EGF, Vit. C, PGA, and Arg | The amount of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) produced by fibroblasts was evaluated in an in vitro wound model (cultured dermal substitute: CDS) with cultured EGF for 7 days | The media were prepared and stored at 4 ° C or 37 ° C for a different period of 1 day, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks, respectively. | The effectiveness of EGF remained even after 4 weeks. CDS fibroblasts released more VEGF and HGF in culture with EGF. Fibroblast density increased more in the medium with EGF than in the control medium without EGF. | - |
Source: Prepared by the authors from the study results.