DATE PALM KERNEL EXTRACT ON FACIAL SKIN WRINKLES 283 evaluated during the follow-up visits using the Antera 3D. Multispectral analysis of the skin color showed that DPKE cream statistically reduced the average concentrations of skin melanin at the two time points of assessment compared with both the baseline and placebo measurements (p 0.05 for all, Figure 3). The placebo cream had no signifi cant effects on the overall wrinkle size, depth, indentation, and roughness indices or skin Figure 1. Biop hysical m easurements in 36 subjects at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks of topical treatment with 5% DPKE cream. (A) Skin hydration, (B) TEWL, (C) skin elasticity, (D) fi rmness, (E) melanin pigmen- tation, and (F) erythema. Data are presented in AU as mean ± SD. Signifi cance levels: *p 0.05, **p 0.01, and ***p 0.001 versus baseline. #p 0.05, ##p 0.01, and ###p 0.001 versus placebo (ANOVA).

JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE 284 melanin concentration at the two measured time points. Collective data obtained in both male and female volunteers separately at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment with DPKE cream are presented in Table IV. DISCUSSION Aging involves several alterations of skin properties that resul t in skin thinning along with reduced skin elasticity, increased fragility, pigmentations, and appearance of fi ne lines and wrinkles. Accordingly, the search for natural and effective skin rejuvenation remedies is an exceptionally large interest for the cosmetics industry. In this study, we investigated the potential of topical DPKE, formulated as cream, in reducing the mani- festations of facial skin aging in human volunteers. The work herein demonstrates and validates the use of a cream form containing 5% DPKE over placebo against fi ne lines and wrinkles, skin pigmentations, hydration, and elasticity. This improvement began to show after 4 weeks of treatment and progressed over 8 weeks. In addition, DPKE cream was Figure 2. Antera 3D® ana l ysis of wrinkle size (A) and maximal depth (B) measured in 36 subjects at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks of topical treatment with 5%DPKE cream. (C and D) show percentage changes in the relative indentation index and relative roughness index, respectively. Data are presented as mean ± SD in AU for wrinkle size and in millimeters for wrinkle depth. Signifi cance levels: *p 0.05, **p 0.01, and ***p 0.001 versus baseline. #p 0.05, ##p 0.01, and ###p 0.001 versus placebo (paired t-test).