96 JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE (a) Week 0 (c) Week 8 Figure 1. Peptide complex cream group. At weeks 8, coarse wrinkles were shorter in length and shallower in depth and the number of fine wrinkles were decreased compared to week 0. Figure 2. Changes in DPAS parameters in subjects in the peptide complex cream group and the base cream group. Data expressed as mean ± SD *indicates the P-value between the test and control groups, and *indicates P .05. (a) Week 0 (c) Week 8 Figure 3. Peptide complex cream group. Hyperpigmentation was reduced at week 8 compared to week 0.

97 Peptide Effects on Photoaging The improvement in UV acne was significantly more pronounced in the treatment group than in the control group (Figure 4). ADVERSE REACTIONS Among the 80 subjects, 2 subjects in the treatment group developed mild erythema, minor scaling, and mild pruritus in the second week of treatment, which were all tolerable. All symptoms were cured spontaneously after 1 week. No adverse reactions such as persistent erythema, blistering, profuse scaling, or severe pruritus were observed. DISCUSSION In this study, there was no significant improvement in facial wrinkles and color spots, but the dermoscopic observations revealed reduction in the number of fine wrinkles, improvement in the depth and length of coarse wrinkles, and lighter color spots in some subjects in the peptide complex cream group. In this study, DPAS scores of the peptide complex cream group were significantly decreased at week 8, indicating that the peptide complex cream was capable of significantly improving the signs of photoaging in the subjects. Although improvements in facial hyperpigmentation and wrinkles were observed through skin microscopy, the calculated DPAS scores showed only slight differences. These differences may be attributed to the fact that DPAS scores are based on the quantity of hyperpigmentation and wrinkles without considering changes in the color of hyperpigmentation or the depth of wrinkles. Therefore, even if the color of hyperpigmentation lightens and the depth of wrinkles diminishes, the DPAS scores remain unchanged due to the unchanged quantity Figure 4. Changes in UV acne parameters in subjects in the peptide complex cream group and the base cream group. Data expressed as mean ± SEM *indicates the p-value between the treatment and control groups, and *indicates P .05.