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Pillowcases with copper oxide reduced crow’s feet lines

Women who slept on copper oxide-containing pillowcases experienced a reduction in the depth of facial wrinkles, according to study results.

In a double-masked, randomized study, researchers evaluated 61 healthy women (average age, 46.75 years), who slept on either copper oxide-containing pillow cases (test group, n=30) or pillowcases without copper (controls, n=31) for 8 weeks. Expert graders determined that all women had a fine line/wrinkle score of “4” (noticeable) or “greater” in a severity scale of 0 (minimum) to 9 (maximum) at the crow’s feet area around the eyes. 

 

Gadi Borkow

The graders and 3D image analysis evaluated skin conditions before treatment and at 4 and 8 weeks after sleeping on the pillowcases. Each participant received either two polyester pillowcases containing copper oxide or two polyester pillowcases not containing copper oxide. The participants were required to use only the pillowcases they received during the 8-week study as they would use their normal pillowcase. They used an assigned facial cleanser and oil-free moisturizer.

A significant decrease in crow’s feet was observed in the group that used the copper-oxide containing pillowcases at 4 and 8 weeks (P=.01, P=.002, respectively), with no change in the control group, according to expert graders. Three roughness (R) parameters also improved at 4 and 8 weeks after use of copper-oxide pillowcases (P<.02) and the Rmax parameter at 8 weeks (P=.016), according to 3D measurements; no changes were measured in the control group’s R parameters.

“While testing the effect of copper textiles on acne, due to the anti-inflammatory and biocidal properties of copper, we noticed a cosmetic effect of copper impregnated textiles,” researcher Gadi Borkow, PhD, chief medical scientist at Cupron Scientific, told Healio.com.

 “This study confirms … that sleeping on fabrics that liberate copper ions reduces the depth of wrinkles,” the researchers concluded. “This is a safe and easy way to help improve the well-being of the skin and its appearance.”

Disclosure:  See the study for a full list of relevant disclosures.