Abstract:
Dermocosmetic testing has evolved significantly, becoming increasingly rigorous and grounded in scientific methodology. In line with this progress, molecular biology and advanced in vivo sampling technologies have emerged as key areas in the field of clinical studies, with skin microbiopsies standing out as a valuable tool in dermocosmetic research. This minimally invasive technique enables the collection of high-quality tissue samples, allowing the assessment of gene and protein expression profiles in response to cosmetic treatments. Integrating these molecular insights with biometric evaluations bridges the gap between visible clinical outcomes and the underlying biological mechanisms, enabling stronger scientific substantiation and more targeted product development.
Paper:
Over the past two decades, dermocosmetic research has evolved from superficial and visual assessments to robust, science-based evaluations. As a consequence, the gap between cosmetic and medical research is narrowing, and the most cutting-edge molecular techniques have been extensively applied to upgrade dermocosmetic clinical studies.
With these advances, the need for improved sampling methodologies that provide high quality material while being minimally invasive has increased. Non-invasive techniques such as swabbing and tape stripping are widely used in dermocosmetic research, enabling the assessment of parameters like microbiota composition, skin surface biomarkers, and stratum corneum lipid content. However, they are largely limited by the sampling depth, as both techniques mainly recover corneocytes and superficial material, restricting the number of molecular analyses that can be performed, particularly those targeting gene or protein expression markers. Therefore, to enable deeper molecular analyses, skin sampling methods must be enhanced to access living cells from the viable epidermis or superficial dermis, rather than relying solely on superficial material.
Microbiopsies have recently emerged as a promising solution to fill this need. This minimally invasive technique enables the collection of small, well-defined skin tissue, typically containing both epidermal and superficial dermal layers, while ensuring subjects’ comfort and rapid healing. Unlike traditional biopsies, microbiopsies do not require sutures and cause minimal disruption to the surrounding tissue, making them highly suitable for use in dermocosmetic clinical studies. Importantly, the obtained samples contain viable cells and preserved tissue architecture, allowing for a wide range of molecular analyses, including RNA and protein extraction, histology, and immunostaining, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of skin physiology and the biological mechanisms underlying product action, bridging clinical observations and biometric measurements with molecular evidence. With this tool, the dermocosmetic industry gains deeper insight into skin physiology, accelerates innovation, strengthens evidence-based claims, and ultimately enhances product credibility from the consumer’s perspective.
CONTACT
Marta Ferreira – CEO
