Attenuation of Subclinical <scp>TNF</scp> ‐α Signalling in Xerotic Skin by <scp>AIMP</scp> ‐1 Derived Peptide Containing Moisturiser Leads to Skin Barrier Recovery

Dry skin (xerosis) often involves skin barrier disruption, especially after laser treatment. Moisturisers are crucial for managing dry skin, yet optimal formulations for skin barrier recovery are limited. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel moisturiser containing an AIMP1-derived peptide (AdP) in alleviating xerosis after laser treatment and to investigate its effect on skin barrier disruption in vitro. In our randomised controlled clinical trial, we measured transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and Investigative Global Assessment (IGA) scores in participants using AdP-containing moisturisers (ADMP group) versus other moisturisers (CTRL group). The ADMP group demonstrated significant TEWL reduction and improved IGA scores without complications. In vitro study showed that TNF-α levels increased in laser-irradiated skin compared to non-irradiated skin. TNF-α treatment on HaCaT cells disrupted tight junction function, which was rescued by AdP treatment. Additionally, TNF-α affected tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin even at very low doses. TNF-α treatment upregulated the downstream signalling proteins TRAF2 and NF-kB, and this effect was mitigated by AdP treatment. Our findings suggest that AdP-containing moisturisers enhance skin barrier function and effectively manage xerosis after laser treatment. These results highlight AdP's potential as a therapeutic cosmeceutical ingredient for treating irradiated and post-procedural dry skin. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05982509.