Efficacy of 1064‐Nm Picosecond Nd: <scp>YAG</scp> Laser in Treating Facial Photoaging and Improving Skin Barrier Enhanced by a Multi‐Beneficial Composition Formulation: A Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial Study

BACKGROUND: In recent years, skin photoaging has received increasing attention, and laser therapy has become the most commonly used treatment due to its safety and efficacy; emerging evidence suggests that adjunctive "integrated skincare" may enhance treatment benefits by reducing post-procedural reactions and supporting skin barrier repair. OBJECTIVE: The split-face, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, monocentric clinical trial was conducted to validate the potential efficacy of anti-photoaging and skin repair of a multifunctional serum formulation following a one-session therapy of 1064-nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser. METHODS: A total of twenty-four participants requesting picosecond laser therapy to address age-associated facial alterations were recruited for the study. Following a two-week washout period, participants underwent a single laser session on Day 1 (T1d) and applied either the multi-beneficial serum or the placebo to the designated facial side twice daily for eight weeks. Their facial skin manifestations were assessed by two dermatologists at baseline, T0, T15d, T29d, and T57d, and the Symptom Score Reduction Index (SSRI) was analyzed later. Non-invasive measurements and self-assessments were also administered at each visit. RESULTS: Twenty-four women aged 30-48 years completed the trial. The scores for all other manifestations of skin photoaging, with the exception of coarse wrinkles, decreased on both the test and control sides throughout follow-up. Based on SSRI values for individual photoaging signs, clinical efficacy rates for the test sides were superior to their counterparts. Regarding skin barrier function, decreasing transepidermal water loss and increasing stratum corneum hydration were observed on the test side during the period of recovery, with significant intergroup differences on T29d and T57d. Skin tone indicators (erythema index, melanin index, and tone evenness) rose shortly after the laser treatment and then declined on both sides; the magnitudes of reductions were greater on the test sides than on the control ones. Even though the improvement of skin surface evenness was found due to the therapy, the test sides exhibited more favorable changes than the controls, for instance, a reduction in the area proportion of crow's feet. No adverse events related to the test product were found during the study. CONCLUSION: The test serum enhanced the efficacy of 1064-nm picosecond laser treatment for facial photoaging and supported skin barrier recovery.