These findings were the result of a collaboration between the Japanese cosmetics company and Dr Kei Negishi of Tokyo Women's Medical University.
The results of this research were partially presented that the 38th Annual Meeting of the Society of Cosmetic Dermatology held from September 12 to 13.
The company has already clarified in previous studies that the density of blood vessels is linked to the formation of hyperpigmentation.
However, this time the firm hypothesised that that the density of blood vessels can also impact the rate of melanin reduction and the pigmentation lightening process.
For this study, researchers investigated how blood vessels can affect the formation of pigmentation spots by observing the effects of Picosecond laser treatment.
Picosecond laser treatment is commonly used to treat benign pigmentary disorders such as freckles and melasma.
According to Shiseido, even though Picosecond laser treatment is considered an effective treatment, the effects are not consistent, and the effects can vary from person to person. This has made it difficult to accurately predict its effects.
As such, the company employed the use of a high-resolution imaging device to observe blood vessel density before and after the laser treatment.
This device was developed by Shiseido and applies optical coherence tomographic (OCT) angiography that visualises the skin structure with the use of near-infrared light.
This allows researchers to visualise the internal workings of the skin without needing to make an incision on the skin.
Observing effects of laser treatment
Using this technology, it was found that bloody vessel density before laser treatment was inversely correlated with the reduction rate of melanin three months after the treatment.
According to the researchers, this indicates that a higher density of blood vessels in the dermis will deter the improvement of skin pigmentation spots, reaffirming the crucial role of blood vessels in pigmentation care.
Shiseido said: “This further supports the importance of blood vessels in whitening care. Going forward, we will continue to utilise the results of the whitening research that we have cultivated over many years to help people achieve bright and healthy skin through a multifaceted approach.”
This study follows the company’s joint research with the Ajou University School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology.
The 2017 study found that there was increased blood flow in areas affected by pigmentation, leading researchers to conclude that the increased density of blood vessels can result in the formation of hyperpigmentation and cause uneven complexion.
“In 2017, we discovered that there is an abnormal network of capillaries in the upper dermis of the spot area caused by the accumulation of chronic UV damage and that there is a close relationship between spot formation and blood vessels,” said Shiseido
The research also discovered that Tormentilla extract and Pyrola incarnata extract have an inhibitory effect on the abnormal reaction of vasculature.
