Reduction of facial wrinkles depth by sleeping on copper oxide-containing pillowcases: a double blind, placebo controlled, parallel, randomized clinical study

Summary Background Copper up‐regulates the secretion of extracellular skin proteins and stabilizes the extracellular matrix once formed. As copper can be absorbed through intact skin, we reasoned that sleeping on pillowcases containing copper‐impregnated fibers would reduce skin wrinkles. Objective Demonstrate that sleeping on pillowcases containing copper‐impregnated fibers reduce facial skin wrinkles. Patients/Methods An 8‐week, double blind, parallel, randomized study was carried out, in which healthy volunteers, aged 30–60, used either copper oxide‐containing pillowcases (1% weight/weight) (test group, n = 30) or control pillowcases without copper (control group, n = 31). Skin conditions of the subjects were evaluated by visual grading by two expert graders and by 3D Image Analysis GFM PRIMOS® at baseline (before treatment) and following 4 and 8 weeks of sleeping on the pillowcases. Results The use of the copper oxide‐containing pillowcase resulted in significant decrease of crow’s feet after 4 (P = 0.01) and 8 (P = 0.002) weeks, but none was observed in the control group, as determined by the expert graders. On the basis of the 3D measurements, three roughness (R) parameters were improved after 4 and 8 weeks (P