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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07403942

The Skin Anti-Aging Effects of Vitamin K2 (MK-7): a Clinical Split-Face/Neck Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a facial and neck cream containing Vitamin K2 in improving skin hydration, elasticity, firmness, and reducing wrinkles in 36 female participants aged 35-60 years with concerns of facial dryness, dullness, laxity, and neck lines. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does the test cream significantly improve skin hydration (Corneometer), reduce transepidermal water loss (Vapometer), and enhance skin elasticity and firmness (Cutometer) compared to a control cream?

Does the test cream significantly reduce wrinkle severity (assessed by Rz and Ra parameters via AEVA-HE rapid optical imaging) in areas including the neck, cheeks, marionette lines, and crow's feet compared to a control cream?

Researchers will compare the test cream (applied to one randomized half-face and neck) to the control cream (applied to the contralateral half-face and neck) to see if the test cream demonstrates superior efficacy in improving the measured skin parameters.

Participants will:

Apply the test cream to one assigned side of the face and neck, and the control cream to the other side, twice daily for 8 weeks.

Attend evaluation visits at baseline, 2, 4, and 8 weeks for instrumental measurements (skin hydration, TEWL, elasticity, rapid optical imaging, facial imaging) and to complete subjective questionnaires.

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Key information

Conditions

Skin Aging of Face and Neck

Age range

35 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Beijing Sino-German Union Cosmetic Institute Co., Ltd.

Beijing, 100123, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Is a Chinese female aged between 35 and 60 years (inclusive).
  • Presents with facial skin concerns including dryness, dullness, and laxity.
  • Has crow's feet (outer canthus wrinkles) with a visual assessment grade of 2 to 4 (on a 0-6 scale).
  • Self-reports concerns about neck wrinkles.
  • Is in good general health at the time of screening.
  • Is willing and able to provide written informed consent.
  • Is willing and able to comply with all study procedures and product usage requirements for the duration of the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Is planning pregnancy, is pregnant, lactating, or within 6 months postpartum.
  • Has a history of severe systemic diseases, immunodeficiency, or autoimmune diseases.
  • Has a history of allergic diseases or has experienced cosmetic allergies within the past 1-2 years.
  • Has had dermatological diseases on the test areas (face and neck) or is undergoing related medical treatment within the past 3 months.
  • Has an active cold, influenza, or other acute illness at the study start that may affect participation.
  • Is currently participating, or has participated within the past month, in another clinical study involving the test areas.
  • Is deemed unsuitable for participation by a dermatologist's assessment.

Treatment and study plan

Face-and-Neck Cream (with 0.05% Vitamin K2)

Other

This is a topical cosmetic cream (face and neck cream) containing 0.05% BioYoung™ MK-7 (Vitamin K2) as the key active ingredient. The product is a white to light yellow cream, supplied in plastic bottles. Each participant applies this cream to one randomly assigned half of the face and neck. The application regimen is twice daily (morning and evening), using approximately 0.5g per application, for a duration of 8 weeks.

Other names: Face-and-Neck Cream (with 0.05% BioYoung™ MK-7)

Placebo Face-and-Neck Cream

Other

This is the control topical cosmetic cream (face and neck cream). It is the base formulation identical to the test cream but without the addition of Vitamin K2. The product is a white to light yellow cream, supplied in plastic bottles. Each participant applies this cream to the contralateral half of the face and neck (opposite to the test product side). The application regimen is twice daily (morning and evening), using approximately 0.5g per application, for a duration of 8 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Facial Skin Elasticity (R0, R1 and F4)

    Time frame: At Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 8

    Assessed using a Cutometer MPA580.Measurements are taken on the cheek area. R0 (Uf) represents the maximum skin deformation under suction. A lower R0 value indicates greater resistance to tensile deformation, reflecting superior skin firmness.

    R1 (Uf - Ua) quantifies the immediate elastic recovery after suction release. A lower R1 value signifies faster restoration to baseline morphology, demonstrating enhanced skin elasticity.

    F4, the viscoelastic fatigue parameter, quantifies energy dissipation during cyclic skin deformation. A lower F4 value indicates enhanced viscoelastic integrity of the skin.

  2. Change in Roughness Parameters (Ra and Rz ) of Face and Neck Wrinkles

    Time frame: At Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 8

    Assessed by AEVA-HE rapid optical imaging system. Ra represents the arithmetic average of absolute deviations of skin surface profile points from the mean line across the entire assessment length. It quantifies the overall smoothness of the skin surface. Lower Ra values indicate smoother skin with less pronounced wrinkle formation.

    Rz is calculated by dividing the skin surface profile into five equal sampling lengths. The parameter represents the arithmetic mean of the distances between the highest peaks and deepest valleys within each segment, quantifying the extreme variations in skin surface topography. As a key indicator of macro-textural irregularities, lower Rz values correspond to reduced skin unevenness.

  3. Change in Facial Sagging (Mandibular Plane Angle)

    Time frame: At Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, Week 8

    Quantified by analyzing standard white-light photographs taken with a VISIA imaging system. The mandibular plane angle is measured in degrees (°) using image analysis software (Image-Pro Plus). An increase in the angle indicates a sharper, more defined, and firmer jawline contour.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Skin Hydration

    Time frame: At Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, Week 8

    Measured by a Corneometer CM825 on the cheek. Values are expressed in arbitrary units (a.u.). A higher value indicates better skin hydration.

  2. Change in Facial Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)

    Time frame: At Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, Week 8

    Measured in grams per square meter per hour (g/m²h) using a standardized vapometer (Vapometer, SWL5201) under controlled environmental conditions (21 ± 1°C, 50 ± 10% RH). Measurements were taken on the cheek area (zygomatic region). A lower value indicates reduced water loss and improved skin barrier function.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Nanjing Ascend Biotech Technology Co., Ltd.

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

Cosmetic Efficacy Testing

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Feb 11, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 11, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.