It’s “Prime” Time for Alastin Skincare®

ALASTIN’s TriHex Technology® is a proprietary blend of synergistic and sequentially active peptides that, when combined with active botanicals, together clear out damaged clumps of collagen and elastin proteins in the extracellular matrix (ECM). By clearing out these proteins—marred by sun exposure, pollution, and aging—TriHex Technology sets the stage for healthy, new skin cells.

In addition to supporting production of elastin and collagen, TriHex Technology formulations help to modulate inflammation, facilitate recovery, and maintain the overall effects of a skin rejuvenation procedure over time.

Thanks in large part to this technology, there has been a paradigm shift in thinking about skin rejuvenation treatments, says Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD of Modern Dermatology in Westport, CT. It’s as much what you do before and after you use a device that affects results. “The complete patient journey involves making sure the skin is as healthy and cleared out from accumulated damage before you denature the collagen and ask the skin to repair itself,” she explains.

This is where ALASTIN's Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology® shines. UV light releases the skin’s matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)—enzymes that degrade collagen and other proteins in the ECM. Nectar inhibits MMP release and helps repair the effects of this breakdown.

“Chronically sun-exposed skin is like a damaged wound. To maximize any treatment with a device, you want to restore that healthy skin bed before the procedure,” Dr. Robinson says. She suggests her skin rejuvenation patients use Regenerating Skin Nectar for two weeks before non-ablative or ablative fractional resurfacing, radiofrequency microneedling, or any treatment that creates an injury.

“Patient outcomes are better, they heal more quickly,1 and the overall patient experience is improved with this regimen,” she says. “We see an orderly epidermis, thicker, more healthy cuboidal basal cells and more matrix collagen bundles. There is significant evidence of neocollagenesis, and we see similar improvement with elastin."

Histology studies also show a marked increase in gene regulation-related cell renewal, matrix integrity, and anti-inflammatory activity.

Sabrina G. Fabi, MD, of Cosmetic Laser Dermatology in San Diego, agrees that pre-treatment to prime the ECM is essential. “We do these collagen-stimulating procedures, but without a healthy dermis that can sustain stimulating new collagen production, we don’t optimize our treatments,” she says.

By and large, patients are on-board with this regimen. “Once you explain TriHex Technology, there’s an ‘a-ha’ moment that it’s also for enhancing overall skin quality, getting rid of all the fragmented and failing collagen and elastic tissue, and growing new collagen and elastin,” says Carolyn Jacob, MD of Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology.

First, do no harm

“Regenerating Skin Nectar is safe for disrupted skin, and patients can have confidence when using these products, even on fully CO2-ablated skin, based on what we saw in our research,” adds Dr. Fabi.

One study² compared use of TriHex Technology (n=10) or a bland dimethicone-based ointment and petrolatum-based cream (n=5) from three weeks pre- until 12 weeks after fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing. Healing was markedly improved among those in the Regenerating Skin Nectar group, and this was significant by day 7, Dr. Fabi says.

“We saw less erythema as early as three days after CO2 laser resurfacing along with less exudate, less tenderness, burning and stinging,” Dr. Fabi explains. (Figure 1)

Figure 1. ALASTIN regimen (top) or standard of care (bottom) post-procedure. From left: Day 1, day 4, day 7

Patients also used the ALASTIN Procedure Enhancement System, which includes Regenerating Skin Nectar, as well as ALASTIN's Broad Spectrum SPF 30+ Sunscreen, Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer with TriHex Technology®, Gentle Cleanser, and Soothe + Protect Recovery Balm.

“Every day, those on the ALASTIN Procedure Enhancement System were healing, on average, better than those using the standard of care; there were no signs or symptoms of an allergic or irritant contact reaction for either group,” Dr. Fabi says, noting that safety is paramount on denuded and open skin. “It's not just safe, but it also adds to the patient experience and is now the standard of care when patients want to cut down on healing from laser resurfacing in my practice.”

A “Transformative” Patient Experience

ALASTIN’S TransFORM Body Treatment with TriHex Technology® augments results of non-invasive fat reduction and skin tightening procedures by supporting the body’s natural repair processes,3 says Jean Carruthers, MD, FRCSC, FRC of Jean Carruthers Cosmetic Surgery, Inc. in Vancouver, BC, and is an exceptional stand-alone product for crepey skin.

Younger patients are embracing this treatment in efforts to stay one step ahead of the aging process, she says. They realize that it takes much more effort to treat aged, neglected skin than it does to support proper youthful skin functioning, and they are "all in" as a result, she adds.

Dr. Carruthers conducted a prospective, randomized controlled trial looking at twice daily use of TransFORM or a bland moisturizer on both sun exposed and non-sun exposed sides of the arms. “We saw a much greater improvement in smoothness with TransFORM that was visible at three months and a substantial increase in collagen in the superficial dermis compared to a tiny accumulation seen on the moisturizer side,” she says. “We see very early collagen and elastin stimulation within just two weeks of use, and the ability to amplify the results on healthier skin versus sun exposed skin.”

In addition, the TransFORM-treated arm showed new elastin fibers and a tremendous increase in hyaluronic acid production within the epidermis and dermis, compared to not much change on moisturizer-treated skin, she says. “The results were superior in skin smoothness and thickness, decreased roughness, increased elasticity and collagen and elastin, and hyaluronic acid accumulation. This is new skin that we’ve created over a three-month period.”

When used in conjunction with non-invasive body sculpting devices, the Hexapeptide-11 in TransFORM has a tremendous effect in terms of helping clear out destroyed fat cells and their released lipid droplets. Encapsulated in LipoDRONETM Technology, a special delivery system, Hexapeptide-11 uses the hair follicle to access dermal white adipose tissue surrounding the base of the follicle which signals to deeper subdermal fat where the process takes place. “Overall, TransFORM gives a superior aesthetic outcome as a daily skincare treatment and as a companion to fat reduction procedures,” Dr. Carruthers says.

TransFORM enhances the fat reduction process for a more rapid and better result than with standalone procedures, she says.4 This is evident by a massive increase in autophagy genes seen in gene array studies, as well as in 3D photography showing improved clinical outcomes.5

Another unique ALASTIN product, INhance Post-Injection Serum with TriHex Technology® which contains ChromaFADE TechnologyTM, is clinically proven to enhance the injectable experience and outcomes, says Dr. Jacob. In addition to reducing post-injection bruising and swelling, INhance provides additional skin benefits, helping with fine lines and wrinkles due to new collagen and elastin stimulation within two weeks of use.6 (Figures 2 and 3)

Figure 2. Herovici staining (blue) shows INhance Post-Injection Serum with TriHex Technology® increases neocollagenesis 6-Fold per mucopolysaccharide content in skin

Figure 3. Immunohistochemistry shows that INhance Post-Injection Serum with TriHex Technology® increases fibrillin (elastin fiber formation; brown) in skin

Dr. Jacob was an investigator in the double-blind, multi-center, randomized clinical study evaluating the efficacy of INhance. INhance treated bruises had 74% less bruise color intensity by day 2/3 than the comparator, and overall, 81% of patients had less bruising by day 2/3 using INhance than the comparator side.

“We have really good feedback from patients saying it changes their experience especially around the mouth which is an area that swells the most,” she adds.

INhance has synergistic ingredients that stimulate macrophage absorption of red blood cells by 45 percent, Dr. Carruthers says. “Macrophages are like little Pac Men that clean up garbage, including hemoglobin, and ingredients in INhance make them more efficient so they do it faster and better,” she explains.

"In addition to the Chromafade technology, INhance has wild rosemary plus arnica montana to reduce swelling, and lactoferrin plus xylitol shown to have anti-biofilm properties,” she says. “Extra ingredients on top of TriHex Technology help with swelling and provide faster clearing of bruises,” Dr. Carruthers says.

Dr. Jacob now applies INhance on all patients after injections. It also improves healing after laser treatment, especially in rosacea-prone skin, she says. “When laser energy is absorbed by red blood cells, it heats them up and there can be some significant swelling or bruising around fragile blood vessels,” she says.

All panelists agree that the science and studies behind these products makes them stand out. “No other skincare products have been studied this well,” Dr. Jacob says.

Dr. Fabi agrees. “It’s not just an experiment of N=1; this is based on multiple trials. We have a high level of evidence documenting the benefits of these products."

"I feel the creativity and the use of the scientific method that ALASTIN has shown has really raised the bar not only for daily skincare but also for procedures,” Dr. Carruthers adds.

1. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2017;16(2):217-222. • 2. J Drugs Dermatol. 2017;16(7):707-710. • 3. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum2020;(2)1. • 4. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(4):342-348. • 5. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;19(3):677-681. • 6. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(4):398-404.