Improvement of Facial Pore Visibility by Fermented Pomegranate

Abstract

Keratotic plugs emphasize pore perceptibility. We examined the structural features of keratotic plugs histologically and found that keratotic plugs were compartmentalized with rigid cell layers and derived from the inner root sheath of hair follicles. These results argue against the hypothesis that keratotic plugs consisted of aggregates of sebum and corneocytes. The keratotic plug formation was also associated with activation of androgen. Fermented pomegranate as an active ingredient not only decreased the expression of the GATA3 gene involved in the formation of inner root sheath which is a component of keratotic plugs, but also enhanced the expression of the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 gene associated with inactivation of androgen. On the assumption that the active ingredient acts as an improving agent for keratotic plugs and pore perceptibility, a milk lotion containing the fermented pomegranate as an active ingredient was prepared and a user trial was performed with female subjects. The results show the reduction of keratotic plug formation and the improvement of pore perceptibility, indicating that the active ingredient is useful for cosmetic purposes.