Peptides with EGF that penetrate the skin when applied topically have been developed; cosmeceuticals with EGF that prevent or improve wrinkles and hydrate the skin without significant side effects are being formulated.
EGF is a noninvasive and effective treatment for melasma. The EGF acts on the melanocytes by reducing the expression of melanogenesis‐associated proteins (e.g. tyrosinase/MITF microphthalmia-associated transcription factor), in consequence inhibiting or regulating melanin synthesis. It is also effective in preventing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after fractional CO2 laser treatment; its daily application resulted in significant stimulation of healing with slight pruritus.
Topical serum twice a day for 8 weeks decreased melasma in 73.4% cases of the experimental group without any side effects. Other research confirmed that EGF prevents inflammatory hyper pigmentation by laser treatment at 3, 7, and 35 days after its use.
EGF contributes to restructuring the skin tissue; it improves facial acne, both inflammatory and noninflammatory, when it is applied as an EGF cream for 6 weeks. It also decreases sebum production and increases hydration, whereby the topical EGF may be an effective and safe adjuvant treatment option for mild to moderate vulgar acne.