# Efficacy and safety of combination cream of stimu-tex AS™ (spent grain wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (shea butter) extract), and saccharide isomerate after fractional CO2 laser procedure: split-face, double blinded, randomized controlled trial

**Authors:** Irma Bernadette S. Sitohang, Abraham Arimuko, Lilik Norawati, Rita Maria, Cyntia Yulyana, Randy Satria Nugraha, Vashty Amanda, Arsy Indrafatina, Inasa Amalia

PMC · DOI: 10.1007/s10103-025-04703-5 · 2025-10-24

## TL;DR

A new cream helps heal skin after laser treatments by reducing redness and improving hydration, with no serious side effects.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel combination cream for post-laser skin recovery, validated through a split-face clinical trial.

## Key findings

- The combination cream reduced erythema and improved skin hydration compared to placebo.
- It significantly lowered transepidermal water loss and skin capacitance after laser treatment.
- No adverse events were reported during the trial, confirming the cream's safety.

## Abstract

Until now, fractional CO2 laser has been the gold standard for photodamage skin treatment. Topical therapy modalities can accelerate the wound healing process and influence the treatment results. However, no standardized topical therapy exists for subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedures. This research aims to determine the efficacy and safety of a cream combination of Stimu-tex AS™ (Spent Grain Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter Extract) and Saccharide Isomerate after fractional CO2 laser treatment. A split-face, double-blinded, and randomized study was conducted in 2021 with 20 subjects, each given two types of creams, A and B, following fractional CO2 laser procedure. Subjects will apply cream A and cream B to each side of the face according to the randomization results. One of the creams was a moisturizing combination cream with a combination of Stimu-tex AS™ (Spent Grain Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter Extract), and Saccharide Isomerate. Meanwhile, another cream was a placebo. The outcome assessment of this research was carried out subjectively and objectively. The subjective assessment was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). In contrast, the objective assessment evaluated the degree of erythema using the clinical erythema assessment score (CEA), dermoscopic examination, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) examination with TEWAmeter, and skin capacitance (SCap) with corneometer. This assessment was carried out before the laser procedure, 15 min, on the third day, and h the seventh day after the laser procedure. There are 20 subjects recruited into the study, with a split face method, resulting in 40 sample sizes. Significant differences between the experimental and placebo groups were obtained in the assessing of the CEA scale on the third day after the procedure. Meanwhile, on the seventh day after the procedure, significant results were obtained on the TEWL examination with TEWAmeter, SCap with Corneometer, and the degree of erythema using the CEA score. Apart from that, each group had no complaints about adverse events or serious adverse events (SAEs). The combination cream provides good results after the fractional CO2 laser procedure, by reducing the degree of erythema, increasing SCap, and reducing TEWL. Furthermore, this combination cream is safe to use because there were no reports of SAEs.

A combination cream containing Stimu-tex ASTM (Spent Grain Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil and Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract) and Saccharide Isomerate provides a moist environment to accelerate wound healing and reduce erythema after fractional CO2 laser procedure. This split-face, double-blind randomized clinical trial aims to determine the efficacy and safety of a cream combination of Stimu-tex ASTM (Spent Grain Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter Extract) and Saccharide Isomerate versus placebo after fractional CO2 laser treatment within 20 subjectsThis combination cream has been proven to increase skin hydration, reduce TEWL, and reduce erythema. There are no complaints, adverse events, and serious Adverse Events that arise when using this combination cream, thus this combination cream is safe to use.

A combination cream containing Stimu-tex ASTM (Spent Grain Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil and Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract) and Saccharide Isomerate provides a moist environment to accelerate wound healing and reduce erythema after fractional CO2 laser procedure.

This split-face, double-blind randomized clinical trial aims to determine the efficacy and safety of a cream combination of Stimu-tex ASTM (Spent Grain Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter Extract) and Saccharide Isomerate versus placebo after fractional CO2 laser treatment within 20 subjects

This combination cream has been proven to increase skin hydration, reduce TEWL, and reduce erythema. There are no complaints, adverse events, and serious Adverse Events that arise when using this combination cream, thus this combination cream is safe to use.

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** SAEs (MESH:D064420), CEA (MESH:D004890)
- **Chemicals:** Saccharide Isomerate (MESH:C000719892), water (MESH:D014867), Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil (MESH:C555574), CO2 (MESH:D002245), Shea Butter Extract (-)

## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12552231/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12552231