6. Pharmazie. 2009 Dec;64(12):818-22.  In vivo skin effects of a dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) based formulation.  Tadini KA, Campos PM.  Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil. ktadini@fcfrp.usp.br 

 Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) has been used in anti-aging formulations but few scientifically based data address its efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of DMAE-based formulations on hairless mice and human skin.  Formulations containing with or without DMAE were applied to the dorsum of hairless mice. Histopathological and histometric evaluations were carried out after seven days. Formulations were also applied to the ventral forearm and the lateral periocular area of human volunteers. Stratum corneum water content and skin mechanical properties were analyzed using Corneometer and Cutometer, before  and after a single and repeated application. Histometric evaluations showed that  formulations with or without DMAE increased the viable epidermis thickness, but only the DMAE-supplemented formulation led to increased dermal thickness. DMAE also induced increase in collagen fiber thickness, which was observed in the histopathological study. After the single and the 8-week period application on human skin, formulations with and without DMAE enhanced the stratum corneum water content in the forearm skin. Mechanical properties were not significantly modified. So, we can suggest that DMAE action is related to its effects on the dermis as observed in the histopathological and histometric studies and showed hydration effects on skin.  PMID: 20095140  [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 

5. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2007 Nov-Dec;31(6):711-8.  Dimethylaminoethanol affects the viability of human cultured fibroblasts.  Gragnani A, Giannoccaro FB, Sobral CS, Moraes AA, França JP, Ferreira AT, Ferreira LM.  Plastic Surgery Division of Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 781, 4 Andar Fundos, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. alfredogf@ig.com.br  Erratum in     Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2008 Mar;32(2):406. Moraes, A A F [added]; Ferreira, A T [added]. 

 BACKGROUND: In clinical practice, dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) has been used in the fight against wrinkles and flaccidity in the cervicofacial region. The firming action of DMAE is explained by the fact that its molecule, considered to  be a precursor of acetylcholine, alters muscle contraction. However, no experimental studies have confirmed this theory. Because the actual mechanism of  DMAE action was not defined and there were no references in the literature regarding its direct action on fibroblasts, this study was performed to evaluate  the direct action of DMAE on cultured human fibroblasts. METHODS: Human fibroblasts obtained from discarded fragments of total skin from patients undergoing plastic or reconstructive surgical procedures performed within the Plastic Surgery Division at the Federal University of São Paulo were used for this study. The explant technique was used. The culture medium was supplemented with different concentrations of DMAE on the fourth cell passage, and the cell proliferation rate, cytosolic calcium levels, and cell cycle were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA)  followed by a Newman-Keuls test for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: A decrease in fibroblast proliferation was associated with an increase in DMAE concentration. A longer treatment time with trypsin was required for the  groups treated with DMAE in a dose-dependent manner. In the presence of DMAE, cytosolic calcium increased in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis also increased  in groups treated with DMAE. CONCLUSION: Dimethylaminoethanol reduced the proliferation of fibroblasts, increased cytosolic calcium, and changed the cell cycle, causing an increase in apoptosis in cultured human fibroblasts.  PMID: 17940822  [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 


4. Phytomedicine. 2007 Nov;14(11):711-5.  Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, split-face study on the clinical efficacy of Tricutan on skin firmness.  Sommerfeld B.  Dermatology Clinic, Danavägen 7B, SE-18131 Lidingö, Sweden. bea.hudmontt@telia.com 

 Tricutan is a combination product of herbal extracts traditionally used for treatment of skin conditions, together with dimethylaminoethanol. The effectiveness of Tricutan in improving skin firmness and elasticity in photoaged  facial skin was examined in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, split-face study in 28 women, 34-67 years old. Treatment with Tricutan and placebo was given for 4 weeks. Skin firmness and elasticity was evaluated using the speed of propagation of ultrasound shear waves in the skin as end point (Reviscometer RVM 600). The study was completed by 25 women. The Tricutan treatment resulted in a significantly reduced propagation speed indicating increased firmness. There was no immediate effect by Tricutan application on propagation speed. At self evaluation the women evaluated the treatment effect of Tricutan to be significantly better than the treatment effect of placebo. The clinical evaluation also showed Tricutan to give a significantly better treatment result than placebo. Tolerance to Tricutan was generally good. However, three women did not complete the study because of mild irritative contact dermatitis. The results show that Tricutan can increase skin firmness both objectively and subjectively. Further studies are warranted, especially to investigate if Tricutan can delay the need for surgical face-lift procedures.  PMID: 17923398  [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 

3. Br J Dermatol. 2007 Mar;156(3):433-9.  The antiwrinkle effect of topical concentrated 2-dimethylaminoethanol involves a  vacuolar cytopathology.  Morissette G, Germain L, Marceau F.  Centre de Recherche en Rhumatologie et Immunologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec QC, Canada. 

 BACKGROUND: The 'cosmeceutical' agent 2-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) is a tertiary amine found in high concentration in numerous topical antiwrinkle preparations. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that a 337 mmol L(-1) (3%) DMAE reservoir applied to  the skin could reproduce the cytopathology induced by other amines by maintaining a millimolar drug concentration within a certain depth of the skin layers, and that vacuolar cell expansion could account for the very rapid effect on the apparent skin fullness. METHODS: Morphological and functional assays were applied to cultured rabbit dermal fibroblasts treated with tertiary amines in vitro. A morphological verification of the vacuolization caused by topical DMAE was also attempted in vivo using the inner skin of the rabbit ear and in vitro using primary cultures of human cutaneous epithelial cells. RESULTS: Fibroblasts responded to DMAE (2.5-10 mmol L(-1)) by massive vacuolization (0.5-4 h; phase contrast observations). Triethanolamine, another chemical frequently used topically, was also active in this respect (10 mmol L(-1)). The vacuolar adenosine triphosphatase inhibitor bafilomycin A1 prevented  DMAE- or triethanolamine-induced vacuolization; adding bafilomycin A1 or cell washout slowly reversed the established vacuolization induced by DMAE. Further effects of DMAE in cultured fibroblasts included a moderate cytotoxicity (10 mmol L(-1)) that was abated by bafilomycin A1 cotreatment, a concentration-dependent mitotic arrest (2.5 mmol L(-1)) and transient and mild effects on cell ploidy. The epidermis of the rabbit external ear was significantly thickened and exhibited clear perinuclear swelling indicative of vacuolization in response to 3% DMAE (1 h; paraffin tissue sections). Cultured human cutaneous epithelial cells responded to DMAE by vacuolization (inhibited by bafilomycin A1 cotreatment). CONCLUSIONS: The vacuolar cytopathology induced by concentrated organic amines may be the cellular basis of the antiwrinkle effect of DMAE.  PMID: 17300230  [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 

2. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2005;6(1):39-47.  The role of dimethylaminoethanol in cosmetic dermatology.  Grossman R.  Johnson and Johnson Consumer Products Worldwide, Skillman, NJ 08558, USA. 

 Skincare formulations for the improvement of aging skin are increasingly important consumer products. Here, we review available data on one such agent - 2-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) or deanol - that has recently been evaluated in a placebo-controlled trial. DMAE is an analog of the B vitamin choline and is a precursor of acetylcholine. Although the role of acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter is well known, growing evidence points to acetylcholine as a ubiquitous cytokine-like molecule that regulates basic cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, locomotion, and secretion in a paracrine and autocrine fashion. Indeed, this modulatory role may contribute to the cutaneous activity of DMAE. In a randomized clinical study, 3% DMAE facial gel applied daily for 16 weeks has been shown to be safe and efficacious (p < 0.05) in the mitigation of forehead lines and periorbital fine wrinkles, and in improving lip  shape and fullness and the overall appearance of aging skin. These effects did not regress during a 2-week cessation of application. Beneficial trends (p > 0.05 but
1. Skin Res Technol. 2002 Aug;8(3):164-7.  Split face study on the cutaneous tensile effect of 2-dimethylaminoethanol (deanol) gel.  Uhoda I, Faska N, Robert C, Cauwenbergh G, Piérard GE.  Unit of Dermocosmetology, Department of Dermatopathology, University Medical Center of Liège, CHU Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgium. 

 BACKGROUND/AIMS: Beyond subjective assessments, the effect of skin tensors is difficult to assess. The present 2-phase randomized double-blind split face study was designed to compare the effect of a gel containing 3% 2-dimethylaminoethanol  (deanol, DMAE) with the same formulation without DMAE. METHODS: In a first pilot study, sensorial assessments and measures of the skin distension under suction were performed in eight volunteers. In a second study conducted in 30 volunteers, shear wave propagation was measured. RESULTS: Large interindividual variations precluded any significant finding in the first study. The DMAE formulation showed, however, a significant effect characterized by increased shear wave velocity in the direction where the mechanical anisotropy of skin showed looseness. CONCLUSION: The DMAE formulation under investigation increased skin firmness.  PMID: 12236885  [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]   

Advanced skin care research on DMAE bitartrate has shown that it is effective for wrinkle tightening. It also increases the firmness of ageing skin and increases the fullness of the lips.