SKINVIVE, a hyaluronic acid injected directly into the skin, lands in Korea
"Korea’s aesthetic medicine is setting the standard for the global market."
Dr. Marva Safa Diana of Swiss Medical Aesthetics Clinic, an internal medicine and dermatology specialist and anti-aging expert who graduated from the University of Geneva Medical School, said so at a news conference for the domestic launch of SKINVIVE, the first hyaluronic acid preparation approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve skin roughness.
SKINVIVE, a hyaluronic acid formulation injected directly into the skin, is the second hyaluronic acid product worldwide and the first in Asia to be launched in Korea since it was approved by the FDA in May 2023 and launched in North America.
"The world is watching and following the clinical know-how accumulated by Korean doctors," Dr. Maba Safa said. "It is due partly to the growing global interest in Korean skincare and beauty as social media becomes more active."
Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the skin, making up the largest portion of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and is a key molecule that directly affects skin aging. As skin ages, the structural integrity of the extracellular matrix in the dermis breaks down, and the concentration of hyaluronic acid in the epidermis decreases.
SKINVIVE works by injecting a cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel containing lidocaine hydrochloride 0.3 percent intradermally to improve skin roughness, such as fine lines and wrinkles in the facial area, through physical repair. According to Ellergan, SkinVibe provides long-term results of up to six months with a single treatment, and patients can quickly return to their normal routine afterward.
Dr. Maba Safa, who participated in the SKINVIVE clinical trial, also explained the effectiveness of SKINVIVE based on the data.
According to Dr. Maba Saffa, SKINVIVE significantly improved skin roughness and fine lines, including fine lines in the cheek area, by at least one point in about 89 percent of patients at one-month post-treatment. The results lasted up to six months after a single treatment.
One month later, the roughness response rate was 96.2 percent, and six months after the initial treatment, five of 10 respondents (52.3 percent) improved their roughness response rate. At one month, the response rate for fine lines was also 89.4 percent.
"SKINVIVE activates aquaporin-3 (AQP-3), which is involved in regulating the movement of water between skin cells in the epidermis of the skin, improving skin hydration, among other measures such as skin texture," Dr. Mava Safa said. "The nature of hyaluronic acid allows it to not only replenish skin hydration but also induce synergy with collagen."
Two Korean dermatologists, Drs. Ahn Hee-tae and Park Je-young shared their experiences using hyaluronic acid formulations in clinical practice and discussed domestic aesthetic trends.
"SKINVIVE does not change the shape of the skin but penetrates the skin to attract moisture from the surroundings and improve the skin environment," Dr. Ahn said. "This is in line with the current trend of pursuing natural beauty rather than obvious changes in appearance. When injected into the skin, hyaluronic acid affects the surrounding cells and restores the extracellular matrix structure to improve elasticity.”
Dr. Park said, "As we age, hyaluronic acid decreases. SKINVIVE can be used regardless of age or skin type, and it has additional benefits of hyaluronic acid, such as regulating oil and water balance, controlling sebum, and shrinking pores. SKINVIVE can be used regardless of age or skin type, and it has additional benefits of hyaluronic acid.”
Park Young-shin, CEO of Allergan Aesthetics-AbbVie Korea, said, “We launched SKINVIVE for the first time in Asia with a lot of interest, potential, and expectations in the Korean market. We will continue our efforts to fulfill the beauty needs of Korean consumers through innovative products in the medical aesthetics field, including SKINVIVE."