A Topical Cosmeceutical Approach to Submental Fullness in Indian Women - 12-Week Prospective Study

Q: How was improvement in submental fullness evaluated?

Standardized photographs were taken at baseline and week 12 and independently graded by two dermatologists using a validated Clinician-Reported Submental Fat Rating Scale, with disagreements resolved by a third dermatologist.

Q: Were there any adverse events and did results depend on body weight?

No adverse events occurred, and the improvements were independent of body weight changes throughout the study.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Aurelia

Submental fullness (“double chin”) is a common aesthetic concern among Indian women, and no topical cosmeceutical had been systematically evaluated for this indication. A 12-week, single-center, open-label trial assessed a multi-active serum containing DMAE and retinol. Sixteen women (18–60) with mild-to-moderate fullness applied the serum nightly; 13 completed. Dermatologist grading of standardized photos showed significant improvements across views with no adverse events, independent of body weight changes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Study Design

Study Population

Results

Conclusion

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ORIGINAL ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS A Topical Cosmeceutical Approach to Submental Fullness in Indian Women: 12-Week Prospective Study Subashini Selavdurairaj1 | Savitha Murali1 | Sivavallinathan Arunachalam2 | Ragavi Balasubramanian1 | C. Divyalakshmi1 | Vanathi Thirunavukkarasu1 | S. Anannya2 | Pavithra Sukumaran1 1Silphion Research Private Limited, Chennai, India | 2Render Skin & Hair, Chennai, India Correspondence: Savitha Murali ([drsavitha@renderclinic.com](drsavitha@renderclinic.com)) Received: 5 November 2025 | Revised: 16 December 2025 | Accepted: 23 December 2025 Keywords: DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) | double chin | Indian women | lower facial aging | non invasive treatment | submental fullness | topical cosmeceutical ABSTRACT Background: Submental fullness (“double chin”) is a common aesthetic concern among Indian women. No topical cosmeceutical has been systematically evaluated for this indication. Objective: To assess the efficacy of a multi-active topical serum containing DMAE and retinol in reducing submental fullness in Indian women. Methods: This 12-week, single-center, open-label study enrolled 16 women (ages 18–60) with mild-to-moderate submental fullness; 13 completed the trial. Subjects applied the serum nightly to the submental area. Standardized photographs were obtained at baseline and week 12 and were independently graded by two dermatologists using the validated Clinician-Reported Submental Fat Rating Scale. Any discordance was evaluated and resolved by a third, umpire dermatologist. Body weight was monitored throughout. Results: All 13 completers showed visible improvement in submental contour. Dermatologist grading showed statistically significant improvements across all three views (p < 0.05), with the maximum change noted in the left and front profiles (r =0.88 and 0.83, respectively) compared to the right profile (r =0.61). Improvements were independent of body weight changes. No adverse events occurred. Conclusion: This preliminary study demonstrates that a DMAE and retinol based topical serum can improve submental fullness in Indian women over 12 weeks, offering a noninvasive alternative to procedural interventions. Larger randomized controlled trials with objective volumetric endpoints are needed for validation. 1 | Introduction Submental fullness, or “double chin,” is a well-recognized aesthetic concern with documented negative effects on quality of life, particularly in women [1]. This issue holds special relevance for Indian women, who often exhibit a hypertrophic aging pattern marked by central facial volume accumulation and early submental convexity, in contrast to Caucasian cohorts who more commonly demonstrate deflationary changes with sagging as a secondary component [2] . Evidence from Asian populations reveals that skin elasticity decline begins as early as age 25, with horizontal neck folds typically appearing between ages 26–30 [3, 4] . This early onset of aging changes predisposes Indian women to earlier and more visible submental fullness, amplifying dissatisfaction with facial appearance and highlighting the critical need for accessible preventive interventions. The pathophysiology of lower facial aging is multifactorial, involving both intrinsic factors (chronological and genetic) and This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026; 25:e70653 1 of 5 [https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.70653](https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.70653) extrinsic factors including sun exposure, air pollution, smoking, diet, and repetitive mechanical stress. Modern lifestyle factors have amplified these concerns—“tech neck,” characterized by repeated flexing and c

FAQs

What is the objective of the 12-week study?

To assess the efficacy of a multi-active topical serum containing DMAE and retinol in reducing submental fullness in Indian women over 12 weeks.

How was improvement in submental fullness evaluated?

Standardized photographs were taken at baseline and week 12 and independently graded by two dermatologists using a validated Clinician-Reported Submental Fat Rating Scale, with disagreements resolved by a third dermatologist.

Were there any adverse events and did results depend on body weight?

No adverse events occurred, and the improvements were independent of body weight changes throughout the study.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Aurelia