Forty patients were included in this prospective, randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The study was approved
by the local ethics committee and was performed according to
established Good Clinical Practice guidelines. All subjects enrolled
in the study gave their written informed consent. Included
were healthy nonsmoking persons of both sexes, aged at least 18
years, with skin types II and III according to the classification of
Fitzpatrick [20] . Exclusion criteria were skin types I and VI, allergic
disposition, inflammatory skin diseases, photosensitivity,
sunbed tanning, metabolic diseases, use of any drugs (except for
contraceptives), alcohol consumption, infections, pregnancy and
breast-feeding, and participation in other clinical studies during
the last 2 months. No topical corticosteroids were allowed 8 weeks
before the onset of the study