## 3 Results
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Skin Parameter**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Placebo**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Cream Containing _K. elatine_ Cell Extract**} & \multirow{2}{*}{_p_-Value Between Groups**} \\  & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**(_n = 20_)**} & & & **(_n = 20_)** & \\  & **Before** & **After** & **Before** & **After** & **Before** & **After** \\ \hline Skin hydration [AU] & 47.81 \(\pm\) 13.57 & 57.68 \(\pm\) 14.60 & 40.36 \(\pm\) 10.16 & 63.00\(\pm\) 10.27 & 0.057 \({}^{\circ}\) & 0.191 \({}^{\circ}\) \\ _p_-value & 0.001 \({}^{\star\star}\) & & \(<\)0.001 \({}^{\star\star\star}\) & & \\ Transepidermal water loss & 11.09 \(\pm\) 3.12 & 12.12 \(\pm\) 7.32 & 14.82 \(\pm\) 3.62 & 11.76 \(\pm\) 2.42 & 0.001 \({}^{\star\star}\) & 0.289 \({}^{\mathrm{b}}\) \\ [g/h/m\({}^{2}\)] & \multirow{2}{*}{\(p\)-value} & 0.927 \({}^{\mathrm{b}}\) & & \(<\)0.001 \({}^{\star\star\star}\) & & \\ Luminosity & 8.19 \(\pm\) 1.47 & 8.32 \(\pm\) 2.31 & 8.32 \(\pm\) 1.43 & 7.63 \(\pm\) 1.21 & 0.773 \({}^{\circ}\) & 0.295 \({}^{\circ}\) \\ _p_-value & 0.830 \({}^{\star\star}\) & & 0.009 \({}^{\star\star\star}\) & & \\ Erythema index [AU] & 255.22 \(\pm\) 58.83 & 286.30 \(\pm\) 50.92 & 114.83 \(\pm\) 19.62 & 113.68 \(\pm\) 26.12 & 0.042 \({}^{\star\star\star}\) & 0.051 \({}^{\mathrm{b}}\) \\ _p_-value & 0.002 \({}^{\star\star}\) & & 0.812 \({}^{\mathrm{b}}\) & & \\ Melanin index [AU] & 127.43 \(\pm\) 18.27 & 127.33 \(\pm\) 20.73 & 276.58 \(\pm\) 77.12 & 295.40 \(\pm\) 99.01 & 0.331 \({}^{\circ}\) & 0.947 \({}^{\mathrm{b}}\) \\ _p_-value & 0.667 \({}^{\mathrm{b}}\) & & 0.210 \({}^{\star\star}\) & & \\ Sebum level & 25.15 \(\pm\) 14.58 & 26.50 \(\pm\) 28.81 & 12.40 \(\pm\) 12.65 & 35.85 \(\pm\) 31.19 & 0.004 \({}^{\star\star\star}\) & 0.449 \({}^{\mathrm{b}}\) \\ _p_-value & 0.823 \({}^{\mathrm{b}}\) & & \(<\)0.001 \({}^{\star\star\star}\) & & \\ Skin surface pH & 5.45 \(\pm\) 0.33 & 5.07 \(\pm\) 0.51 & 5.53 \(\pm\) 0.46 & 5.44 \(\pm\) 0.42 & 0.281 \({}^{\circ}\) & 0.019 \({}^{\star\star\star}\) \\ _p_-value & 0.001 \({}^{\star\star}\) & & 0.522 \({}^{\mathrm{b}}\) & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}  
* _p_-value is considered significant if < 0.05; \({}^{\mathrm{a}}\) paired _t_-test was used to calculate the normally distributed data; \({}^{\mathrm{b}}\) Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to calculate the non-normally distributed data; \({}^{\mathrm{c}}\) independent _t_-test was used to calculate the normally distributed data.  
\end{table} 
Table 2: Skin parameter values before and after six weeks of application of placebo or cream containing _K. elatine_ cell extract, measured using Courage & Khazaka MPA-9. The _K. elatine_-treated skin showed a significant increase in sebum level from 12.40 to 35.85 (\(p<0.001\)), while the placebo group exhibited no meaningful change (25.15 \(\rightarrow\) 26.50, \(p=0.823\)). Although the between-group difference was not statistically significant (\(p=0.449\)), the results suggest that _K. elatine_ cell extract may stimulate sebum production, which could be advantageous for individuals with dry or mature skin (Table 2). In the _K. elatine_-treated group, skin pH remained relatively stable, showing only a slight, non-significant change from 5.53 to 5.44 (\(p=0.522\)). In contrast, the placebo group experienced a significant decrease in pH from 5.45 to 5.07 (\(p=0.001\)). The between-group difference after treatment was statistically significant (\(p=0.019\)), indicating that _K. elatine_ may help maintain the skin's natural pH balance, which is essential for preserving barrier integrity and overall skin health (Table 2). Table 3 and Figure 3 present skin parameter changes after six weeks of applying either a placebo or a cream containing _Kickxia elatine_ cell extract, as assessed using the Nati Skin Analyzer. After six weeks of treatment, the skin treated with the _K. elatine_ cream demonstrated a significant reduction in structure values (9.23 \(\rightarrow\) 8.50, \(p=0.028\)), indicating enhanced surface smoothness and improved texture.