In this study, the self-reported data was found to be consistent with the objective skin biophysical measurements. For example, the participants in the treatment group reported improvement in skin hydration, which was in alignment with the objective measure of the studies. This suggests that the extent of skin improvement was to a noticeable degree, which may imply clinical relevance. Furthermore, the results from self-assessments suggest that the FMD impacted aspects of mental well-being and self-esteem, demonstrated by improvements in the feeling of happiness, confidence, and attractiveness. Previous studies investigating FMD have also found improvements in mental states. In one study, patients with depression that received both FMD and psychotherapy had an improvement in self esteem and psychological quality of life compared to a group receiving psychotherapy
alone [23]. It is interesting to note that our FMD study reported improvement in aspects of self-esteem in generally healthy subjects.
This trial serves as a pilot study to demonstrate the effects of FMD on skin health, and the parameters assessed warrant further investigation with a larger sample size. Furthermore, because this study was done with a healthy population, future research should focus on individuals with a skin condition to better understand the use of the FMD in the setting of dermatological disease. Additionally, future research can expand the study population to include male participants. With evidence suggesting improvements in aspects of mental well-being, further research on the FMD and skin health should incorporate validated questionnaires for mood to better understand the skin-mind axis in the context of fasting.
