Vitamin
A cream helps reduce wrinkles associated with
natural skin aging
Applying Vitamin A to the skin appears to
improve the wrinkles associated with natural
aging and may help to promote the production of
skin-building compounds, according to a report
in the May issue of Archives of Dermatology,
one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
The wrinkles and brown spots associated with
aging appear first and most prominently on skin
exposed to the sun, according to background
information in the article. "Human skin not
exposed to the sun also ages but less
dramatically," the authors write. "In intrinsic,
natural or chronological aging, skin loses its
youthful appearance by becoming thinner, laxer
and more finely wrinkled. These changes are
readily appreciated by inspecting the upper
inner arm."
Thinner skin results from a reduced
production of the protein collagen and may slow
wound healing, presenting a public health issue.
"Safe and effective therapies to reverse the
atrophy of natural skin aging do not exist
currently," the authors note.
Reza Kafi, M.D., then of the University of
Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, and now of
Stanford Medical School, Palo Alto, Calif., and
colleagues assessed the effectiveness of vitamin
A (retinol) lotion in 36 elderly individuals
(average age 87 years). Researchers applied a
lotion containing 0.4 percent retinol to
participants' right or left upper inner arms,
and lotion with no retinol to the other arm, up
to three times a week for 24 weeks. \
Wrinkles, roughness and overall severity of
aging were each graded on a scale from zero
(none) to nine (severe) before treatment and
two, four, eight, 16 and 24 weeks after
beginning treatment. In addition, 4-millimeter
biopsy specimens of skin were taken from both
arms at the beginning and end of the 24-week
treatment period.
A total of 23 individuals completed the full
study and 13 withdrew from the study prior to
completion. When the researchers included the
individuals who had dropped out of the study by
assuming their skin did not change after their
last measurement, wrinkles, roughness and
overall aging severity were all significantly
reduced in the retinol-treated arm compared with
the control arm.
The skin biopsies revealed that the retinol
increased the production of
glycosaminoglycan and procollagen,
structural components of the skin.
"Topical retinol improves fine wrinkles
associated with natural aging," the authors
conclude. "Significant induction of
glycosaminoglycan, which is known to retain
substantial water, and increased collagen
production are most likely responsible for
wrinkle effacement [reduction].
"With greater
skin matrix synthesis [production of
compounds that form new skin],
retinol-treated aged skin is more likely to
withstand skin injury and ulcer formation
along with improved appearance."
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