Vitamin A Lotion May Be Wrinkle-Fighter

Skin-building compounds enhanced by retinol use in weekly treatments, study says

THURSDAY, May 24, 2007 (HealthDay News) -- Skin lotion with vitamin A (retinol) may help reduce wrinkles caused by natural aging and help boost production of skin-building compounds, say U.S. researchers.

In a study of 36 elderly people (average age 87), researchers at the University of Michigan Medical School applied 0.4 percent retinol lotion to an upper inner arm of each participant and control lotion with no retinol to the other arm. The lotions were applied up to three times a week for 24 weeks.

The researchers graded the wrinkles, roughness and overall severity of skin aging before treatment with the lotions and at two, four, eight, 16 and 24 weeks after the start of treatment. In additions, skin biopsies of the skin from both arms were taken at the beginning and the end of the 24-week treatment period.

The study found that wrinkles, roughness and overall aging were significantly reduced on the arms that received the retinol lotion compared with the arms that received the control lotion.

The skin biopsies showed increased production of glycosaminoglycan and procollagen -- structural components of the skin -- on the arms that received the retinol lotion.

The findings are in the May issue of the Archives of Dermatology.

"Topical retinol improves fine wrinkles associated with natural aging," the study authors concluded. "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."

The study was funded by grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Babcock Endowment for Dermatologic Research, the Merck-American Federation for Aging Research, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Student Research Fellowship.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about skin care and aging.

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