Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
05:03
Quantitative Analysis of Dietary Vitamin A Metabolites in Murine Ocular and Non-Ocular Tissues Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Published on: December 27, 2024
Cosmeceuticals: focus on topical retinoids in photoaging
Riccarda Serri1, Matilde Iorizzo
1Department of Dermatology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. riccardaserri@gmail.com
Clinics in Dermatology
|October 23, 2008
Summary
Topical retinoids like tretinoin are the only proven medical therapy for photoaged skin. They can repair and prevent skin aging, showing benefits for intrinsically aged skin too.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Photodamage Research
Background:
- Photoaged skin presents significant cosmetic concerns.
- Numerous surgical interventions exist but lack robust evidence for long-term efficacy.
- Topical retinoids are a class of compounds with known dermatological applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of topical retinoids in treating photoaged skin.
- To compare the benefits of topical retinoids against other interventions for skin aging.
- To explore the potential of retinoids in preventing and treating intrinsic skin aging.
Main Methods:
- A randomized clinical trial was conducted.
- The study focused on comparing topical retinoid therapy with other treatments.
- Clinical and biochemical assessments were used to evaluate outcomes.
Main Results:
- Topical retinoids demonstrated proven benefits for photoaged skin.
- Surgical procedures, while improving appearance, were not identified as the primary medical therapy.
- Retinoids showed potential for both repair and prevention of photoaging.
- Emerging evidence supports retinoid use for intrinsically aged skin.
Conclusions:
- Topical retinoids, including tretinoin, isotretinoin, and tazarotene, are the leading medical therapy for photoaged skin.
- Retinoid application offers a dual benefit of repairing existing damage and preventing future photoaging.
- Topical retinoids are also beneficial for treating intrinsically aged skin, expanding their therapeutic scope.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Acne Infection
Acne is a multifactorial skin condition primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, with a global prevalence estimated to exceed 75% in this demographic. The condition is characterized by the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, nodules, and, in severe cases, cysts, particularly in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, and back. The pathogenesis involves increased sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, colonization by...
01:12Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells
The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...
01:16Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
Confocal microscopy is an advanced microscopic technique. The prime advantage of the confocal microscope over other microscopy techniques is its ability to block the out-of-focus light from the illuminated samples using pinholes. It is widely used with fluorescence optics to obtain high-resolution, sharp contrast images. Unlike optical microscopes, confocal microscopes use a focused beam of light laser to scan the entire sample surface at different z-planes. These microscopes are, therefore,...
01:15Reticular Dermis
The papillary and reticular dermis are the two layers of the dermis. They are made of connective tissue with fibers of collagen extending from one to the other, making the border between the two somewhat indistinct. The dermal papillae extending into the epidermis belong to the papillary layer, whereas the dense collagen fiber bundles below belong to the reticular layer.
Reticular Layer
Underlying the papillary layer is the much thicker reticular layer, composed of dense, irregular connective...
Reticular Layer
Underlying the papillary layer is the much thicker reticular layer, composed of dense, irregular connective...
01:14Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives
The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
01:19Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells
Epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) are mainly located at the basal layer of the epidermis. These cells repair minor injuries of the skin and replace dead skin cells. However, EpiSCs’ cannot heal severe wounds such as major burns or those from diabetes or hereditary disorders. In such cases, culturing the epidermal stem cells from the patient is possible and has yielded successful treatment options, such as laboratory-grown skin grafts. These grafts are synthesized using a patient’s own EpiSCs...