Topical Retinoids in Skin Ageing: A Focused Update with Reference to Sun-Induced Epidermal Vitamin A Deficiency

Abstract

Vitamin A is an important constituent of the epidermis, where it plays a crucial role in epidermal turnover. A deficiency of epidermal vitamin A may be the consequence of nutritional vitamin A deficiency, exposure to sunlight or any UV source, oxidative stress or chronological ageing. As a consequence, any treatment aiming at increasing epidermal vitamin A would exert a protective effect against these deleterious conditions. Retinoids may counteract some deleterious actions of UV radiation by physical and biological mechanisms. Topical natural retinoic acid precursors such as retinaldehyde or retinol are less irritant than acidic retinoids and may prevent epidermal vitamin A deficiency due to nutritional deficiency, exposure to sunlight or any condition leading to free radical production. Retinoids may be combined with other compounds with complementary actions against ageing, nutritional deficiency and cancer, such as antioxidants, to potentiate their beneficial effects in the skin.

A Clinical Anti-Ageing Comparative Study of 0.3 and 0.5% Retinol Serums: A Clinically Controlled Trial

“…Retinol products are over-the-counter alternatives to topical antiageing treatments; however, retinoic acid is not used for topical application because it is registered as a drug, as is the case with synthetic retinoids such as adapalene, tazarotene, and bexarotene. In contrast, retinyl esters, retinol, retinaldehyde, and the oxoretinoids can be used in topical cosmeceutical preparations [1][2][3].…”

Antiaging efficacy of a retinaldehyde‐based cream compared with glycolic acid peel sessions: A randomized controlled study

“…RAL has demonstrated its efficacy in treating aging skin with a low incidence of irritation . Sorg and Saurat have shown that human keratinocytes in vitro have the ability to take up RAL to convert it into retinoic acid . Their study demonstrated that topical RAL can be used as a precursor of endogenous retinoids, as it can be converted into storage and active forms of vitamin A.…”

“…With age, skin undergoes a complex array of multifactorial biological changes where intrinsic factors influenced by environmental factors are at play. Impairment of the structural integrity of the dermis and fibroblast function, reduced dermal hydration, and loss of tonus and elasticity lead to increased folding, sagging, and emergence of wrinkles . Those features might partially result from a depletion of vitamin A, key component of the epidermis, due to chronic exposure to UV, oxidative stress but also aging and nutritional deficiency .…”

“…Impairment of the structural integrity of the dermis and fibroblast function, reduced dermal hydration, and loss of tonus and elasticity lead to increased folding, sagging, and emergence of wrinkles . Those features might partially result from a depletion of vitamin A, key component of the epidermis, due to chronic exposure to UV, oxidative stress but also aging and nutritional deficiency . Vitamin A plays an essential role in epidermal turnover and is also important in the regulation of keratin synthesis, sebaceous secretion, and extracellular matrix composition .…”

“…Those features might partially result from a depletion of vitamin A, key component of the epidermis, due to chronic exposure to UV, oxidative stress but also aging and nutritional deficiency . Vitamin A plays an essential role in epidermal turnover and is also important in the regulation of keratin synthesis, sebaceous secretion, and extracellular matrix composition . RAL has demonstrated its efficacy in treating aging skin with a low incidence of irritation .…”