Zeitschrift für klinische und experimentelle Dermatologieforschung
Offener Zugang

Abstrakt

Evaluation of Effectiveness and Tolerance of a Cosmeceutic Regimen Based on Topical Retinoids

Maria Teresa Truchuelo*, U Pielasinski-Rodríguez, Vitale Maria

Aim: Treatment of aging is challenging. Topical retinol is one of the actives with more published evidence on its efficacy. The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy and tolerance of a protocol based on the use of high concentrations of retinol (0.5% and 1%).

Materials and methods: A prospective pilot study of clinical experience was conducted in 20 volunteers with some degree of skin aging. They used a treatment protocol during 12 weeks, consisting of a progressively increase concentration of retinol at nights (beginning 0,5% and 1% within the subsequent weeks) combined with a nourishing cream based on growth factors and sunscreen at daytime. Five visits were registered (D0, D15, D50, D70, D90). Objective measurements were carried out (by cutometer, tewameter and Visia) together with the determination of the severity of aging, patient and investigator global assessment (PGA and IGA), improvement of skin aging according to patient and investigator opinion and side effects in semiquantitative scale (0-3).

Results: A significant improvement in skin firmness was obtained from D50, reaching its maximum increase (20%) at D90. This improvement agreed with researcher and patient determinations and with the improvement obtained in D90 on the RAO Goldman aging scale. Regarding tolerance, the increase in transepidermal water loss was, as expected, higher between visits at the beginning of the study. Side effects were higher in D50 when retinol was used more frequently, but decreased subsequently. In most of the patients the side effects were null or slight in all visits.

Conclusion: This specific regimen of retinization consisting of the progressive use of high concentrations of retinol (0.5% and 1%), showed efficacy in improving the firmness and visible signs of skin aging. Furthermore, it was very well tolerated by most of the patients.