Did you know that after 12 weeks of retinol, image analysis showed a significant reduction in facial wrinkles?
Two relatives of vitamin A
Retinol is a form of vitamin A that is widely used in skincare products. It is the precursor of retinoic acid, a substance that is also used as a prescription medicine.
Retinoic acid is thought to have stronger effects, but few studies had compared the two substances directly on the skin. The study we are discussing set out to fill this gap.
How the study was done
In the study, published in 2016, the researchers applied retinol and retinoic acid to the skin for four weeks. They then examined the structure of the skin under the microscope, on small tissue samples and with confocal microscopy, a technique that looks at the skin without taking samples.
They also measured the expression of genes and proteins linked to skin function, collagen in particular. In a second part, they assessed how a retinol formula affected the appearance of the face, using a wrinkle analysis based on digital images.
What was observed
After four weeks, both retinoic acid and retinol increased the thickness of the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. Both increased the expression of the genes for type 1 and type 3 collagen and of the matching proteins.
The effects of retinol were similar to those of retinoic acid, though they tended to be smaller. After 12 weeks of using the retinol formula, image analysis showed a significant reduction in facial wrinkles.
How to read the result
The study connects three levels of observation, skin structure, genes and facial appearance, which makes it interesting. The abstract does not report the number of participants, though, and the wrinkle results concern one specific retinol formula. They do not automatically apply to every product that contains it.
Retinol is an active ingredient and at first it can cause redness or dryness. Retinoic acid is a medicine and should only be used with a prescription. Before adding retinol to your routine, especially if your skin is sensitive, ask a dermatologist for advice.
This article is for information only. It does not replace the advice of a doctor or dermatologist, whom you should consult with any question about your skin.