J Korean Soc Plast Reconstr Surg.  2001 May;28(3):283-288.

Comparative Effects of Retin-A and Vitamin C on Photoaging Skin

• Lee JH
• Kim JJ
• Hyun WS
• Ha BJ
• Shin MS

Abstract

Photoaging skin occurs as a result of long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation. In contrast to intrinsic aging, skin changes of photoaging can be reversed by the topical use of skin care products. Several skin care products have now undergone sufficient evaluation and have a well-defined role in our practice. Retin-A and alpha hydroxy acids have a significant number of data available for evaluation; data for Vitamin C and antioxidants are still emerging. We conducted clinical trial to compare the anti-photoaging effects of Rein-A and Vitamin C in 25 women volunteers. Each formulation wes applied daily to the randomly assigned hemifaces over the 8-month study period. Comparative evaluations of anti-photoaging effects were made using subject self-appraisal questionnares, plastic surgeon's assessment, ultraviolet revelations, and histologic examinations. Subject self-appraisal and plastic surgeon's assessment showed predominance of Retin-A over Vitamin C. But both Retin-A and Vitamin C provided objective and subjective improvement in photodamaged facial skin and no significant difference was found between Retin-A and Vitamin C in histologic examinations.

Keyword

Photoaging; Retin-A; Vitamin C

MeSH Terms

Antioxidants
Ascorbic Acid*
Diagnostic Self Evaluation
Female
Humans
Hydroxy Acids
Skin Aging
Skin Care
Skin*
Tretinoin*
Vitamins*
Volunteers
Antioxidants
Ascorbic Acid
Hydroxy Acids
Tretinoin
Vitamins