Anti Aging Skin Care Mag

A new report states that applying vitamin A to the skin appears to improve the wrinkles associated with natural aging by promoting the production of skin-building compounds. This report is good news toward safe and effective anti aging skin care therapies.

Aging skin is inevitable but skin exposed to the sun will cause appearance of wrinkles and brown spots associated with aging. In natural aging, skin loses its youthful appearance by becoming thinner, laxer and more finely wrinkled. Reduced production of the protein collagen and collagen absorption will result in thinner skin which in turn slows down wound healing.

The effectiveness of vitamin A (retinol) lotion in 36 elderly individuals (average age 87 years) were being assessed. Researchers applied a lotion containing 0.4 percent retinol to one of participant’s upper inner arms, and a placebo lotion to the other arm, up to three times a week for 24 weeks. Wrinkles, roughness and overall severity of aging were each graded on a scale from zero (none) to nine (severe) before this wrinkle treatment and two, four, eight, 16 and 24 weeks after. 4-millimeter biopsy specimens of skin were also taken from both arms at the beginning and end of the 24-week wrinkle treatment period.

A total of 23 individuals completed the full study and 13 withdrew from the study prior to completion. The researchers included the individuals who had dropped out of the study by assuming their skin did not change after their last measurement, wrinkles, roughness and overall aging severity were all significantly reduced in the retinol-treated arm compared with the control arm. The skin biopsies revealed that the retinol increased the production of glycosaminoglycan and procollagen, structural components of the skin.

The authors of the study concluded that topical retinol improves fine wrinkles associated with natural aging. Significant inductions of glycosaminoglycan, which is known to retain substantial water, and increased collagen production, are most likely responsible for wrinkle reduction. With greater production of compounds that form new skin, retinol-treated aged skin is more likely to withstand skin injury and ulcer formation along with improved appearance.

Source: Vitamin A Helps Reduce Wrinkles Associated With Natural Skin Aging