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THE VITAMIN CREAM THAT REALLY DOES WIPE OUT WRINKLES
YOUNGER ALREADY: Face cream endorsed on BBC TV is suddenly in big demand
By Victoria Fletcher, Health Editor
A SKIN cream containing Vitamin A really can remove wrinkles caused by ageing, say scientists.
Many beauty products contain the vitamin – retinol – and all are said to fight signs of ageing.
But evidence is lacking, because manufacturers are reluctant to subject their products to independent testing.
Now a study has found that a lotion containing 0.4 per cent retinol had a significant rejuvenating effect on elderly volunteers with an average age of 87.
Retinol has to be used with care as it can cause redness and irritation. It can also make the skin sensitive to sunlight.
In pregnant women, excess vitamin A is associated with birth defects. The body converts retinol to tretinoin, or retinoic acid, an active form of vitamin A.
Tretinoin benefits the skin but it has side effects even more severe than retinol and is available only on prescription.
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Safe and effective therapies to reverse the atrophy of natural skin do not exist currently
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The rate at which retinol is converted to tretinoin is slow and varies greatly from one individual to another.
The research, published yesterday in the Archives of Dermatology, focused on wrinkles caused by natural ageing as opposed to the dramatic effects of the sun.
Participants were smothered with retinol cream on one arm and an inert lotion containing no vitamin A on the other.
The treatment was repeated up to three times a week for 24 weeks. Wrinkles, roughness and severity of ageing were graded on a scale from zero to nine.
Specimens of skin four millimetres wide were taken from both arms in the research led by Dr Reza Kafian at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor.
The researchers found that ageing was significantly less on the treated arms.
Analysis of the skin samples showed that retinol increased the production of two components of the skin, glycosaminoglycan and procollagen.
The researchers reported: “In intrinsic, natural or chronological ageing, skin loses its youthful appearance by becoming thinner, laxer and more finely wrinkled.
“These changes are readily appreciated by inspecting the upper inner arm.
“Thinner skin results from a reduced production of the protein collagen and may slow wound healing, presenting a public health issue. Topical retinol improves fine wrinkles associated with natural ageing.
“Significant induction of glycosaminoglycan and increased collagen production are most likely responsible for wrinkle reduction.” Retinol-treated aged skin was also more likely to withstand injury.
The authors concluded: “Safe and effective therapies to reverse the atrophy of natural skin do not exist currently.”
Shoppers have recently been flocking to buy Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect face cream after it was endorsed by the BBC’s Horizon programme.
It contains a pro-retinol complex. Demand grew so intense that Boots limited orders to one per week.
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