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A guide to topical retinoids

02 July 2024
Volume 13 · Issue 4

Abstract

Topical retinoids continue to be the treatment of choice for healthcare professionals and patients due to their effectiveness in treating several common skincare concerns. In a comprehensive review, Cigdem Kemal Yilmaz discusses the most used topical retinoids: retinyl palmitate, retinol, retinal (retinaldehyde), tretinoin (retinoic acid) and adapalene, and their potential benefits to the skin. This article also addresses the latest EU regulations impacting their use, and the necessity for healthcare professionals to stay informed about advancements and regulatory changes in topical retinoid therapy in order to provide personalised treatment plans for their patients.

Considered by many as the gold standard of anti-ageing ingredients, the use of retinoids in topical cosmetics products has become increasingly popular with both healthcare professionals and patients. This can be partly attributed to their effectiveness in regulating epithelial growth and differentiation that maintains the structural and functional integrity of the skin (Zasada and Budzisz, 2019).

Retinoids are compounds of natural, biologically active forms of vitamin A (including retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid) (Motamedi et al, 2022) as well as synthetic analogues of adapalene (Babamiri and Nassab, 2010). They were first used to treat dermatologic conditions in the early 1970s, the discovery of which is attributed to Dr. Albert Kligman and colleagues who explored the use of tretinoin (retinoic acid) for treating acne (Kligman et al, 1984).

The discovery led to the evolution and broader application of retinoids in dermatology being used to treat multiple other dermatological indications including pigmentation and ageing, with tretinoin (retin-A) becoming the first topical retinoid to be FDA approved to treat acne in 1971 (Baldwin et al, 2013).

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