Top

Published in:

01-06-2005 | Therapy in Practice

The Role of Topical Retinoids in the Treatment of Photoaging

Authors: Alexander J. Stratigos, Prof. Andreas D. Katsambas

Published in: Drugs | Issue 8/2005

Abstract

Aging of the skin is a complex biological process which is influenced by the interaction of several intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic or chronological aging is an inevitable, genetically programmed process, of unclear underlying mechanism, for which no prevention or effective treatment is currently available. Photoaging refers to the gross and microscopic cutaneous changes that are induced by cumulative exposure to UV radiation and are superimposed on the background of chronological aging. Although primarily an aesthetic problem with significant psychological effects, photoaging constitutes the background for the development of precancerous and cancerous skin lesions.

Overwhelming clinical and histological evidence indicate that certain structural changes induced by excessive sun exposure can be reversed, to some extent, by the use of topical retinoids. A number of retinoid compounds, for example tretinoin, isotretinoin, retinaldehyde and tazarotene, have been employed for the treatment of photoaged skin, and demonstrate beneficial clinical and histological effects. Adverse effects have been limited to an irritant reaction of variable intensity presenting with dryness, scaling and erythema. Ongoing research will enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that determine the effects of retinoids on photodamaged skin and contribute to the employment of new, more effective and less irritating retinoid compounds.

Peck GL, DiGiovanna JJ. The retinoids. In: Freedberg IM, Eisen AZ, Wolff K, et al., editors. Fitzpatrick’s dermatology in general medicine. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional, 1999: 2810–20

Tobin CJ. Retinoids, homeoboxes and growth factors toward molecular models for limb development. Cell 1991; 66: 199–217CrossRef

Siegenthaler G, Saurat J-H, Ponec M. Retinol and retinal metabolism: relationship to the state of differentiation of cultured human keratinocytes. Biochem J 1990; 268: 371–8PubMed

Duell EA, Astrom A, Griffiths CEM, et al. Human skin levels of retinoic acid and cytochrome p-450-derived-hydroxyretinoic acid after topical application of retinoic acid receptor-mediated transcription in vitro. J Clin Invest 1992; 90: 1269–74PubMedCrossRef

Torras H. Retinoids in aging. Dermatol Clin 1996; 14: 207–15CrossRef

Kligman A, Fulton Jr JE, Plewig G. Topical vitamin A acid in acne vulgaris. Arch Dermatol 1969; 99: 469–76PubMedCrossRef

Cordero A. La vitamina A acida en la piel senil. Actua Ter Dermatol 1983; 6: 49–54

Kligman LH. Effects of all-trans-retinoic acid on the dermis of hairless mice. J Am Acad Dermatol 1986; 15: 779–85PubMedCrossRef

Kligman AM, Grove GZ, Hirose R, et al. Topical tretinoin for photoaged skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1986; 15: 836–59PubMedCrossRef

10.

Gilchrest BA. Skin aging 2003: recent advances and current concepts. Cutis 2003; 72 (3 Suppl.): 5–10PubMed

11.

Fenske NA, Lober CW. Structural and junctional changes of normal aging skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1986; 15: 571–85PubMedCrossRef

12.

Montagna W, Carlisle K. Structural changes in aging human skin. J Invest Dermatol 1979; 73: 47–53PubMedCrossRef

13.

Lavker RM, Zheng PS, Dong G. Aged skin: a study by light, transmission electron and scanning electron microscopy. J Invest Dermatol 1987; 88: 44s-51sCrossRef

14.

Lavker RM. Cutaneous aging: chronologic versus photoaging. In: Gilchrest BA, editor. Photodamage. Cambridge (MA): Blackwell Science Inc., 1995: 123–35

15.

Kligman AM. Early destructive effects of sunlight on human skin. JAMA 1969; 210: 2377–80PubMedCrossRef

16.

Lavker RM, Kligman AM. Chronic heliodermatitis: a morphologic evaluation of chronic dermal damage with emphasis on the role of mast cells. J Invest Dermatol 1988; 90: 325–30PubMedCrossRef

17.

Astrom A, Tavakkol A, Pettersson U, et al. Molecular cloning of two human cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins (CRABP). J Biol Chem 1991; 266: 17662–6PubMed

18.

Eller MS, Oleksiak MF, McQuaid TJ, et al. The molecular cloning and expression of two CRABP cDNAs from human skin. Exp Cell Res 1992; 199: 328–36CrossRef

19.

Petkovich M, Brand MJ, Krust A, et al. A human retinoic acid receptor which belongs to the family of nuclear receptors. Nature 1987; 330: 444–50PubMedCrossRef

20.

Brand N, Petkovich M, Krust A, et al. Identification of a second human retinoic acid receptor. Nature 1988; 332: 850–3PubMedCrossRef

21.

Krust A, Kastner P, Petkovich M, et al. A third human retinoic acid receptor hRAR-γ. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1989; 86: 5310–4PubMedCrossRef

22.

Manglesdorf DJ, Ong ES, Dyck JA, et al. Nuclear receptor that identifies a novel retinoic acid response pathway. Nature 1990; 345: 224–9CrossRef

23.

Rees JL, Redfern CPF. Expression of the α and β retinoic acid receptors in skin. J Invest Dermatol 1989; 92: 818–20CrossRef

24.

Nagpal S, Saunders M, Kastner P, et al. Promoter context- and response element-dependent specificity of the transcriptional activation and modulating functions of retinoic acid receptors. Cell 1992; 70: 1007–19PubMedCrossRef

25.

Gilchrest BA. Retinoids and photodamage. Br J Dermatol 1992; 127 Suppl. 41: 14–20CrossRef

26.

Griffiths CEM, Voorhees JJ. Effects of retinoids on photodamaged skin. In: Gilchrest BA, editor. Photodamage. Cambridge (MA): Blackwell Science Inc., 1995: 221–43

27.

Griffiths CEM, Finkel LJ, Tranfaglia MG, et al. An in vivo experimental model for topical retinoid effects on human skin. Br J Dermatol 1993; 29: 389–99CrossRef

28.

Fisher GJ, Tavakkol A, Griffiths CEM, et al. Differential modulation of transforming growth factor β1 expression and mucin deposition by retinoic acid and sodium lauryl sulfate in human skin. J Invest Dermatol 1992; 98: 102–8PubMedCrossRef

29.

Griffiths CEM, Goldfarb MT, Finkel LJ, et al. Topical tretinoin (retinoic acid) treatment for hyperpigmented lesions associated with photoaging in Chinese and Japanese patients. J Am Acad Dermatol 1994; 30: 76–84PubMedCrossRef

30.

Orlow SJ, Chakraborty AK, Pawalek JM. Retinoic acid is a potent inhibitor of inducible pigmentation in murine and hamster melanoma cell lines. J Invest Dermatol 1990; 94: 461–4PubMedCrossRef

31.

Kligman AM, Zheng P, Lavker RM. The anatomy and pathogenesis of wrinkles. Br J Dermatol 1985; 113: 37–42PubMedCrossRef

32.

Griffiths CEM, Russman AN, Majmudar G, et al. Restoration of collagen formation in photodamaged human skin by tretinoin (retinoic acid). N Engl J Med 1993; 329: 530–5PubMedCrossRef

33.

Fisher GJ, Wang ZQ, Datta SC, et al. Pahtophysiology of premature skion aging induced by ultraviolet radiation. N Engl J Med 1997; 337: 1419–28PubMedCrossRef

34.

Weiss JS, Ellis CN, Headington JT, et al. Topical tretinoin improves photoaged skin. JAMA 1988; 259: 527–3PubMedCrossRef

35.

Leyden JJ, Grove GL, Grove MJ, et al. Treatment of photodamaged skin with topical tretinoin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1989; 21: 638–44PubMedCrossRef

36.

Lever L, Kumar P, Marks R. Topical retinoic acid for the treatment of solar damage. Br J Dermatol 1990; 122: 91–8PubMedCrossRef

37.

Kang S, Voorhees JJ. Photoaging therapy with topical tretinoin: an evidence-based analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol 1998; 39: S55–61PubMedCrossRef

38.

Griffiths CEM, Kang S, Ellis CN, et al. Two concentrations of topical tretinoin (retinoic acid) cause similar improvement of photoaging but different degrees of irritation. Arch Dermatol 1995; 131: 1037–44PubMedCrossRef

39.

Weinstein GD, Nigra TP, Pochi PE, et al. Topical tretinoin for treatment of photodamaged skin: a multicenter study. Arch Dermatol 1991; 127: 659–65PubMedCrossRef

40.

Olsen EA, Katz I, Levine N, et al. Tretinoin emollient cream: a new therapy for photodamaged skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1992; 26: 215–24PubMedCrossRef

41.

Green LJ, McCormick A, Weinstein GD. Photoaging and the skin: the effects of tretinoin. Dermatol Clin 1993; 11: 97–105PubMed

42.

Ellis CN, Weiss JS, Hamilton TA, et al. Sustained improvement with prolonged topical tretinoin (retinoic acid) for photoaged skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1990; 23: 629–37PubMedCrossRef

43.

Bhawan J, Olsen E, Lufrano L, et al. Histologic evaluation of the long-term effects of tretinoin on photodamaged skin. J Dermatol Sci 1996; 11: 177–82PubMedCrossRef

44.

Zelickson AS, Mottz JH, Weiss JS, et al. Topical tretinoin in photoaged skin: an ultrastructural study. J Cut Aging Cosm Dermatol 1988; 1: 41–7

45.

Buchan P, Eckhoff C, Caron D, et al. Repeated topical administration of all-trans-retinoic acid and plasma levels of retinoic acids in humans. J Am Acad Dermatol 1994; 30: 428–34PubMedCrossRef

46.

Sendagorta E, Lesiewicz J, Armstrong RB. Topical isotretinoin for photodamaged skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1992; 27: S15–8PubMedCrossRef

47.

Maddin S, Lauharanta J, Agache P, et al. Isotretinoin improves the appearance of photodamaged skin: results of a 36-week, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol 2000; 42: 56–63PubMedCrossRef

48.

Alirezai M, Dupuy R, Amblard P, et al. Clinical evaluation of topical isotretinoin in the treatment of actinic keratoses. J Am Acad Dermatol 1994; 30: 447–51PubMedCrossRef

49.

Saurat JH, Didierjean L, Masgrau E, et al. Topical retinaldehyde on human skin: biological effects and tolerance. J Invest Dermatol 1994; 103: 770–4PubMedCrossRef

50.

Didierjean L, Tran C, Sorg O, et al. Biological activities of retinaldehyde. Dermatology 1999; 199 Suppl. 1: 19–24CrossRef

51.

Creidi P, Vienne MP, Ochonisky S, et al. Profilometric evaluation of photodamage after topical retinaldehyde and retinoic acid treatment. J Am Acad Dermatol 1998; 39: 960–5PubMedCrossRef

52.

Boisnic S, Branchet-Gumila MC, Le Charpentier Y, et al. Repair of UVA-induced elastic fiber and collagen damage by 0.05% retinaldehyde cream in an ex vivo human skin model. Dermatology 1999; 199 Suppl. 1: 43–8CrossRef

53.

Sefton J, Kligman AM, Kopper SC, et al. Photodamage pilot study: a double-blind, vehicle-controlled study to assess the efficacy and safety of tazarotene 0.1 % gel. J Am Acad Dermatol 2000; 43: 656–63PubMedCrossRef

54.

Kang S, Leyden JJ, Lowe NJ. Tazarotene cream for the treatment of facial photodamage: a multicenter, investigator-masked, randomized, vehicle-controlled, parallel comparison of 0.01%, 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1% tazarotene creams with 0.05% tretinoin emollient cream applied once daily for 24 weeks. Arch Dermatol 2001; 137: 1597–604PubMed

55.

Lowe N, Gifford M, Tanghetti E, et al. Tarazotene 0.1% cream versus tretinoin 0.05% emollient cream in the treatment of photodamaged facial skin: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study. J Cosmet Laser Ther 2004; 6: 79–85PubMedCrossRef

56.

Phillips TJ, Gottlieb AB, Leyden JJ, et al. Efficacy of 0.1% tazarotene cream for the treatment of photodamage: a 12-month multicenter, randomized trial. Arch Dermatol 2002; 138: 1486–93PubMedCrossRef

57.

Grove GL, Grove MJ, Leyden JJ, et al. Skin replica analysis of photodamaged skin after therapy with tretinoin emollient cream. J Am Acad Dermatol 1991; 25: 231–7PubMedCrossRef

58.

Kligman AM, Graham GF. Histological changes in facial skin after daily application oftretinoin for 5 to 6 years. J Dermatol Treat 1993; 4: 113–7CrossRef

59.

Grove GL, Grove MJ, Zerwick CR, et al. Determination of topical tretinoin effects on cutaneous microcirculation in photoaged skin by laser Doppler velocimetry. J Cut Aging Cosmet Dermatol 1988; 1: 27–33

60.

Marks R, Hill S, Barton SP. The effects of an abrasive agent on normal skin and on photodamaged skin in comparison with topical tretinoin. Br J Dermatol 1990; 123: 457–66PubMedCrossRef

61.

Kligman AM, Dogadkina D, Lavker RM. Effects of topical tretinoin on non-sun-exposed protected skin of the elderly. J Am Acad Dermatol 1993; 39: 25–33CrossRef

62.

Katsambas AD, Katoulis AC. Topical retinoids in the treatment of aging of the skin. In: Mallia C, Uitto J, editors. RheumaDerm. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 1999: 477–82CrossRef

63.

Ortonne JP, Marks R. The treatment of skin photoaging. In: Ortonne JP, Marks R, editors. Photodamaged skin: clinical signs, causes, management. London: Martin Dunitz Ltd, 1999: 121–42

64.

Krautheim A, Gollnick H. Transdermal penetration of topical drugs used in the treatment of acne. Clin Pharmacokinet 2003; 42: 1287–304PubMedCrossRef

65.

Kligman AM. Isotopical tretinoin teratogenic? [letter]. JAMA 1988; 259: 2918

66.

Jick SJ, Terris BZ, Jick H. First trimester topical tretinoin and congenital disorders. Lancet 1993; 341: 1181–2PubMedCrossRef

Title: The Role of Topical Retinoids in the Treatment of Photoaging
Authors: Alexander J. Stratigos
Prof. Andreas D. Katsambas
Publication date: 01-06-2005
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Drugs / Issue 8/2005
Print ISSN: 0012-6667
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1950
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200565080-00003

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

The Role of Topical Retinoids in the Treatment of Photoaging

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 8/2005

Enteric-Coated Mycophenolate Sodium

Bacterial Meningitis in Children

First-Episode Schizophrenia

Recombinant Factor VIIa (Eptacog Alfa)

Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders

Angiotensin Antagonism in Coronary Artery Disease