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Retinol and Salicylic Acid Combination Facial Cream Improves Both Acne And Photo Aging: Presented at AAD

By Pamela Harrison

Special to DG News

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- February 24, 2002 -- A combination facial cream containing retinol and salicylic acid appears to reduce significantly both acne and signs of photo aging compared with a placebo vehicle.

Improvements in both parameters among patients who used the retinal and salicylic acid cream were seen as early as in the third week of use, according to the findings presented during a poster session yesterday here at the 60^th annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dr. J. Leyden, lead investigator, from the department of dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and colleagues developed and tested the efficacy of a new combination facial cream containing stabilized all-trans-retinol 0.075% (vitamin A), salicylic acid 2%, pro-vitamin B5 and anti-oxidants versus placebo.

The 61 subjects were between the ages of 25 and 49 years of age and had either mild to moderate acne or mild to moderate signs of aging. They were instructed to apply the cream twice a day to the full face for eight weeks. At the end of the treatment period dermatologists graded the efficacy of the cream using a 10-point grading scale.

Dermatologists determined that the test facial cream led to significant improvements in acne and in many signs of photo aging. "Indeed, within three weeks, treatment differences were seen for several parameters including improvement in comedones, papules and pustules, as well as the appearance if skin clarity, sallowness, mottled hyperpigmentation, fine wrinkles and pore size," investigators observe.

By the eighth week of treatment, dermatologists noted significant differences between women who used the test cream and placebo controls in coarse wrinkling, laxity of skin, actinic lentigines and skin texture.

"No significant increase in irritation was found at any time with the test product compared with placebo vehicle, although some patients noticed a transient stinging or burning sensation with the treatment cream," investigators add.

However, no patient discontinued treatment because of irritation and, overall, the majority of patients rated the retinol-salicylic acid product as excellent, very good or good.

"Acne products can dehydrate the skin making wrinkles look worse, while some anti-aging products aggravate acne-prone skin," the authors note. Since few over-the-counter products are currently available that address both problems, "women are often forced to choose products to treat their more bothersome condition, often at the detriment of the other," they add.

Approximately 40 percent of women between the ages of 25 to 39 have both wrinkles and blemishes, according to the researchers.

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