According to a new study by University of Michigan researchers, lotions containing retinol not only improve skin that has been damaged by the sun, but also skin that has become wrinkled through the normal aging process.
Reporting in the journal Archives of Dermatology, the researchers said that wrinkles, roughness and overall aging severity were all significantly reduced in areas of skin treated with retinol. The reduction of wrinkles in the participants was due to increased collagen production and a significant induction of glycosaminoglycans, which are known to retain large quantities of water.
Additionally, the researchers said that the increased production of collagen, due to the retinol treatment, makes it more likely that the skin can withstand injury and ulcer formation.
"In the past, everyone believed that retinoids would treat only photoaging, or damage from exposure to sun. This is the first systematic study showing that it improves any kind of aging - photoaging as well as natural aging," says study co-author John J. Voorhees. "You can rub it anywhere, and it will help to treat the signs of aging."
The specific lotion that was tested was made at the university, but many retinol containing products are sold over the counter. Those specific products were not tested by the research team.
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Source: University of Michigan Health System
