Hello everyone,
I've enjoyed reading all of the posts in the forum and thought that I'd also contribute some good information! It seems that many on the board, listening to the advice of Eva and Fredrik, have either started using a retinoid or are interested in it.
Here is a link to an ebook on retinoids and carotenoids that I found online:
LINK REMOVED
Relevant chapter include chapter 5 which outlines the anti-aging effects of retinoids, and chapter 6, which covers retinoid therapy in the treatment of acne. Other chapters cover a range of (very interesting) topics, but are less related to the skin troubles that the people on this board seem to be interested in (for example: retinoid therapy for cancer and autoimmune diseases of the skin).
Another important note: Adapalene is listed as being a potentially good retinoid for the treatment of photoaging in the book. Posts regarding adapalene on this forum seem to peg it as a useless retinoid because of its limited receptor activity and low irritation factor (it is considered the least irritating of all of the retinoids). However, if adapalene (in either concentration of .1% or the newer .3%) is the only retinoid your skin can handle without excessive irritation (a possibility for those with especially sensitive skin), I see no problem using it for the treatment or prevention of photodamage (of course in conjunction with a sunscreen). However, I think the commonly regarded order in which the common topical retinoids are listed in order of efficacy is: Tazarotene (most effective), Tretinoin, Adapalene (least effective, but effective nonetheless).
For the study on adapalene's effect on signs of photoaging that I believe the ebook refers to, please visit:
http://cat.inist.fr/...cpsidt=14950541
Excerpt:
Objective: We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of adapalene gel in the treatment of actinic keratoses and solar lentigines.Results: Of the 90 Caucasian patients (69 male, 21 female; mean age 63.1 years) who were enrolled into the study, 83 patients completed 9 months of treatment. With adapalene gel 0.1% and 0.3%, the mean number of actinic keratoses was reduced by 0.5 ± 0.9 (mean ± SE) and 2.5 ± 0.9, respectively. Whereas, with the vehicle gel, there was an increase of 1.5 ± 1.3 (P < .05). After 1 month of treatment, the patients who received adapalene had significant lightening of solar lentigines as compared with the patients who were treated with vehicle gel (P < .05). After 9 months, 57% and 59% of the patients had lighter lesions in the adapalene 0.1% and 0.3% groups, respectively, in comparison with only 36% in the vehicle group (P < .05). Histologic evaluations revealed improved cellular atypia and reduced epidermal melanin in adapalene-, as compared with vehicle-treated group. The differences, however, were not statistically significant. A retrospective evaluation of paired clinical photographs (before and after 9-month treatment) by 2 dermatologists who were treatment-blinded revealed significant improvement in wrinkles and other clinical features of photoaged skin with adapalene as compared with its vehicle. Conclusion: Adapalene gel 0.1% and 0.3% were well tolerated and improved actinic keratoses, solar lentigines, and other features of photodamaged skin. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;49:83-90.)
Happy reading!
Edited by zoolander, 17 August 2008 - 07:24 AM.
