Comparative effect of short-term topical tretinoin and glycolic acid on mechanical properties of photodamaged facial skin in HRT-treated menopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
Cutaneous intrinsic ageing has been shown to be improved by hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Photoageing is, however, unresponsive to such treatment. The present double-blind study was undertaken to compare the beneficial effect of a 1-month topical treatment with 0.05% all-trans-retinoic acid or 6% glycolic acid.


METHODS
Biomechanical properties were measured on facial skin of HRT-treated menopausal women using both topical products on the hemifaces for 1 month.


RESULTS
Skin elasticity proved to be significantly higher at the tretinoin-treated site than at the glycolic acid-treated site.


CONCLUSIONS
Objective non-invasive measurements of the biomechanical properties of facial skin show the superiority of retinoic acid over glycolic acid in improving a deleterious effect of ageing.
Piérard
G E
GE
Department of Dermatopathology, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium.
Henry
F
F
Piérard-Franchimont
C
C
D000287:Administration, Topical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006016:Glycolates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008524:Medrogestone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D006016:Glycolates; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D008524:Medrogestone; C031149:glycolic acid; D014212:Tretinoin