title: Vitamins and photoaging: do scientific data support their use?
abstract: With the rise of the cosmeceutical industry, numerous formulations have surfaced with claims of reducing the clinical manifestations of photoaging. Many of these products capitalize on the positive connection the public makes with vitamins, especially with respect to their antioxidant capabilities. An impressive amount of basic science and clinical research has been conducted in both an attempt to discover novel strategies for preventing detrimental sun damage and to validate the addition of vitamins to skin care products. As dermatologists, it will be essential to provide our patients with substantiated counseling regarding the efficacy of commercial assertions. In this review, we will systematically examine the evidence supporting the use of vitamins in oral and topical formulations and provide a brief summary of the pathogenesis of photoaging. Limitations of this study include that there may be unpublished data or additional studies that may have been overlooked in our comprehensive review of this topic.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zussman
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahdout
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012060:Rejuvenation / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014815:Vitamins