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Topical Retinoids and Cosmeceuticals: Where Is the Scientific Evidence to Recommend Products to Patients?

  • Cosmetic Dermatology (JF Sobanko, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Vitamin A and its derivatives have long been purported to support healthy skin. This has naturally led to their appearance in over-the-counter (OTC) products that fall under the umbrella term “cosmeceuticals,” a term used to describe OTC cosmetic products with biologically active ingredients. The lure of these products includes their accessibility and the claims made by marketing campaigns that tap into the psyche of the consumer. Compared to prescription retinoids, however, the scientific evidence behind the efficacy of retinol-containing cosmeceuticals is less abundant. Here, we review the relevant scientific data to date regarding the use of retinols and retinoids for photoaging, dyspigmentation, and acne.

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Conflict of Interest

Shauna Higgins and Naissan O. Wesley declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Shauna Higgins

  2. Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills, 9201 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 602, Los Angeles, CA, 90069, USA

    Naissan O. Wesley

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Naissan O. Wesley

Authors
  1. Shauna Higgins
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  2. Naissan O. Wesley
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Correspondence to Naissan O. Wesley.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cosmetic Dermatology

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Higgins, S., Wesley, N.O. Topical Retinoids and Cosmeceuticals: Where Is the Scientific Evidence to Recommend Products to Patients?. Curr Derm Rep 4, 56–62 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13671-015-0102-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13671-015-0102-9

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