Evidence recordApplied to skin
Retinol (over the counter)
Answer
Studied in relation to fine lines and surface texture, with results that vary a lot between trials.
Check the formulaEvidence grade
Limited
The record is early, small, indirect, mixed or tightly tied to one formulation.
Where it stops
Retinol is not the same molecule as prescription tretinoin and the evidence is not the same either. Trials are small, formulations differ, and an over the counter product is not required to state how much retinol it contains.
Sources
Sources · 2
Source 1
J Clin Aesthet Dermatol, 2021- Design
- Systematic review of nine randomized trials
- Measured outcome
- fine facial wrinkles
Finding
Systematic review of nine randomised trials: four found no significant difference between retinol and vehicle. The five that did gave weak evidence for a mild effect on fine wrinkle lines only, with major methodological flaws.
Source 2
Arch Dermatol, 2007- Design
- Vehicle-controlled trial
- Participants
- 36
- Duration
- 24 weeks
- Reported numbers
- 0.4%
- Measured outcome
- fine wrinkles, skin matrix synthesis
- Studied formulation
- 0.4% retinol lotion
Finding
Vehicle-controlled trial of 0.4% retinol in ARM skin, 24 weeks, in 36 residents of two senior citizen facilities, mean age 87: fine wrinkle scores improved against vehicle (-1.64 vs -0.08, P<.001), with higher glycosaminoglycan and procollagen I expression.