Facial skin aging is a complex and multifactorial process combining extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Major extrinsic factors include sun exposure and smoking while intrinsic factors are believed to be genetically programmed.~Changes in the dermis are responsible for many of the important clinical changes associated with skin aging. With age there is a decrease in the number of fibroblasts and a decrease in their ability to synthesize collagen which results in a decrease in collagen I and II. This is coupled with an increase in matrix metalloproteinases activity. Skin biopsies from elderly volunteers show changes in collagen bundles which become fragmented and disorganized as well as in elastin fibers which are decreased. Changes also occur in the epidermis including a decrease in epidermal thickness and a change in the morphology of keratinocytes of the basal layer. Clinically these changes result in skin atrophy, increased skin laxity, wrinkling, sagging, yellowness and changes in pigmentation.~Redermic is a cosmetic cream containing vitamin C and madecassoside. A preliminary 20 subject split face study has shown that this product was well tolerated and could improve signs of skin aging. To evaluate changes in skin aging this study used a clinical evaluation of the face, skin hydration, the fringe technique, skin biopsies and skin elasticity measurements. The investigators did not perform transepidermal water loss (TEWL), facial skin evaluation using a photonumeric guideline, evaluation of photoaging by panel of blinded dermatologists or skin replica evaluations. There is no data on the combination of Redermic with tretinoin or on the safety and efficacy of Redermic as compared to topical tretinoin.~Rejuva is a cream currently approved by Health Canada for the treatment of photodamaged skin. It contains 0.025% tretinoin one of the most widely studied topical product for skin aging. Studies have shown that topical tretinoin increases collagen synthesis and epidermal thickness thereby improving the appearance of skin aging. The efficacy of Rejuva combined with another topical cosmetic cream such as Redermic in the treatment of skin aging is unknown.~The main objective of this single-blind study was to assess efficacy of the anti aging effect and the tolerance of Redermic alone compared to Rejuva-A™ (0.025% tretinoin) alone or in combination with Rejuva-A™ (0.025% tretinoin).~One hundred and twenty (120) subjects with signs of skin aging participated in this single-blind study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of Redermic versus Rejuva-A™ (0.025% tretinoin) and Redermic in combination with Rejuva-A™ (0.025% tretinoin). Subjects were randomized (1:1:1) in three groups of forty (40), and were asked to apply study product to the face (except to eyelids, nostrils and other mucous membranes) for 24 weeks.
Facial skin aging is a complex process combining factors such as sun exposure, smoking and those that are believed to be inherited. Changes in the skin over time including decreased thickness result in skin atrophy, wrinkling, sagging, yellowness and changes in pigmentation. Redermic is a cosmetic cream that has been evaluated clinically but not in comparison to tretinoin nor in combination with tretinoin. There is no data on the safety and efficacy of Redermic as compared to topical tretinoin.~Rejuva is a cream currently approved by Health Canada for the treatment of photodamaged skin. It contains 0.025% tretinoin one of the most widely studied topical product for skin aging. Studies have shown that topical tretinoin increases collagen synthesis and epidermal thickness thereby improving the appearance of skin aging. The efficacy of Rejuva combined with another topical cosmetic cream such as Redermic in the treatment of skin aging is unknown.~One hundred and twenty (120) subjects with signs of skin aging participated in this single-blind study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of Redermic versus Rejuva-A™ (0.025% tretinoin) and Redermic in combination with Rejuva-A™ (0.025% tretinoin).