Following the early studies on the use of tretinoin for photoaged skin,1 there has been a massive increase in the use of topical retinoids.2 In this article, the pathways involved in retinoid metabolism will be discussed and the possible use of a new compound with a different pharmacological profile to native retinoid, will be considered.3
Essentially, retinoids are related to vitamin A and its related metabolites that activate retinoic acid receptors (RAR) which result in gene activation and the subsequent biological responses.4 The main retinoids involved in the metabolic pathway are: retinol, retinal (retinaldehyde), retinoic acid (tretinoin), and the esters – retinyl acetate and retinyl palmitate.5 These are the main retinoids that have created interest in aesthetics and will be considered here. The metabolism of these compounds in the skin is significant to understanding the…
