C. Griffiths
Aug 1, 1998
Citations
0
Influential Citations
6
Citations
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Abstract
From the Section of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Manchester. Reprint requests: Christopher E.M. Griffiths, MD, FRCP, Section of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Manchester Hope Hospital, Salford M6 8HD UK. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38:S104-7.) Copyright © 1998 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. 0190-9622/98/$5.00 + 0 16/0/91118 Asian skin, particularly that of Far-East Asians (individuals of Chinese and Japanese extraction), is probably the most prevalent skin type on a worldwide basis. Far-East Asian skin is of a variable Fitzpatrick phototype, but is predominantly types 3 to 5. Photoaging, or photodamage, is particularly common in Far-East Asian skin because of the equatorial proximity of most members of these ethnic groups.1 Unlike white skin, the predominant feature of photoaging in Far-East Asian skin is that of dyspigmentation (Fig. 1).1,2 Photonumeric2 and assessment scales of photoaging in whites are heavily biased toward the presence of wrinkling. Wrinkling and other features of photoaging do occur in Far-East Asian skin but are usually late features of this condition. In Far-East Asians, actinic lentigines; flat, pigmented seborrheic keratoses; and mottled hyperpigmentation are more prevalent features of photoaging and, as a consequence, are cosmetically unacceptable. Facial melasma, which is exacerbated by solar exposure, is also more common in this group than in whites, is similar to actinic dyspigmentation, and is a significant cosmetic problem.1 Although several studies3-6 have demonstrated that topical retinoids, particularly tretinoin (alltrans-retinoic acid), alleviate the clinical features of photoaging, most of these studies have been performed with individuals of white phenotype. To date, few studies have examined the effects of topical retinoids on the clinical features of photoaging in Far-East Asians — those that have been performed are reported from Singapore,1 Taiwan,7 Hong Kong,8 the Philippines,9 Thailand,10 and with Japanese and Chinese persons living in the United States.11 This review will provide evidence for the efficacy of topical retinoids in the treatment of photoaging and dyspigmentation in these racial phenotypes.