Although wrinkles and fine lines naturally occur with aging, this does not mean you have to accept them. Skincare treatments, such as those that include retinyl palmitate, help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and maintain skin health. A topical form of vitamin A, retinyl palmitate works with skin cells as a wrinkle-fighting treatment.
Significance
Retinyl palmitate --- also called vitamin A palmitate --- is a combination of palmitic acid and retinol, or vitamin A, according to Webster's Online Dictionary. Vitamin A treats wrinkles by encouraging healthy cell growth and skin exfoliation to help skin appear younger, according to the website Smart Skin Care. Because retinyl palmitate is sold over-the-counter, it may not be as effective as prescription vitamin A remedies such as tretinoin in fighting wrinkles.
Function
In order to experience anti-wrinkle benefits, retinyl palmitate must convert to retinoic acid that skin cells use to increase collagen production to reduce wrinkles. When applied to the face, retinyl palmitate requires several chemical reactions before it can be converted to retinoic acid, according to Smart Skin Care. For this reason, your skin requires a higher concentration of retinoic acid to be an effective wrinkle fighter. However, this does not mean retinyl palmitate is not an effective wrinkle fighter. Instead, retinyl palmitate may work better as a wrinkle fighter on some people more than others, depending on how each person's skin cells break down the ingredients.
Types
Retinyl palmitate features prominently in over-the-counter anti-wrinkle skincare products. Many preparations contain retinyl palmitate, including facial moisturizers, foundation, sunscreen, under-eye creams, facial cleansers and lip gloss.
Controversy
The Environmental Working Group issued concerns about the safety of retinyl palmitate used in sunscreens after a study was published in the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" that linked retinyl palmitate to increased skin cancer risk. However, these claims were refuted in an August 2010 statement from the AAD that states there is no conclusive evidence linking retinyl palmitate as an ingredient that causes skin cancer. "Based on the current available data from in vitro, animal and human studies, there is no convincing evidence to support the notion that retinyl palmitate in sunscreens cause cancer," said Dr. Steven Q. Wang, the lead investigator in a study on retinyl palmitate's safety on the AAD's website.
Warning
Because retinyl palmitate may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, it is a good idea to wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher to protect your skin. However, retinyl palmitate is less irritating to the skin than most of its other anti-wrinkle counterparts, according to Smart Skin Care. You may experience some initial irritation when applying.
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