FDA Science Forum In Brief
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Retinol absorption: Anti-aging ingredient retinol was found to form a rat skin reservoir both in vivo and in vitro in percutaneous absorption study, according to J.J. Yourick et al., Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition Office of Cosmetics and Colors. Method, which was outlined in poster abstract presented during 2006 FDA Science Forum in Washington, D.C. April 18-20, assesses percutaneous absorption of retinol from cosmetic formulas to predict systemic absorption and significance of the skin reservoir. Test protocol involved exposing viable skin from rats and humans to .3% retinol formulas for 24 hours or 72 hours. Results of in vitro rat skin studies revealed 23% retinol was found in skin and 6% in receptor fluid at 24 hours, while in vivo rat studies showed 4% systemic absorption of retinol after 24 hours. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel considered retinols for re-review last year, but decided not to re-open the ingredient based on safety data submitted by industry (1"The Rose Sheet" June 20, 2005, p. 3)...