Knowing the different types of Vitamin A

KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VITAMIN A,
HOW THEY WORK AND WHAT THEY DO

By: James E. Fulton, Jr., M.D., Ph.D.

TYPES

Vitamin A Palmitate- The Normalizer (Street name: Retinol)

	Easily degraded by oxygen and sunlight; products not as potent.
	Large molecule can not penetrate the skin to effectively reverse photoaging.
	Longer molecular chain than Vitamin A acid, or Propionate, it has a longer reaction time.
	Used in over the counter cosmetic products.
	Originally administered internally in large doses for skin care.
	Harmful side effects – headache, fatigue, hair loss, bone pain and other toxic symptoms, when taken internally in large doses.
	If stabilized it is effective as a normalizer of dry parched skin.

Vitamin A Acid – The Irritant Co-developed by Dr. James E. Fulton, Jr. (Sold exclusively as Retin A®)

	Originally developed to treat acne, it has more recently become well known as a tool to reverse the damages of photo aging
	Causes excessive amount of cosmetically unappealing irritation, redness and peeling
	Sold by prescription only, due to unpredictable side effects which must be monitored by a doctor

Vitamin A Propionate - The Balanced Irritant. Developed and Patented by Dr. James E. Fulton, Jr. (Found exclusively in Vivant products)

	Same results as Vitamin A acid, without the excessive irritation, or unpredictable side effects
	Used for the treatment of acne and the reversal of photo aging
	Reduces the regeneration of new skin cells from 28 days to between 10 and 15 days: The short molecular chain of Vitamin A propionate means a short reaction time!
	Recent studies show that applied topically it is converted to retinoic acid which rejuvenates the skin.
	Available for both medical and esthetic use.
	What it does:
	o Gives the skin a rosy red hue
	o Increases cellular turnover
	o Increases collagen formation which plumps up the skin
	o Sloughs off damaged cells, reducing keratosis and future skin cancers
	o Reduces the thickness of the stratum corneum

HOW DOES IT WORK and WHAT DOES IT DO

How does Vitamin A work?

The Vitamin A skin conditioners work on the epidermis as well as the dermis, the deeper level of the skin that most skin products can not reach. In the epidermis, Vitamin A skin conditioners speed up the turnover of cells. Faster epidermal cell turnover means softer, smoother, fresher looking skin. The epidermis becomes more effective as a barrier to prevent harmful substances from entering, and to help it retain needed moisture. Vitamin A skin conditioners exert their profound magic in the dermis, where it effects the regulation of gene transcription that codes the rate of cell division and turnover, cell differentiation, and formation of new collagen and elastin. New collagen formation increases skin firmness while elastin formation increases elasticity.

FACT: For a new cell to form and shed off into the environment, normally takes 28 days; with Vitamin A this is shortened to between 10 and15 days.

As a result the thickness of the dermis is doubled as rejuvenated cells plump out the skin. The cell layers on the surface of the epidermis (the stratum corneum) are reduced from 14 layers of impacted cells to 8 or 9 loosely woven layers giving skin a rosy hue and healthy glow, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

With this rapid exfoliation the skin begins to function much like adolescent skin. Fine lines, blotchy skin, leathery skin texture, dryness, roughness and wrinkles are improved – giving skin a more youthful appearance. The epidermal turnover is visible in 7 to 10 days, with results becoming apparent in less than one month when used as directed.

QUESTION: How can the Vivant system replace current skin rejuvenation products?
Used alone, alphahydroxy acid products (known as AHA’s) can deliver short term benefits to the surface of the skin, working on the texture, fine lines and wrinkles. However, after 4 to 8 weeks the effects level out.

Vivant’s Vitamin A skin conditioners allow for the maintenance of the skin in its rejuvenated state over a longer period of time.

Vivant’s Vitamin A skin conditioners increase exfoliation by 20 to 40%
Greater cell turnover rate without the irritation and redness typical of prescription products, new collagen and skin cells a rosy, healthy hue and younger appearance.

THE VITAMIN A FACTOR
Vitamin A acid, now sold commercially as Retin A® was co-developed by Dr. Fulton as an acne treatment to facilitate the removal of open and closed comedones. Over the past 10 years it has also received tremendous publicity for its ability to reverse photoaging through stimulating cellular turnover in the epithelium, producing smoother softer skin.

Clinical studies indicate that Vitamin A in association with UVA and UVB protectants can play a very important role in the war against aging.

UVA and UVB screening provide the skin with protection against photo damage. Vitamin A not only protects from environmental stress, but provides the proper environment to correct existing damage.

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