What is the efficacy of combining retinaldehyde (RAL) and intermediate-size hyaluronate fragments (HAFi) in correcting skin photoaging?
Retinaldehyde Night Serum, studied in 1462 subjects (J Cosmet Dermatol 2011, PMID 21649816) — clinical signs of photoaging, such as elasticity (-32% and -33%), hyperpigmentation (-34% and -31%), and ptosis (-18% and -22%), significantly improved in groups 1 and 3. The study was open-label, which means participants and researchers knew which treatment was being administered, potentially introducing bias.
Source: J Cosmet Dermatol 2011, PMID 21649816 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: high
J Cosmet Dermatol · 2011 · PMID 21649816 · DOI 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2011.00552.x
A combination of retinaldehyde and hyaluronic acid fragments effectively reduces signs of skin photoaging like wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and loss of elasticity.
The question
What is the efficacy of combining retinaldehyde (RAL) and intermediate-size hyaluronate fragments (HAFi) in correcting skin photoaging?
What they tested
The combination of retinaldehyde and intermediate-size hyaluronate fragments will be effective in managing skin photoaging.
How they did it
This open, multicentric, international study involved 1462 subjects who applied either RAL 0.05%-HAFi 0.5% (group 1), RAL 0.05%-HAFi 1% (group 2), or both products (group 3) daily for 90 days. Overall photoaging severity was assessed by dermatologists using Larnier's scale at D0, D30, and D90. Wrinkles, furrows, and clinical signs of aging were evaluated using a 4-point scale, and skin microrelief of crow's feet was measured by optical profilometry in group 3.
What they found
After 3 months, overall photoaging significantly improved in all three groups. At D90, significant improvements in wrinkles were observed in groups 2 and 3, including forehead wrinkles (-19% and -10%), nasolabial folds (-20% and -16%), crow's feet (-27% in both groups), and perioral wrinkles (-34% and -23%). Clinical signs of photoaging, such as elasticity (-32% and -33%), hyperpigmentation (-34% and -31%), and ptosis (-18% and -22%), significantly improved in groups 1 and 3. Optical profilometry confirmed these results, and the products were well tolerated.
| Forehead Wrinkles (Group 2) | -19 | |
|---|---|---|
| Forehead Wrinkles (Group 3) | -10 | |
| Nasolabial Folds (Group 2) | -20 | |
| Nasolabial Folds (Group 3) | -16 | |
| Crow's Feet (Group 2) | -27 | |
| Crow's Feet (Group 3) | -27 | |
| Perioral Wrinkles (Group 2) | -34 | |
| Perioral Wrinkles (Group 3) | -23 | |
| Elasticity (Group 1) | -32 | |
| Elasticity (Group 3) | -33 | |
| Hyperpigmentation (Group 1) | -34 | |
| Hyperpigmentation (Group 3) | -31 | |
| Ptosis (Group 1) | -18 | |
| Ptosis (Group 3) | -22 |
Percentage improvement in various signs of photoaging at Day 90 across different treatment groups. Group 1 used RAL 0.05%-HAFi 0.5%, Group 2 used RAL 0.05%-HAFi 1%, and Group 3 used both products.
What it means
The combination of retinaldehyde and intermediate-size hyaluronate fragments is effective in managing aging skin, as demonstrated in a large patient cohort.
Limitations
The study was open-label, which means participants and researchers knew which treatment was being administered, potentially introducing bias.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Retinaldehyde/hyaluronic acid fragments: a synergistic association for the management of skin aging |
|---|---|
| Journal | J Cosmet Dermatol |
| Year | 2011 |
| PMID | 21649816 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2011.00552.x ↗ |
| Topic | Skin, hair & photoaging |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
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Retinaldehyde Night Serum
Randomized controlled trials of topical retinaldehyde report improvements in fine lines, skin texture and hydration and other signs of photoaging, with tolerability better than prescription retinoic acid;
Retinaldehyde (also called retinal or RAL) is a naturally occurring metabolite of vitamin A and the…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). What is the efficacy of combining retinaldehyde (RAL) and intermediate-size hyaluronate fragments (HAFi) in correcting skin photoaging? [Plain-English summary of J Cosmet Dermatol 2011, PMID 21649816, DOI 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2011.00552.x]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d21649816.html@misc{magellan_d21649816,
title = {What is the efficacy of combining retinaldehyde (RAL) and intermediate-size hyaluronate fragments (HAFi) in correcting skin photoaging?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d21649816.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 21649816; DOI 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2011.00552.x; J Cosmet Dermatol 2011. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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