Treatment of Some Dermatoses by Local Injection of Vitamin A

Abstract

Despite a voluminous literature on the role of vitamin A in the biochemistry of the skin there are few reports of histologic studies of human epidermis after local injection of vitamin A and the effect of local injections in treatment of certain dermatoses. These considerations are the purpose of this study. Methods and Materials A commercial vitamin A palmitate solution (Keramin)^* especially formulated for injection of cutaneous lesions was employed. This solution has an activity of 50,000 U.S.P. units per cubic centimeter in a vehicle consisting of 11% polysorbate 80, U.S.P. (solubilizing agent), 0.4% dl-alpha-tocopherol, N.F., 0.03% butylatedhydroxyanisole, and 0.5% chlorobutanol, U.S.P., (preservative and antioxidants). A sterile solution containing all ingredients except vitamin A was used for control injection. Effect on Normal Human Epidermis.— The normal skin of two persons was injected intracutaneously with Keramin 0.1 cc. At another site 0.1 cc. of the control solution was injected. These injections