Lipidic furans and retinol palmitate compositions useful for skin therapeutics

A method for enhancing the metabolism of skin and mucosal tissue and thereby improving its health and appearance, comprising the step of topically administering to a person's skin in an appropriate carrier vehicle a lipidic furaris at a concentration range of approximately 3%. in combination with retinol palmirate at a concentration range of approximately 0.1 to 0.5%, said lipidic furans having the following general formula:

• ##STR7## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of one of a straight C.sub.9-36 alkyl chain, having the formula --(C.sub.2).sub.n CH.sub.3, wherein n=8 to 35;
• a straight unsaturated alkenyl C.sub.9-36 chain with a single double bond, of the formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CH.dbd.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.m --CH.sub.3, wherein n and m=0 and n+m=7 to 34, a straight saturated C.sub.9-36 chain, containing two to six double bonds, with the formula CH.sub.3 --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --(CH.dbd.CH).sub.x --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --, wherein m, x and n=0, and m+2x+n=8 to 35;
• a straight unsaturated chain, having the formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.2).sub.6 --CH.sub.3, a straight unsaturated C.sub.9-36 chain containing one to six double bonds and one triple bond, having the formula CH.sub.3 --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --C.tbd.CH--(CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2).sub.x --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --, wherein m, x and n=0 and m+3x+n=6 to 33, a straight unsaturated chain C.sub.9-36 containing one to six double bonds and two to six triple bonds, having the structure CH.sub.3 --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --(C.tbd.C--CH.sub.2).sub.y --(CH.dbd.C--CH.sub.2).sub.x --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --, wherein m, y, x and n=o and m+3y+3x+n=8 to 35.