Dermatologist Albert Kligman dies, research led to wrinkle drug Retin-A

Retin-A researcher Albert Kligman dies

PHILADELPHIA — Dermatologist Albert M. Kligman, whose research led to discoveries including the acne and wrinkle drug Retin-A, has died in Philadelphia. He was 93.

UCLA sociology professor Gail Kligman said her father died Feb. 9 of heart failure at Pennsylvania Hospital.

Albert Kligman is credited as being the first dermatologist to show a link between sun exposure and wrinkles. He coined the term “photoaging” to describe skin aging caused by the sun.

His pioneering work included hundreds of experiments on prisoners, however, who were paid for their participation. In 1974, the city of Philadelphia banned such testing and a few former inmates later sued, settling for sums in the $20,000 to $40,000 range.