Topical agents containing phytanic acid or a derivative thereof

The invention relates to agents for topical administration of a compound of formula (I): (CH3)2CH-(CH2)3-CH(CH3)-(CH2)3-CH(CH3)-(CH2)3-C(A)(CH3)-C(B)2-C(O)-R, wherein R represents hydrogen, OR1, N(OH)R1 or NR2R3; R1, R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen C1-C22-alkyl, C1-C22-alkenyl, C7-C12-arylalkyl (particularly benzyl, phenethyl and phenylpropyl), retinyl, tocopheryl, ascorbyl or a radical stemming from an amino acid or a peptide and A and B represent hydrogen atoms or A and a radical B form a double bond and the other radical B represents a hydrogen atom or radical A represents a hydrogen atom and the radicals B together form an oxygen atom or one of the radicals B represents a hydroxyl group and the other radical B and radical A represent hydrogen atoms. Said agents contain a compound of formula (I) and a pharmaceutically and/or cosmetically acceptable carrier provided that the agent does not contain any retinoids.