The use of retinol has grown so much in recent years that it is now ubiquitous in skin care. Even those who did not use it immediately are fascinated by the well-known ingredient. If you're wondering if it's time to add retinol to your skincare routine, read on.
What is retinol?
Retinol is one of the most popular ingredients in skin care products. Retinol, in its over-the-counter variant of retinoids, is made from vitamin A. Retinol is most commonly used to treat acne and problems with mature-looking skin.
How is retinol used in skin care?
Retinol promotes the formation of skin cells (proliferation). It helps in cleaning the pores. In addition, retinol exfoliates your skin and promotes collagen synthesis, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and give your skin a younger, plumper appearance.
Since retinol is a topical medication, apply it directly to your skin. There are numerous types of different brands of retinol, such as:
Creams
Sera
In addition, retinol can also be found in the form of gels, lotions, and ointments, and is occasionally found in cosmetics. Although retinol starts working in your cells immediately, it takes a few weeks before you notice a difference in the texture and appearance of his skin.
What are the benefits of retinol?
Retinol's main benefit lies in this vitamin's ability to treat a variety of skin conditions.
Studies have shown that topical retinoids can be used to treat stretch marks, acne and acne scars. Retinol also has anti-aging properties. Retinol is particularly beneficial for the following problems:
AcneA common skin problem is acne. You can get blackheads, comedones, or other types of pimples when your pores become clogged with dead skin cells and/or oils. Retinol prevents pores from becoming clogged and is therefore effective against acne.
Acne scarringAcne scars are caused by inflammation and damage. As your acne heals, red or dark spots may form on your skin. These spots can persist for a few weeks. Also, picking pimples worsens the skin's condition and can leave scars that last a lifetime.Topically applied retinol treatments can help reduce the inflammation and edema associated with breakouts and prevent new breakouts. However, severe acne scars that are raised or sunken do not usually respond well to topical retinol treatment.
Dark spotsYour skin can be damaged by the sun and develop dark spots (hyperpigmentation). Your face, hands, neck, or arms may have light to dark brown spots caused by a buildup of the pigment melanin, which gives your skin its color (pigment).These spots -- also known as liver spots, age spots, and sun spots -- aren't painful, but there are surgical procedures and topical treatments you can try if you don't like the way the spots look.Although it can be irritating and lasts for months, some people find that topical retinol lightens their skin patches. If you're concerned about dark spots, see a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in skin conditions).
Large poresA pore is an opening in the top layer of skin that allows oils and body hair to enter. your pores enlarge and become more prominent when they are clogged with dead skin cells or oil.Topically applied retinol reduces the appearance of large pores by promoting skin cell turnover, which tightens the skin, and inhibiting the growth of clogged pores.
Kaposi's sarcoma lesionsThe rare disease Kaposi's sarcoma can affect people with a weakened immune system. Dark, flat, or wavy patches or spots often develop in Kaposi's sarcoma patients. The spots can be blue, black, pink, red, or purple in color.A retinoid called allitretinoin can inhibit the development of Kaposi's sarcoma cells. Your doctor may advise you to apply alitretinoin gel to your Kaposi's sarcoma lesions to slow their growth, even if it's not treating cancer.
MelasmaAnother common skin condition, called melasma, causes dark spots on sun-exposed skin. When you're exposed to light, heat, and certain hormone levels, you develop more melanin, resulting in those flat, freckle-like patches of light brown, dark brown, or blue-gray skin.Melasma is most common during pregnancy. Before using any oral, topical, or dietary supplements during pregnancy, you should consult your doctor. A topical retinoid (tretinoin) can help fade melasma spots when you're not pregnant.
PsoriasisPsoriasis is a skin condition that develops when new skin cells grow too quickly due to irritation. The rash becomes thick, scaly, and pink or scarlet as the new cells accumulate.Topical retinol reduces inflammation and slows skin cell proliferation, which may help with the rash. Your doctor will usually advise you to take retinol in conjunction with topical steroids as it can also aggravate your skin.
Stretch marksStretch marks are scars that form when our skin stretches due to pregnancy, weight gain, rapid muscle growth, or significant weight loss. They are initially pink, red or purple and gradually fade to silver or white.Topical retinol can help make stretch marks less noticeable, but before taking it while pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor first.
WrinklesYour skin can become wrinkled for a variety of reasons. As you age, your skin cells divide more slowly. The middle layer of skin, the dermis, becomes thinner, making it harder to retain moisture and reducing elastin and collagen.By reducing collagen breakdown and increasing your skin's elasticity, tretinoin and tazarotene can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It usually takes many months to see improvement after using topical retinol.
What types of retinol are there?
Retinol comes in different forms to meet the needs of your skin. Common types of retinol include the following:
Adapalene: Acne is treated with adapalene. Adapalene belongs to a group of medicines known as retinoid-like compounds. It works by preventing acne from growing beneath the surface of the skin.
Alitretinoin: When oral or intravenous therapy is not required, alitretinoin is used topically to treat Kaposi's sarcoma.
Bexarotene: Bexarotene, a retinoid analogue, is used to treat the skin symptoms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).
Tazarotene: Psoriasis is treated with topical gel and cream formulations of Tazarotene.
Tretinoin: According to his doctor's recommendations, retinol is used to treat skin conditions such as acne. It works in part by maintaining clear skin pores.
How to use retinol on face?
Before using a retinol product for the first time, do a patch test on a small area of skin to rule out side effects. You can include retinol in your nightly skincare routine if your skin tag isn't overly red or itchy after a few days.
Follow the directions on the bottle or your doctor's advice when using retinol. Below are the general steps
Use a light cleanser on your skin, then pat dry. Avoid exfoliating while using retinol products.
Apply retinol to your entire face (except your mouth, nose and eyes) in a thin layer. Use a dose about the size of a pea.
Only apply retinol every other day for the first few weeks of treatment.
Apply a facial moisturizer that won't clog your pores to complete the treatment.
It is widely accepted that retinoids benefit both aging and acne-prone skin. The most commonly used and most readily available form of retinoid for skin care is retinol. However, it may take a few months before you notice any effects if you use it consistently. Before purchasing any particular retinol product, you should speak to a dermatologist. He can give you an insightful opinion, especially if the dermatologist already knows your skin well.