If you’re thinking about incorporating this tretinoin purchase into the skincare routine, you’ll have to be sure you use it properly to avoid any unwelcome negative effects. Plus, you’ll have to be extra careful when out in the sun. Read on to learn why.
What is tretinoin?
Tretinoin (also called prescription retinoids or prescription vitamin A) is a highly potent, medical-grade topical vitamin A cream or gel. It contains retinoic acid, which is among the most biologically available active kind of vitamin A, and is available in different formula strengths.
Unlike retinol and other over-the-counter versions of vitamin A, tretinoin is a prescription-only topical treatment. This means you is only able to purchase it when you have a script from the doctor or dermatologist who's properly assessed the skin and deemed its use appropriate.
Tretinoin vs. Retinol: exactly what is the difference?
Tretinoin and retinol tend to be classified as retinoids — but there are some key differences bewteen barefoot and shoes:
Tretinoin
Synthetic type of vitamin A
Only available using a prescription (classed as being a medical-grade skincare product)
Highly potent
Retinol
Natural form of vitamin A
Available over-the-counter and found in many skincare products
Milder formulation
What is tretinoin used by?
It may seem like tretinoin has only been on the skincare radar in recent years, nonetheless it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been used for almost 50 years. It continues to be found in lessening inflammation associated with acne, clear existing acne reducing the severity of outbreaks.
But treating acne isn’t tretinoin’s only benefit. A 2012 study indicates it can also be helpful for:
Improving skin tone and texture
Reducing the appearance of face lines and wrinkles
Reducing the appearance of liver spots on your skin layer
Improving premature aging of skin on account of sun damage (photoaging)
Other research for the use of retinoids inside treatment of aging of the skin found that “amongst the retinoids, tretinoin possibly is among the most potent and certainly essentially the most widely investigated retinoid for photoaging therapy.”
How does tretinoin work?
Tretinoin functions speeding the cellular turnover within the skin, making skin cells divide and die faster so that new, healthier cells can replace them. However, in order to stimulate this procedure, tretinoin must ultimately irritate skin. This is why people often experience uncomfortable negative effects when first using this product.
Most people start noticing a difference in their skin after two or three weeks of utilizing the product, nonetheless it can take 6 or even more weeks to the full benefit to appear.
Can tretinoin fade skin spots or sunspots?
Some research suggests tretinoin can fade the appearance of liver spots on your skin. However, everyone’s skin is different plus a topical treatment alone may not be probably the most effective approach to fade sun spots on the face or body. This is why it’s important to consult having a dermatologist before starting any sun spot removal treatment to get personalised advice about the best approach on your skin.
Likewise, it’s important to have a thorough skin check with a melanographer or dermatologist to confirm whether or not the spots you wish to fade are indeed sunspots and not something more sinister. It can be difficult to spot the difference between a harmless sunspot and a potential skin cancer or melanoma so make sure to have the skin spots professionally checked before using tretinoin or other prescription retinoids.
What are the unwanted effects of tretinoin?
Prescription retinoids like tretinoin are extremely powerful. This means you must make use of them properly beneath the guidance of one's dermatologist or doctor — or you can risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or possibly a damaged skin barrier.
Due to its potency, tretinoin might cause some skin irritation when you begin using it as your skin layer needs time for it to adjust on the active ingredients. Some other common unwanted effects of tretinoin include mild to moderate:
Skin redness or inflammation
Dryness
Peeling or flaking
Itching
However, most people notice a reduction in these unwanted side effects after a few weeks of employing the product.
Tretinoin photosensitivity: Why you'll want to be extra careful within the sun when you use this product
Another complication associated with the use of tretinoin is photosensitisation. This means commemorate you more sensitive to sunlight’s harmful UV rays and you could burn easily when encountered with sunlight.
From a skin cancer prevention perspective, this can be problematic. One of the key risk factors for skin cancer is a history of sunburn so it’s easy to understand why photosensitivity from tretinoin is concerning. While there is currently no evidence to suggest tretinoin use increases your risk of skin cancer, it’s crucial which you take extra precautions with sun protection when using this product.
How to protect your skin layer from the sun when you use tretinoin:
Avoid excessive sun exposure — do not use this product should you work outdoors or spend a lot of time out in the sun
Wear SPF 50+ sunscreen every day — even in the event you’re only staying indoors as indirect sunlight through windows can continue to damage or burn your skin layer
Wear sun protective clothing when outdoors
Make regular skin checks part of the skincare routine
At MoleMap, we agree that looking after your skin is often a top priority. But when it comes to your skin health, we encourage you to definitely think beyond skincare products and begin making regular skin cancer checks part of the skin wellness routine too.
By having a professional skin check or mole check every 6 to 12 months, you’ll give yourself the best chance to catch any suspicious spots or lesions early. Plus, you’ll also love peace of mind that you just’re keeping the skin safe — inside and out. Consider scheduling these regular checks at MoleMap Australia Skin Cancer Clinics for expert care and thorough examination.