If you’re thinking about incorporating this tretinoin purchase in your skincare routine, you’ll must ensure you use it properly in order to avoid any unwelcome unwanted side effects. Plus, you’ll must be extra careful when out within the sun. Read on to find out why.
What is tretinoin?
Tretinoin (also known as prescription retinoids or prescription vitamin A) can be a highly potent, medical-grade topical vitamin A cream or gel. It contains retinoic acid, which is regarded as the biologically available active form of vitamin A, and will come 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 could only purchase it when you have a script coming from a doctor or dermatologist who has properly assessed your skin and deemed its use appropriate.
Tretinoin vs. Retinol: exactly what is the difference?
Tretinoin and retinol are classified as retinoids — but there are some key differences with shod and non-shod:
Tretinoin
Synthetic form of vitamin A
Only available having a prescription (classed like a medical-grade skincare product)
Highly potent
Retinol
Natural form of vitamin A
Available over-the-counter and discovered in many skincare products
Milder formulation
What is tretinoin used by?
It may seem like tretinoin just has been around the skincare radar in recent years, nevertheless it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been useful for almost fifty years. It has been found in lowering inflammation associated with acne, clear existing acne and lower the severity of outbreaks.
But treating acne isn’t tretinoin’s only benefit. A 2012 study indicates it may also be helpful for:
Improving skin and texture
Reducing the appearance of face lines and wrinkles
Reducing the appearance of dark spots on the skin
Improving premature aging of skin because of sun damage (photoaging)
Other research around the use of retinoids within the treatment of aging found that “amongst the retinoids, tretinoin possibly is regarded as the potent and certainly essentially the most widely investigated retinoid for photoaging therapy.”
How does tretinoin work?
Tretinoin operates by speeding the cellular turnover inside skin, making skin cells divide and die faster to ensure that new, healthier cells can replace them. However, to be able to stimulate this process, tretinoin must ultimately irritate your skin layer. This is why people often experience uncomfortable unwanted side effects when first by using this product.
Most people start to notice a difference in their skin after two or three weeks of utilizing the product, but it can take 6 or higher weeks for that full benefit to be seen.
Can tretinoin fade skin spots or sunspots?
Some research suggests tretinoin can fade the appearance of dark spots on your skin layer. However, everyone’s skin is different along with a topical treatment alone may not be essentially the most effective approach to fade sun spots on your face or body. This is why it’s important to consult having a dermatologist before starting any sun spot removal treatment getting personalised advice on the best approach on your skin.
Likewise, it’s important to have a thorough skin check by the melanographer or dermatologist to confirm whether the spots you would like to fade really are sunspots and not something more sinister. It can be difficult to identify the difference from the harmless sunspot as well as a potential skin cancer or melanoma so be sure to have the skin spots professionally checked before using tretinoin or other prescription retinoids.
What are the unwanted side effects of tretinoin?
Prescription retinoids like tretinoin are extremely powerful. This means you must use them properly underneath the guidance of one's dermatologist or doctor — or you may 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 epidermis needs time to adjust to the active ingredients. Some other common side effects of tretinoin include mild to moderate:
Skin redness or inflammation
Dryness
Peeling or flaking
Itching
However, most people notice a reduction in these negative effects after a few weeks of using the product.
Tretinoin photosensitivity: Why you have to be extra careful within the sun when using this product
Another unwanted effect associated with the using tretinoin is photosensitisation. This means commemorate you more sensitive to sunlight’s harmful UV rays and you might burn easily when exposed to sunlight.
From a skin cancer prevention perspective, this might be problematic. One of the key risk factors for skin cancer is often 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 likelihood of skin cancer, it’s crucial which you take extra precautions with sun protection when utilizing this product.
How to protect the skin from the sun when utilizing tretinoin:
Avoid excessive sun exposure — do not make use of this product if you work outdoors or spend considerable time out in the sun
Wear SPF 50+ sunscreen every day — even in case you’re only staying indoors as indirect sunlight through windows can certainly still damage or burn the skin
Wear sun protective clothing when outdoors
Make regular skin checks part of your skincare routine
At MoleMap, we agree that looking after your skin is often a top priority. But when it comes to your skin layer health, we encourage you to definitely think beyond skincare products and start making regular skin cancer checks part of your skin layer wellness routine too.
By having a professional skin check or mole check every 6 to twelve months, you’ll give yourself the top chance to catch any suspicious spots or lesions early. Plus, you’ll also enjoy 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.