Tretinoin can indeed make your skin look younger since it works by increasing cell turnover, boosting collagen production, and reducing the breakdown of collagen. These actions help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, improve tone and skin texture, and promote a more youthful complexion.
In fact, the skin isn't getting worse but the initial period of adjustment may include skin dryness, flaking or irritation makes it look rougher. This then makes the skin look more aged or tired. Potential for Long-term Damage: If you don't use Tretinoin properly then you can damage the skin under your eyes.
The bottom line. Retin-A (tretinoin) is a topical medication that's effective for the treatment of acne, wrinkles, and skin damage from the sun. It starts working within the first few weeks of treatment for acne, but can take 3 to 6 months for wrinkles.
The skin will be more prone to sunburn, dryness, or irritation, especially during the first 2 or 3 weeks. However, you should not stop using this medicine unless the skin irritation becomes too severe.
The Wrinkle Worsening Myth
Here's the tea: Retinol does NOT make your wrinkles worse. But (and it's a big but), it can sometimes make your skin look worse before it gets better. When you first start using retinol, it's literally speeding up the process of cell turnover.
Retinol Banned in The E.U. Legislation to limit Retinol concentrations in over-the-counter skincare and body care throughout Europe was slated to go into effect at the end of 2023. However, the actual adoption will now be in June 2024, with a grace period of 18-36 months to allow the countries in the E.U.
Dr. Mohta says that tretinoin can be used long term, even your entire life, as tretinoin is commonly used for the treatment of acne, fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Dr. Mohta, also says that it may be necessary to use tretinoin for a few weeks before you can notice changes in your skin.
Tretinoin peeling is a side effect many people experience, especially in the first few weeks of using this medication. Tretinoin (Retin-A) can help reduce acne and brighten skin, but it also speeds up the skin's natural exfoliation process, resulting in dry and flaky skin.
Retinoids have been implicated in causing mild-to-moderate elevations in routine liver tests, but these elevations are usually asymptomatic and transient, resolving spontaneously even with continued therapy.
Unlike over-the-counter anti-aging products, tretinoin has anti-aging ingredients that go deep beneath the outer portion of the skin to the epidermis. It boosts the production of new collagen in around six months, resulting in smoother, younger-looking skin.
Three inexpensive moisturizers that our physicians love are Vanicream Daily Facial Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid, Neutrogena Hydroboost Gel, and The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum. All three of these are affordable, non-comedogenic,and blend well with tretinoin.
When you first start using tretinoin, you may start with a lower percentage that you apply just two or three times a week. After two weeks, if your skin is adjusting well to the tretinoin, you can consider increasing use to every night as tolerated.
Tretinoin does not cause wrinkles under the eyes, on the contrary, it is known for its ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Tretinoin has proven itself to reduce, reverse and prevent wrinkles. (The younger a person starts using it, meaning in their teens and twenties, the more benefits they receive. But, it's never too late to start using it!) Tretinoin helps lighten and prevent age spots.
The skin on the neck is thinner and more sensitive, so it may not tolerate tretinoin well, causing irritation. However, if you want to address signs of ageing on your neck, you may benefit from using tretinoin there. To avoid irritation, start with a lower frequency on your neck and build up as your skin tolerates it.
After 6 months or more of tretinoin therapy, some of the sagging skin, especially in the periorbital area, may begin to tighten. The greatest improvement will occur during the first 12 months of therapy^ with only minimal improvement thereafter.
Option one: The sandwich technique
After washing your face, apply a layer of moisturiser. Allow it to dry down for 5-10 minutes. Then, apply a pea-sized amount of tretinoin to your entire face. Allow this to dry down for 5-10 minutes.
Signs you should stop using tretinoin
It's normal to experience some dryness, peeling, and irritation—maybe even some purging—as you adjust to using tretinoin. But if the side effects become severe or don't go away, it might be time to hit pause and give your skin a breather.
Topical tretinoin stimulates epidermal proliferation and differentiation by upregulating heparin binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), which causes increased exfoliation and thickening of the epidermis.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever; weight gain; swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; shortness of breath; labored breathing; wheezing; chest pain; or cough.
Dubbed the fountain of youth, tretinoin is considered the benchmark ingredient for youthful, clear skin. Though tretinoin has been more in the background compared to the ease of getting other OTC anti-aging retinols, the superstar powerhouse has seen a rise in popularity.
Bakuchiol extract comes from the Babchi plant, known for its purple blossoms and its use in Chinese and Indian medicine. The extract can be found in daily moisturizers, serums and creams. “Bakuchiol is often used as a gentler alternative to retinol.
This CeraVe serum retinol percentage is 0.3% encapsulated retinol..."
But, it does have its drawbacks. Retinol might cause your skin to peel and become flaky, dry, and irritated. You might even breakout.