Apply Retin-A in a thin layer at night. A small amount goes a long way. Using more will not get you better or faster results.
To maximize your results from tretinoin and reduce your risk of side effects, it's best to pick a moisturizer that's 100 percent free of alcohol, benzoyl peroxide, artificial fragrances, salicylic acid or any other peeling agent or ingredient that has irritated your skin in the past.
Unless your dermatologist prescribes more, stick to formulas with 1% retinol or less. According to Dr. Emer, "You may want 0.25% when first starting out, then increase slowly to 0.5 and then to 1.0 overtime. Switch up strengths every two to four weeks when exfoliation and irritation are tolerable."
Steps for applying tretinoin
Gently apply to the specific areas on your skin where you need it to work. The medication should fade into your skin right away. If it doesn't, try using a little less the next day. Keep in mind that using a larger amount of tretinoin or using it more often won't make it work faster.
Many tretinoin users experience a “purge” during the first several weeks of treatment. During this period, acne — the very problem tretinoin is supposed to treat — often gets worse, resulting in everything from the occasional whitehead to severe breakouts.
"You can use tretinoin or [over-the-counter] retinols forever."
For the purposes of skin care, tretinoin can be thought of as a more concentrated version of retinol. This means that tretinoin is stronger than retinol. This difference in strength can help guide your decision-making when it comes to choosing a skin care product. Your skin is affected by more than what you put on it.
In the US, the strongest tretinoin cream on the market contains . 1% tretinoin, or one unit of tretinoin per 100 units. The weakest cream contains . 005% tretinoin, or approximately 5% as much tretinoin as the strongest .
While prescription-strength retinoids may have an effect in a matter of weeks, it can take up to 6 months for OTC retinols to produce the same results. You may notice a difference in conditions like acne after 12 weeks, but sun damage and signs of aging can take much, much longer to improve.
Use a Niacinamide Treatment
Adding a product containing niacinamide can also help to alleviate the effects of the purge. Niacinamide helps to reduce inflammation and brightens the skin, and it can work really well alongside tretinoin.
As a result of its effects on your skin's cellular turnover speed, tretinoin reduces the appearance of wrinkles, evens out your skin's pigmentation and also treats skin issues such as acne. The end result is smoother, younger looking skin that's much less affected by fine lines, wrinkles or other common signs of aging.
First, the answer is yes, retinol can make wrinkles worse, especially when you first start using it. What is happening is a drying effect, and one can get epidermal sliding from separation from the dermis.
The truth: You can use vitamin C with retinol and retinoids. Get them as separate products so you can tailor the concentration of each and use them at the right time of day. Although vitamin C can be used day or night, it is ideal for daytime use, while retinol and retinoids should be applied at night.
Retinoids work best if you use them daily. Specifically, they should be used at night because some types are deactivated by light and air. It's important to start slowly and allow your skin time to adjust. Using too much too quickly can cause redness, dryness, and irritation.
Additionally, Retin-A comes in a variety of strengths such as 0.25% (the lowest), 0.5% and 1.0 % (the strongest). You'll definitely want to start using the lowest dose once or twice a week.
It may seem surprising, but even small percentages of retinol can benefit your skin. Percentages of 0.01% retinol or greater are proven to be effective at improving multiple signs of ageing, reducing pore size and improving the overall health of your skin.
SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 Maximum Strength Refining Night Cream contains a concentration of 1% retinol, making it one of the more potent over-the-counter formulas on our list.
Retin-A contains the active ingredient, Tretinoin, a naturally occurring form of vitamin A. It works by speeding up the skin's metabolism to promote cellular turnover. It increases the production of elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturizer in the skin.
3-5 DAYS BEFORE PROCEDURE: Avoid topical products such as Tretinoin (Retin-A), Retinols, Retinoids, Glycolic Acid, Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Vitamin C, or any “anti-aging” products. Also, avoid waxing, bleaching, tweezing, or the use of hair removal cream on the area to be treated.
If you stop using the medication or are inconsistent with your treatment, any improvements you see may disappear over time. Always use the product as prescribed by your healthcare provider (Rodan, 2016).
After 4-6 weeks, your skin will get used to tretinoin and will begin to be noticeably smoother and more even. A lot of the initial irritation will settle down and true “retinization” of your skin is in full force.
Tretinoin Does Not “Bleach” Your Skin
Contrary to popular belief, tretinoin is not a “bleaching agent” or medicine designed specifically to lighten your skin tone. While tretinoin can even out patches of hyperpigmentation and cause a mild change in your skin tone, it doesn't affect melanin synthesis.
In the morning, wash your face with a mild facial scrub or rough washcloth. This will help reduce the noticeable flaking. After washing, apply a good water-based moisturizer. The moisturizer will make the drying effect of the medicine more tolerable.
“This will make your skin look older and accentuate wrinkles” — which is probably not what you're going for when you start using the stuff. And there's no question that retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun.