However, it takes three to six months of regular use before improvements in wrinkles are apparent—and the best results take six to 12 months.
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.
Retinoids not only reverse the signs of natural aging, but they can also repair sun damage on the skin. Retinoids have been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, smooth the skin and even the tone. Retinol, retinyl palmitate and retinoic acid are all types of retinoids.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends starting an anti-aging treatment like retinol in your 20s. “Because retinol is a preventative measure, you don't have to wait until you're actually noticing signs of aging—like fine lines or crow's feet—to start using it,” Dr. Schlessinger says.
Going overboard on the potent ingredient (known to cause irritation and dryness at high concentrations) can dry out your skin and make your wrinkles look more noticeable, says Rebecca Kazin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, D.C. Avoid this side ...
Begin in Your Mid 20s or Early 30s
"Your mid-twenties are a great time to start using retinol," says Ellen Marmur, M.D. "Many patients who have used it for years swear by it."
There are no set rules on how old you should be to use retinol. For anti-aging purposes, you can start preventatively in your 20s. While over-the-counter retinol can help mild acne, many people with breakouts will need a prescription.
“Retinol is safe to use for men or women in their 20s to help boost collagen and reduce signs of premature aging, such as creepiness, age spots, and fine lines.” Shani agrees.
If you stop retinol and do not begin a prescription retinoid, the benefit of preventing acne will go away. The skin cycle of cells being “born” at the base of the skin and moving to the top, dying and desquamating into the surrounding environment takes about 4-6 weeks.
Yes, you definitely can use retinol.
As for the claim that a cream or lotion can lift sagging skin, dermatologists say that's not possible. A cream or lotion cannot penetrate the skin deeply enough to do this. Still, you may see a small change if a product contains a retinoid, such as retinol, which can help your body make more collagen.
Retinol is just one ingredient that can help clear and plump your skin. It can take several weeks before you'll start to see results from retinol, and your skin may look worse before it gets better, so try not to get discouraged. Start slowly and increase your use of retinol gradually.
Can Retinol Damage the Skin? You may have heard that extended retinol use can cause the skin to thin and the skin barrier to degrade as a result of increased cell turnover, but Shah says that's a myth. You don't need to worry about retinol causing permanent damage, Schlessinger says.
A non-irritating retinoid
In the evening, beginners in their 40s should incorporate a retinol into their regimen to enhance cellular turnover (which slows as we age) and to help increase collagen and elasticity in the skin, which also more rapidly declines in this decade. Board certified dermatologist, Dr.
But 40 is definitely not 'too old' to start using retinol. Start with a percentage of 0.3 and use it only 1-2 times a week. You can move on to 0.5 and then up to 1% when your skin is ready, but not on the first use.
Retinol is also one of the best ways to “reduce the appearance of fine lines, crow's feet, and wrinkles,” says Henry. It's a must in your 50s if you haven't already been using it. Engelman says prescription-strength retinols are “vital” at this stage.
Retinol is unsafe for use in the sun
Retinol has been shown to increase the sensitivity of the skin to sun, meaning that using retinol in the sun (especially without sunscreen) can make the skin more susceptible to sun damage and be at increased risk of skin cancer development.
Retinol significantly decreased both hormone levels, however retinoic acid decreased the progesterone level only.
The good news is that it is never too late to start incorporating retinol into your skin care routine.
In your 30s, you should absolutely be using a retinol. Retinol is the ultimate anti-aging product, as it helps even skin tone, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and increases firmness! Apply a pea-sized amount to clean, dry skin every other night.
In your 30s, you can start by using over-the-counter retinol like the RoC serum once or twice a week, gradually building up to three or four nights a week. "Once you have been using it for six to nine months, you can transition into a prescription retinoid," says Rouleau.
Baldwin recommends, “all ages should use a topical retinoid in the evening for cosmetic effect and to reduce the advent of skin cancer.” In sum, Baldwin says, “start protection now, and be obsessive/compulsive about sunscreen use, antioxidants, and topical retinoids.”
"If you have dry, irritated skin that is lacking in moisture, choosing a product with hyaluronic acid would be my recommendation," Hartman says. "Anyone with acne-prone skin, or someone who is looking to even out tone and fine lines and wrinkles would benefit from using retinol."
Should you use retinol under your eyes? Yes, definitely. While it is true that retinol – a form of vitamin A – is a powerful ingredient and the skin under your eyes is delicate, there's no reason why you should miss out on the amazing benefits of retinol.
Retinoids reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen. They also stimulate the production of new blood vessels in the skin, which improves skin color.