Retinol is a gentler derivative of vitamin A and can be found in lots of over-the-counter skin care products (i.e. moisturizers, serums, eye creams). Because retinol is milder, the enzymes in our skin must first convert it into retinoic acid. Once it's been converted, then it will be become effective.
Vitamin A comes from two sources. One group, called retinoids, comes from animal sources and includes retinol. The other group, called carotenoids, comes from plants and includes beta-carotene. The body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A.
Retinol is a type of retinoid found in vitamin A. Vitamin A is composed of two parts: retinoids, which include retinol, and carotenoids which inckude beta-carotine. Retinol is a type of vitamin A found in animal products like liver, kidney, eggs, and dairy products.
Vitamin A helps form and maintain healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucus membranes, and skin. It is also known as retinol because it produces the pigments in the retina of the eye. Vitamin A promotes good eyesight, especially in low light. It also has a role in healthy pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Vitamin A. Both the upper and lower layers of skin need vitamin A. It seems to prevent sun damage by interrupting the process that breaks down collagen. Since it's an antioxidant, it may give your skin some protection against sunburn (although not as much as wearing sunscreen).
Summary: Applying vitamin A to the skin appears to improve the wrinkles associated with natural aging and may help to promote the production of skin-building compounds.
Can you put vitamin A directly on your face? A. Yes, some vitamin A supplements come in the form of capsules and can be broken and applied directly to the face. However, when it comes to topical application, it is best to consult a dermatologist before trying anything.
High intakes of preformed vitamin A in pregnant women can also cause birth defects in their babies. Women who might be pregnant should not take high doses of vitamin A supplements. Consuming high amounts of beta-carotene or other forms of provitamin A can turn the skin yellow-orange, but this condition is harmless.
Topical and oral retinoids are common prescription treatments for acne and other skin conditions, including wrinkles. Oral vitamin A is also used as a treatment for measles and dry eye in people with low levels of vitamin A. Vitamin A is also used for a specific type of leukemia.
Too much vitamin A can be harmful. Even a single large dose — over 200,000 mcg — can cause: Nausea. Vomiting.
In general, you can use both together, but if you suffer from irritated skin, then scale back the number of retinoid products that you're using, or take a break and slowly reintroduce it into your routine.
Main Differences Between Vitamin C Serum and Retinol Serum
While Vitamin C serum predominantly protects your skin from damage, retinol serum actively heals the damage on your skin. Vitamin C serum protects the collagens while the Retinol serum helps in cell turn over thereby creating new collagens.
As such, Retin-A is much more powerful than retinol. Even the lowest strength Retin-A is stronger than the highest strength retinol product. Retinol is sometimes added to over-the-counter (OTC) acne medications, but it's not an acne treatment in itself. It's used most often as an anti-ager.
Vitamin A toxicity and vitamin D
For example, too much vitamin D can deplete your vitamin A levels. It's also been postulated that vitamin A toxicity could sometimes be caused by a vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin A toxicity has been associated with birth defects, liver issues, vomiting, and lowered bone density.
The maximum daily dose relates to only pre-formed vitamin A. Pre-formed vitamin A is possibly unsafe when taken in doses greater than 10,000 units (3,000 mcg) daily. Higher doses might increase the risk of side effects. Long-term use of large amounts might cause serious side effects including mental changes.
Vitamin D is one of the best vitamins for your skin, along with vitamins C, E, and K. Making sure you get enough vitamins can keep your skin looking healthy and youthful.
Most people with vitamin A toxicity have a headache and rash. Consuming too much vitamin A over a long period of time can cause coarse hair, partial loss of hair (including the eyebrows), cracked lips, and dry, rough skin. Chronic consumption of large doses of vitamin A can cause liver damage.
Vitamin A deficiency can result from a diet low in vitamin A or an absorption or liver disorder. Night blindness is an early symptom. Blindness can eventually develop. The eyes, skin, and other tissues become dry and damaged, and infections develop more often.
Carotenemia, the ingestion of excessive amounts of vitamin A precursors in food, mainly carrots, is manifested by a yellow-orange coloring of the skin, primarily the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
There's no evidence that it's better to take vitamin A in the morning or in the evening, so take your vitamin A supplement whenever it's most convenient for you. Vitamin A and beta-carotene are both fat-soluble, so take them with a source of fat.
Plenty of evidence backs the benefits of topically applied retinoids. The boost in collagen and elastin production, not to mention the proliferation of new skin cells, can help smooth your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Vitamin A Cream helps to keep pores clear and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while renewing the skin. Our Vitamin A Cream uses Retinyl Acetate which is a gentler and more stable version of vitamin A. Retinols at higher concentrations can sometimes damage skin and thin the skin barrier.
UL: The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause harmful effects on health. The UL for vitamin A from retinol is 3,000 micrograms of preformed vitamin A.