During the first 6 months of use, avoid overexposing the treated areas to sunlight, wind, or cold weather. 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.
“Retinoids can make you more sensitive to sunlight during the first few months of use,” explains Dr Malvina, Consultant Dermatologist at Skin + Me. This is due to tretinoin bringing new skin cells to the surface, which are delicate and can be more easily damaged.
Can I use my Medical Grade Skin Care Products with Tretinoin and Hydroquinone during the summer? Absolutely! In fact, it is especially important to use your products during the summer when sun exposure is at its highest and skin's susceptibility to sun damage is at its peak.
According to Dr. Mohta, you should always apply tretinoin at night. This is because when retinoids are exposed to sunlight, they can create harmful substances and excite retinoid molecules. These reactions can cause immediate and long-term damage in your skin1.
When retinol (a form of vitamin A) is exposed to sunlight, it can degrade and lose its effectiveness. Here are some key points to consider: Degradation: UV radiation can cause retinol to break down, reducing its potency and effectiveness in promoting skin cell turnover and collagen production.
Second, UVA/UVB break down many different skincare ingredients, including alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and hydroquinone. Retinol is no exception — UV light can inactivate retinol and reduce its effectiveness. If you wear retinol without sunscreen during the day, it'll break it down before it can work its magic.
Regular use of this medication over time will lead to healthier appearing skin with improved texture and less wrinkles. It can replace dull-appearing skin with a pink rosy glow. In summary, if used over many months and years, tretinoin can reverse signs of excessive sun exposure.
Background: Various formulations of tretinoin (gel, liquid, cream) have been reported to be unstable on the skin under bright artificial light or sunlight. This photodegradation can potentially influence treatment regimens and possibly modify efficacy.
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.
For many, tretinoin is highly effective at treating acne, but it's still possible to experience breakouts once you stop using it.
According to Dr. Mohta, to maintain the benefits you achieved over the past year, it is crucial to continue using tretinoin as part of your long-term skincare routine. You can safely use tretinoin long-term. Research has shown no negative effects even with 2-4 years of usage.
A tretinoin purge is a phenomenon that affects some people when they start using a retinoid skin product like tretinoin. For some users, acne will flare up within the first few weeks of using tretinoin before it starts to reduce acne. Tretinoin purge is also referred to as “acne flaring.”
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.
One of the most common misconceptions is that retinol and tretinoin thin the skin. In reality, they do the opposite.
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.
Dr Kiran acknowledges some evidence that suggests tretinoin may aid in hair growth: Tretinoin promotes cell turnover, which can help rejuvenate hair follicles. It may enhance the absorption of other hair growth treatments, such as minoxidil.
One common consequence of discontinuing tretinoin is a temporary worsening of skin texture and appearance. Without the regular use of tretinoin, the benefits it provides may gradually fade away. Skin may become rougher, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles may become more pronounced.
Treatment with this drug may lead to higher cholesterol and triglycerides. The effect of these changes on heart health is not known. Talk with the doctor.
DeVito recommends using tretinoin, also known as Retin-A, a prescription topical cream or gel that is used to treat acne, all year long. "It's a fantastic molecule and it enhances cell turnover and also builds up elastin fibers, so from a sun damage perspective, it's brilliant," DeVito said.
During the first 6 months of use, avoid overexposing the treated areas to sunlight, wind, or cold weather. 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.
Some people may notice that this side effect goes away within a few weeks of use, while others may have flaky skin for up to two months. Regardless of how long it takes to subside, tretinoin peeling is temporary and will go away once your skin gets used to the product.
Retinols themselves are sensitive to light so if you expose your skin to the sun immediately after applying, the retinol does degrade to some extent2. That's why it's suggested that you use it in your evening routine (more on that later).
Do you have to wash tretinoin off in the morning? Yes, it's advisable to cleanse your face in the morning to remove the tretinoin before applying your morning skincare products and sunscreen.
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.