Can Retinol Make You Look Older?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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“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.

Can retinol age your skin?

“If the retinol you’re using is too

strong

for your skin causing inflammation, darker skin tones may have a higher risk of discoloration, or hyperpigmentation, from the use of it,” she adds.

Does Retinol make you age faster?

Deciding when to start using retinol and wearing sunscreen are two halves of the same whole—sunscreen protects your skin, while retinol rejuvenates it at a dermal level.

The only way retinol is going to make you age faster is if you use it without sunscreen

.

At what age should I start using retinol?

“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.”

Does retinol make your skin worse first?

You might also get more breakouts once you start using retinoids. Keep calm and stick with it. “

It’s common to see acne get worse before it gets better

, as the retinoids can cause a mass ‘purge,’” says Robinson. Basically, as skin cell turnover increases, new clogs rise to the top.

Why does my skin look worse after using retinol?

In theory,

retinol makes your skin cell turnover faster

. The increased cell turnover temporarily sloughs off more dead skin cells. This creates a lag time before new, healthy cells come to the surface of your skin. Your new skin is exposed before it’s ready, and redness or discoloration, and irritation is the result.

Why you shouldn’t use retinol?

The more retinol you put on, the poorer the barrier function becomes,” he said. “This is why a lot of people feel that their skin is very sensitive and experience peeling, flaking, and irritation.” One of the main side effects of using retinol is that it makes your skin more sensitive to UV sunlight, in particular.

What happens if you stop using retinol?

Do the results last if you stop using retinol? Yes, but most dermatologists say you’ll want to resume using it for optimal results. “Retinols help turn back the clock. If you have to stop them (for example while pregnant),

your skin is still better from the time you were using them

,” explains Dr.

How long do retinol uglies last?

In general, retinol is one of the more gentle varieties of retinoids, however, “if you’re going to experience shedding it will begin on day three to five of daily night time use, and this usually continues for

about five to 10 days

depending on your skin type and the percentage of retinol you’ve used,” adds Ejikeme.

Is hyaluronic acid or retinol better?

Hyaluronic acid is best if they’re looking to moisturize dry skin, while

retinol works better

by encouraging better skin by boosting collagen production. They have several benefits that can work in tandem for better results, though patients need to be careful with the exact formulations they use.

What happens if you use too much retinol?

First-time retinol users have reported irritation, including redness, dryness, and peeling. If you use too high a strength or apply retinol more frequently than you should, you may experience further irritation, like

itchiness and scaly patches

.

Should you moisturize after retinol?


Mix your retinol with your moisturizer

, or apply your moisturizer first and then your retinol. Always use sunscreen the morning after you apply retinol. Your skin will be especially sensitive to sunlight, so it’s important to protect it.

How long will my skin purge from retinol?

Applying retinol is a long-term treatment which promotes fresh skin, fewer blemishes and reduction in acne breakouts. Whereas in the short term, it can lead to acne breakouts, skin peeling, dryness, and a range of other frustrating temporary outcomes. The purge phase usually lasts for

two to six weeks

.

Is it OK to use retinol every night?

At any rate, we still

usually recommend that you use your retinol product at night

. But there is no reason to avoid it in summer months. You may be a little more likely to burn as you are getting used to it, but with time your skin should become more resilient, healthy and free of sun damage.”

How long should you wait to apply moisturizer after retinol?

But one such ‘rule’ we weren’t aware of until now, is that retinol needs a decent amount of time to absorb. According to skincare guru and best-selling author, Caroline Hirons, you should allow

20 plus minutes

before moving on to the next step of your routine.

Should I keep using retinol if my face is peeling?

Unfortunately,

dry, peeling and flaky skin

are pretty much par for the course when using any topical retinoid like Retin-A. These side effects are normal and tend to be at their worst during the first few weeks of starting treatment. Don’t ditch your treatment just yet.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.