People use Retin-A too much, use it too often, experience negative side effects and then give up on it too soon, doctors say. The problem with Retin-A is that it
may actually make skin look worse
— with redness, flakiness and peeling — for up to eight weeks.
Is Retin A safe for long term use?
Studies Show That
Tretinoin Can Be Safely Used Long Term
The Tretinoin group had significant improvements in fine lines & wrinkles, dark spots, visible blood vessels, and sallowness as compared to the placebo group.
Is using Retin A BAD FOR YOU?
The bottom line. Tretinoin is a very commonly prescribed topical medication used to treat a severe type of acne called cystic acne. In addition to acne, some doctors use it to reduce fine wrinkles on the face, as well as skin darkening and roughness.
Tretinoin is generally safe but should not be used by some people
.
What happens when you stop using Retin A?
If you’re using topical tretinoin to reduce fine wrinkles, discoloration, age spots, and/or rough feeling skin, it can take 3–4 months or up to six months before you see results. If you stop using the medication or are inconsistent with your treatment,
any improvements you see may disappear over time
(NIH, 2019).
Does Retin A make wrinkles worse before better?
With retinoids,
it’s often a “worse-before-better” type of situation
. Typical side effects include dryness, tightness, peeling, and redness — especially when first starting out. These side effects usually subside after two to four weeks until the skin acclimates. Your skin will thank you later!
Is it OK to use Retin-A everyday?
After a month or so with no side effects,
you can likely use it every day if you want
. Zeichner also suggests only using retinol at night. “The evening is a time of rest and repair, and cell turnover is at its peak,” he says.
Does Retin-A make you look younger?
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.
Can retinol ruin your skin?
“If you’re overusing your retinol, or if you’re using a retinol that’s too strong for you, it can lead to
peeling, irritation, and excessive dryness
, which may have led to retinol’s association with skin thinning,” she says.
Does Retin-A remove dark spots?
Retin-A
can improve skin texture and fade dark spots and freckles
because it causes skin cells to turn over more rapidly. It shrinks dilated pores and improves cell turnover within the pores so they are less likely to clog and become blackheads and whiteheads.
Who shouldnt use retinol?
Who should skip retinol? “Retinols can be a beneficial addition for most skin types, but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach,” Panzica says. Board certified dermatologist Zenovia Gabriel, MD, notes that “
people with sensitive skin conditions like rosacea cannot
tolerate really strong topicals like retinols.”
How long until you see results from Retin A?
You may notice tretinoin starting to work within 2 to 3 weeks, but it
can take 6 weeks or more
to experience the full benefit. If you don’t see improvement within 12 weeks, or if you have significant improvement and wonder if you should start using it less frequently, talk to your doctor.
Can Retin A cause hair loss?
It’s true that using retinol on your hair and scalp
can potentially result in some unwanted side effects
. Ironically, the most serious side effect of retinol that was reported on several years ago was actually hair loss.
Is tretinoin stronger than retinol?
Retin-A is a synthetic form of vitamin A. Tretinoin is retinoic acid. Because you don’t have to wait for the skin to convert it (to retinoic acid), Retin-A
works faster and is more powerful than retinol products
.
Does Retin A get rid of crow’s feet?
Topical creams
Tretinoin (Retin-A) is widely used to fight the signs of aging because it stimulates the production of new skin. There are also many antiaging moisturizers that are similarly effective. They may help reduce the appearance of fine lines around the eyes, but
will not improve deep crow’s feet
.
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.
What strength of Retin A is best for wrinkles?
0.025% is the mildest strength and is usually used for general skin improvements or mild acne.
0.05%
is seen most often for anti-aging preparations to reduce the appearance of fine lines.
