Tretinoin gel is an effective acne treatment and also treats aging symptoms such as wrinkles, fine lines and hyperpigmentation. It should be used along with a moisturizer to avoid excessive dryness.
In vitro studies have shown that a new formulation containing liposomes with polyolprepolymer-2 reduces skin irritation caused by topical tretinoin while maintaining clinical efficacy. This is an important development for retinol treatment.
Acne Treatment
Tretinoin (also called retinoic acid) is an effective acne treatment that improves existing breakouts and helps prevent future ones by regulating the skin’s cell turnover. It also boosts collagen production for smoother, firmer skin and reduces pore blockage, which is the primary cause of acne1.
Unlike many other anti-aging products that simply moisturize or add superficially beneficial ingredients, tretinoin gets to work at the root of your skin issues. It stimulates the replacement of dead skin cells and reduces fine lines and wrinkles that occur with sun damage. It also diminishes hyperpigmentation (dark spots) and reduces rough areas of the skin that often accompany aging.
If you are prescribed tretinoin for acne, use it as directed to achieve your desired results. Your doctor will determine the proper tretinoin strength for your skin type and condition, so start slow with over-the-counter creams or gels that contain 0.025 percent to 0.05 percent tretinoin and work up to higher doses.
Anti-Aging Treatment
The same benefits of tretinoin that help treat acne can also reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and lighten discoloration caused by sun exposure (hyperpigmentation). It’s important to note that it takes time for tretinoin to improve these signs of aging and hyperpigmentation.
Tretinoin can also slow down the natural aging process and increase skin thickness by stimulating collagen production. It can also decrease the appearance of age spots and sallowness by unclogging pores and removing dead cells.
Lastly, tretinoin helps even skin tone and texture by increasing cell turnover, causing old damaged cells to flake away while newer more healthy cells grow in their place. This is why tretinoin is one of the best anti-aging treatments on the market, especially for those who start young (teens and twenties) and continue with treatment.
If you want to take your tretinoin treatment to the next level try pairing it with niacinamide, which is a form of Vitamin B3. This powerful combination has been shown to help reduce acne, hyperpigmentation and melasma.
Sun Sensitivity
While tretinoin helps reduce acne and wrinkles, it may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. While this isn’t a reason to avoid it, it is a good reason to use sunscreen every time you’re going outside.
Retinol and tretinoin work by speeding up the skin’s natural process of replacing old cells with new ones, which can increase sun sensitivity. This makes it more likely that your skin will burn from even short periods of direct sunlight and cause redness, flaking or peeling. Using a moisturizer can help prevent these side effects, as will avoiding long periods of direct sunlight when possible and always using a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Sunscreen also helps prevent excess tretinoin degradation from UV light, so it’s a must if you’re taking this skincare powerhouse.
Side Effects
This medication may cause itching, redness or a skin rash in some people. If these effects are severe, get medical help right away. This medication can make you more sensitive to the sun. It is important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen when using this medicine. Do not sunbathe or use tanning beds. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should discuss the benefits and risks of using this medication with their doctor.
Do not apply this medication to your eyes or the areas around them, and do not put it on cut, scraped, sunburned or irritated skin. This medication contains fish protein and you should avoid it if you have an allergy to fish. It takes 8 to 12 weeks before you see results from this medication. Talk to your dermatologist about how long you should continue using it. Many people stop using it when their acne clears up, but you may need to keep using it longer to eliminate dark spots or wrinkles. Tretinoin 0.1% Gel