If you’re thinking about incorporating this tretinoin buy into your skincare routine, you’ll must ensure you use it properly to avoid any unwelcome unwanted side effects. Plus, you’ll have to be extra careful when out in the sun. Read on to master why.
What is tretinoin?
Tretinoin (also known as prescription retinoids or prescription vitamin A) is a highly potent, medical-grade topical vitamin A cream or gel. It contains retinoic acid, which is regarded as the biologically available active type of vitamin A, and is available in different formula strengths.
Unlike retinol and other over-the-counter versions of vitamin A, tretinoin can be a prescription-only topical treatment. This means you are only able to purchase it in case you have a script from a doctor or dermatologist who has properly assessed your skin layer and deemed its use appropriate.
Tretinoin vs. Retinol: is there a difference?
Tretinoin and retinol tend to be classified as retinoids — but there are some key differences between them:
Tretinoin
Synthetic way of vitamin A
Only available having a prescription (classed as a medical-grade skincare product)
Highly potent
Retinol
Natural kind of vitamin A
Available over-the-counter and found in many skincare products
Milder formulation
What is tretinoin used by?
It may seem like tretinoin only has been on the skincare radar in recent times, nevertheless it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been used for almost half a century. It has become found in lessening inflammation associated with acne, clear existing acne reducing the severity of outbreaks.
But treating acne isn’t tretinoin’s only benefit. A 2012 study indicates that it could also be helpful for:
Improving skin and texture
Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Reducing the appearance of liver spots on skin
Improving premature aging of skin because of sun damage (photoaging)
Other research about the use of retinoids inside the treatment of aging found that “amongst the retinoids, tretinoin possibly is easily the most potent and certainly one of the most widely investigated retinoid for photoaging therapy.”
How does tretinoin work?
Tretinoin functions speeding inside the cellular turnover inside skin, making skin cells divide and die faster to ensure new, healthier cells can replace them. However, as a way to stimulate this process, tretinoin must ultimately irritate your skin layer. This is why people often experience uncomfortable side effects when first by using this product.
Most people start to notice a difference of their skin after two to three weeks utilizing the product, nonetheless it can take 6 or higher weeks for your full benefit to appear.
Can tretinoin fade skin spots or sunspots?
Some research suggests tretinoin can fade the appearance of dark spots on the skin. However, everyone’s skin is different along with a topical treatment alone may not be probably the most effective strategy to fade sun spots on your own face or body. This is why it’s important to consult with a dermatologist before starting any sun spot removal treatment to get personalised advice on the best approach for the skin.
Likewise, it’s important to possess a thorough skin check by the melanographer or dermatologist to confirm if the spots you wish to fade truly are sunspots instead of something more sinister. It can be difficult to spot the difference from a harmless sunspot plus a potential skin cancer or melanoma so make sure you have your skin spots professionally checked before using tretinoin or other prescription retinoids.
What are the unwanted effects of tretinoin?
Prescription retinoids like tretinoin are extremely powerful. This means you must use them properly beneath the guidance of your respective dermatologist or doctor — or you may risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or a damaged skin barrier.
Due to its potency, tretinoin might cause some skin irritation when you begin using it as your epidermis needs time to adjust on the active ingredients. Some other common side effects of tretinoin include mild to moderate:
Skin redness or inflammation
Dryness
Peeling or flaking
Itching
However, most people notice a reduction in these side effects after a few weeks of using the product.
Tretinoin photosensitivity: Why you'll want to be extra careful inside the sun when utilizing this product
Another unwanted effect associated with the usage of tretinoin is photosensitisation. This means it makes you more sensitive to sunshine’s harmful UV rays and you might burn easily when subjected to sunlight.
From a skin cancer prevention perspective, this is problematic. One of the key risk factors for skin cancer can be a history of sunburn so it’s easy to understand why photosensitivity from tretinoin is concerning. While there is currently no evidence to suggest tretinoin use increases your risk of skin cancer, it’s crucial that you simply take extra precautions with sun protection when using this product.
How to protect your skin layer from the sun when working with tretinoin:
Avoid excessive sun exposure — do not utilize this product in case you work outdoors or spend time and effort out within the sun
Wear SPF 50+ sunscreen every day — even in case you’re only staying indoors as indirect sunlight through windows can still damage or burn the skin
Wear sun protective clothing when outdoors
Make regular skin checks part of the skincare routine
At MoleMap, we agree that looking after your skin is a top priority. But when it comes to your epidermis health, we encourage that you think beyond skincare products and initiate making regular skin cancer checks part of your epidermis wellness routine too.
By having a professional skin check or mole check every 6 to twelve months, you’ll give yourself the most effective chance to catch any suspicious spots or lesions early. Plus, you’ll also love peace of mind that you’re keeping the skin safe — inside and out. Consider scheduling these regular checks at MoleMap Australia Skin Cancer Clinics for expert care and thorough examination.