Retinol Cleansers & Skin Care
There have been a lot of studies done that confirm the effectiveness of tretinoin, or retinoic acid, the active ingredient found in Retin-A and Renova. It is a form of vitamin A that is small enough to penetrate the skin and help restore cells in the inner layers while promoting the build up of collagen. It is the only active skin-care ingredient recognized and approved by the FDA for its effectiveness on aging skin. Does this Spark an idea?
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Tretinoin Products
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Products containing tretinoin have been shown to repair past sun damage, exfoliate dead skin cells, reduce the severity of wrinkles and fine lines, and increase skin elasticity. Tretinoin is very powerful and is often prescribed as part a treatment regimen and schedule. It increases sun sensitivity, so a sunscreen and reduced sun exposure is a must for anyone on a tretinoin product. It can also cause reactions such as redness and excessive peeling in those with sensitive skin.
Search for Alternatives
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Because it is a prescription product and can be expensive for those whose insurance does not cover it, cosmetic companies and skin-care manufacturers began looking for a way to capture the power of retinoic acid in a non-FDA regulated form. They also hoped to capture users who found prescription products to be too harsh for their skin. They came up with retinol.
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Retinol
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Retinol is the whole vitamin A molecule, while retinoic acid is a smaller component. It is not effective until it is broken down in the skin into retinoic acid. Because it is less potent, it slips under the FDA radar and is usually better tolerated by those with more sensitive skin. But the reduced potency means it is not as effective as tretinoin. To work best, high concentrations of retinol are needed, which may cause just as much irritation as tretinoin. Retinol also degrades easier, so exposure to air during storage or use may cause it to break down before it has time to be effective.
Retinol Products
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Because they are immediately washed off, retinol cleansers have absolutely no benefit. The best form of retinol product to use is one that stays on for an extended period of time. Overnight works well, since your skin will not be exposed to the sun while you have it on. Retinol does cause drying of the skin, so unless you have oily skin, try a moisturizing retinol cream. Look for a product with a retinol concentration of 0.3 to 1.0 percent.
Use and Side Effects
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Plan on using retinol every other day to start, working up to every day after two weeks or so, and don't forget to use a sunscreen during the day. Keep an eye out for any redness, peeling, burning or stinging, and do not use it on your upper eyelids. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop using retinol products immediately.
Retinyl Palmitate
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Some products that tout retinol as an active ingredient actually use retinyl palmitate, which is an even weaker form of retinol. While it may be effective in combination with retinol, if a product contains only retinyl palmitate it is unlikely to be effective.
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