The Use of Retinoids
Retinoids are Vitamin A-based treatments that that are used topically on the skin. The use of retinoids has been popular for decades as an acne treatment as well as an anti-aging treatment. Over-the-counter and prescription treatments are available. Retinoids started out as an acne treatment more than 20 years ago. In 1996, retinoids were approved by the FDA to be used as an anti-aging treatment after scientists discovered they successfully reversed signs of aging. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Facts
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Retinoids have stood the test of time as one of the most effective anti-aging products on the market. There are a multitude of products that contain retinoids. The most common are Retin-A, Tazorac, Renova and Avage. They come in varying strengths and patients are encouraged to start with a lower dosage and work their way up. They are by prescription only.
Products sold over the counter contain retinol, which is a cosmetic form of retinoids. They are not as effective as the prescription products but they still improve the appearance of skin.
History
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The use of retinoids began in the 1970s as a treatment for acne. Doctors and patients noticed that along with an improvement in acne, that skin tone was vastly improved as well.
A double-blind study was conducted in 1988 by Dr. John Voorhees. The study measured the effect of Retin-A on sun-damaged skin. At the conclusion of the 16-week study, all of the patients had signification improvement in their skin.
Renova, an emollient form of Retin-A, was approved by the FDA in 1996 as a treatment for wrinkles and aging skin.
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Effects
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The key reason that retinoids improve the skin is because they increase collagen production as well as retention. Collagen is broken down due to aging. It's more rapidly broken down with sun damage in addition to aging. Retinoids both treat and prevent this from happening. In addition, they increase the pace of cell turnover. That reduces the number of pimples you may get.
Usage
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It's important to start slowly when using prescription retinoids. It's recommended that patients start with using a pea-size amount for the entire face. Doctors recommend using it every other night or once every three nights. If your skin is tolerating it, moving up to every night is fine.
A person using retinoids may notice that her skin will look worse before it starts to improve. It's common to break out in pimples or suffer from significant peeling and irritation upon first using retinoids. The side effects usually lessen with continued use. Results may not be seen for several months to a year.
Warning
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It is mandatory to wear sunscreen when using any form of retinoids. If sunscreen is not used, there is a risk of damaging the skin. Also, women who are pregnant should not use retinoids. Doctors recommend not waxing the facial skin while using retinoids as there is a risk of tearing the skin.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Gordana Adamovic-Mladenovic
