How to Manage Using Retin-A for Wrinkles
Retin-A, a topical retinoid cream or gel made from vitamin A, is a popular prescription medication for the treatment of wrinkles. It can also make the skin of your face feel smoother and reduce patchy-looking discoloration. But using retinoids can also be tricky as they tend to dry out skin and make it sensitive to the sun. As always, follow your physician's instructions for using any prescription medication, including Retin-A, and ask about other steps you should be taking to keep your skin healthy, glowing and young.
Things You'll Need
- Retin-A gel or cream (prescription)
- Gentle face wash
- Gauze or cotton
- Sunblock
- Oil-free moisturizer
- Humidifier
Instructions
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Using Retin-A for Wrinkles
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Prepare your skin. Use a mild, non-medicated soap to wash your face once or twice a day and pat your skin dry lightly with a towel. Make sure that your skin has no makeup left on it, and don't rub your skin, which may damage it further. Allow your skin to air-dry completely, waiting about 20 to 30 minutes before applying Retin-A.
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Apply Retin-A with a piece of gauze or cotton, or with your fingers (but make sure they're clean) at night before bed. Use the least amount of medication that will sufficiently cover your skin. Too much may get in your eyes or cause drying.
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Have patience. Retin-A may cause some initial drying and skin redness, and your skin may feel uncomfortable. If this is the case, talk to your doctor about limiting treatment to every other day, and make sure you're using the least amount of medication necessary with each application. Retin-A can take up to six weeks of treatment before improvement seems noticeable, because your skin needs to shed layers.
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Protect your skin from sun damage. Retinoids make your skin especially susceptible to sunburn, which can cause cancer. Wear sunblock while using Retin-A, regardless of the time of year, or opt for a moisturizer with SPF. Do not go tanning while using Retin-A, especially because tanning may be a source of your wrinkles in the first place.
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Prevent dryness, one of Retin-A's most common side effects. Many people experience excessive dryness with this medication. To help your skin feel more comfortable, use an oil-free, noncomedogenic moisturizer on your skin up to twice a day. You may also want to incorporate more moisture into your environment by using a humidifier, and you should avoid using very hot water when washing your face, as this pulls moisture away from skin.
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Stop using Retin-A if you notice severe side effects like swelling, rash, severe itching, warmth, burning or stinging, blistering, crusting, or peeling, and talk to your doctor. In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you continue using Retin-A, but less often. Your doctor may also switch you to another medication.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use Retin-A on skin that has been sunburned or windburned, or on skin that is dry, chapped, irritated, broken or has eczema. Retin-A can be very drying and may make damaged skin open to infection.
Using more Retin-A than necessary will not speed up the treatment or make your wrinkles go away faster, however, it will cause excessive irritation.
