Discover the benefits, side effects and sun health concerns you need to take when you use tretinoin prescription retinoid cream.

Tretinoin may be all the rage in the skincare world recently. Touted for its ability to deal with acne, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and improve sun damaged skin, there’s no wonder it’s so popular. But is it safe on your skin?

If you’re thinking about incorporating this tretinoin buy to your skincare routine, you’ll need to ensure you use it properly to stop any unwelcome unwanted side effects. Plus, you’ll must be extra careful when out in the sun. Read on to master why.



What is tretinoin?
Tretinoin (often known as prescription retinoids or prescription vitamin A) can be a highly potent, medical-grade topical vitamin A cream or gel. It contains retinoic acid, which is the most biologically available active way of vitamin A, and is available in different formula strengths.

Unlike retinol and other over-the-counter versions of vitamin A, tretinoin is often a prescription-only topical treatment. This means you are only able to purchase it in case you have a script from the doctor or dermatologist who's properly assessed the skin and deemed its use appropriate.

Tretinoin vs. Retinol: is there a difference?
Tretinoin and retinol are both classified as retinoids — but there are a few key differences with shod and non-shod:

Tretinoin
Synthetic type of vitamin A
Only available using a prescription (classed as being a medical-grade skincare product)
Highly potent
Retinol
Natural form of vitamin A
Available over-the-counter and located in many skincare products
Milder formulation

What is tretinoin useful for?
It may seem like tretinoin just has been on the skincare radar recently, nevertheless it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been used by almost fifty years. It has been found in lowering inflammation associated with acne, clear existing acne and lower the severity of outbreaks.

But treating acne isn’t tretinoin’s only benefit. A 2012 study indicates it may also be helpful for:

Improving skin and texture
Reducing the appearance of face lines and wrinkles
Reducing the appearance of liver spots on your skin layer
Improving premature aging of skin on account of sun damage (photoaging)
Other research on the use of retinoids in the treatment of skin aging found that ​“amongst the retinoids, tretinoin possibly is the most potent and certainly the most widely investigated retinoid for photoaging therapy.”

How does tretinoin work?
Tretinoin works by speeding up the cellular turnover in the skin, making skin cells divide and die faster so that new, healthier cells can replace them. However, in order to stimulate this process, tretinoin must ultimately irritate your skin layer. This is why people often experience uncomfortable unwanted side effects when first applying this product.

Most people start noticing a difference within their skin after 2 to 3 weeks of using the product, nonetheless it can take 6 or maybe more weeks for that full benefit to be seen.

Can tretinoin fade skin spots or sunspots?
Some research suggests tretinoin can fade the appearance of liver spots on skin. However, everyone’s skin is different along with a topical treatment alone may not be the most effective strategy to fade sun spots in your face or body. This is why it’s important to consult with a dermatologist before starting any sun spot removal treatment getting personalised advice around the best approach on your skin.

Likewise, it’s important to experience a thorough skin check by a melanographer or dermatologist to confirm perhaps the spots you need to fade really are sunspots rather than something more sinister. It can be difficult to spot the difference from the harmless sunspot and 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 can risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or possibly a damaged skin barrier.

Due to its potency, tretinoin may cause some skin irritation when you initially begin using it as your epidermis needs time for you to adjust for 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 negative effects after a few weeks of employing the product.

Tretinoin photosensitivity: Why you'll want to be extra careful in the sun when utilizing this product
Another complication associated with the using tretinoin is photosensitisation. This means it makes you more sensitive to the sun's rays’s harmful UV rays and you can burn easily when confronted with sunlight.

From a skin cancer prevention perspective, this is problematic. One of the key risk factors for skin cancer is often a history of sunburn so it’s easy to see 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 utilizing this product.

How to protect the skin from the sun when utilizing tretinoin:
Avoid excessive sun exposure — do not make use of this product in the event you work outdoors or spend lots of time out inside the sun
Wear SPF 50+ sunscreen every day — even should you’re only staying indoors as indirect sunlight through windows can continue to 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 skin health, we encourage that you think beyond skincare products and initiate making regular skin cancer checks part of your skin layer wellness routine too.

By having a professional skin check or mole check every 6 to yr, you’ll give yourself the very best chance to catch any suspicious spots or lesions early. Plus, you’ll also enjoy peace of mind that you just’re keeping your epidermis safe — inside and out. Consider scheduling these regular checks at MoleMap Australia Skin Cancer Clinics for expert care and thorough examination.