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But because I have sensitive skin thanks largely torosacea, I know I can’t go near the stuff.
Getty / Gabriella Imperatori-Penn
However, it turns out that not all types of retinoids are equally irritating.
And, with some simple strategies, those of us with sensitive skin may yet earn our membership.
What do retinoids actually do?
Vitamin A plays a role in maintaining your vision and other bodily processes.
But topical retinoidsare also known to cause some irritation, especially at first.
And if you’re going into the process with sensitive skin, you may be hit especially hard.
Some retinoids may actually cause less irritation than others.
There are two major categories of retinoids: those found naturally in your body and those created synthetically.
Well-known products like tretinoin (Retin-A) and isotretinoin (formerly Accutane) are forms of retinoic acid.
“Also, certain formulations are better tolerated,” she says.
However, she says, micronized tretinoin tends to be more expensive.
The brandRenovaalso has a reputation for being better tolerated due its formula, she says.
Thats because these medications are formulated tobind to only some receptorsfor retinoic acid.
(Actual retinoic acid binds to these receptors and many more.)
So, they both work.
But what about irritation?
They found that retinol and retinaldehyde were both significantly better tolerated than retinoic acid.
Here are some general things to keep in mind if you want to start using one.
But in general, our experts recommend starting with a retinoid just three times a week.
What’s the overall formula?The retinoid isn’t the only thing in the product.
The best way to counteract that is, of course, to moisturize.
Avoid other products that might make you more sensitive.
And, of course, avoid using more than one retinoid product at a time.
Remember, though, that everyone’s skin is different.
So if one retinoid doesn’t work for you, that doesn’t mean they’re all off limits.
If that’s the case, retinoids may simply not be for you.
Luckily, there are plenty ofother productsout there that can do similar things.
The catch is that their potential benefits may not have as much science behind them, Dr. Zampella says.
