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Beauty editors praise retinoids for being askin-care ingredientthat seemingly does it all.
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Theyre powerful enough to decrease acne,pigmentation, and wrinkles.
But first comes the retinization period, where you mightexperience reddened, peeling, and dry skin.
Even most of her patients withrosacea or sensitive skincan generally use a mild retinoid sparingly, she explains.
We spoke to a few experts about what you should know about retinoids and tips to keep in mind.
What are retinoids, and why should you use them?
Its easiest to think of retinoids as a family of compounds derived from vitamin A, explains Dr. Kim.
Its very confusing because people just call everything retinols, but there are differences, says Dr. Kim.
Retin-A, or tretinoin as its called generically, is one popular brand of prescription retinoic acid.
Retinoids mayreduce wrinklesbecause they activate your skins natural collagen and elastin (two fibers that keep it strong).
Like we said, retinization is that period where your skin is adjusting to the retinoids.
Generally, your skin may feel irritated, dry, and begin peeling, explains Dr. Kim.
Even people withsensitive skincan generally use some form of retinoids, says Dr. Kim.
Or, people with sensitive skin may need to try over-the-counter retinols since these are less irritating.
Right now, many physicians are offering virtual appointments using video chat.
(Heres what it’s crucial that you know aboutscheduling medical appointmentsduringCOVID-19).
Prepare your skin before starting retinoids.
The best prep you might do for your new retinoid regimen is to confirm your face isnt dehydrated.
Apply moisturizer before your retinoid at night.
Layering the retinoid over a gentle moisturizer will help temper any irritation.
Look for a moisturizer withhyaluronic acid, ceramides, antioxidants, or redness-relieving peptides.
Finding the right moisturizer for your particular skin key in isnt always easy.
you’ve got the option to read ourguide on moisturizerif you need help finding a product you like.
Protect the entire eye area with a thick moisturizer before putting retinoids on the rest of your face.
Dont start by applying retinoids every day.
Retinoids arent something you should apply every day from the start.
You have to work your way up toregular use.
Some people can only tolerate using retinoids about twice a week, explains Dr. Kim.
Change to a simple skin-care routine.
For the first month of regular retinoid use, your skin is officially classified as sensitive.
That means it’s crucial that you change up your cleansing and exfoliating routine.
Also give up your masks, peels, and exfoliating scrubs.
Retinol will naturally exfoliate the skin, says Dr. Shamban.
There is no reason to do any kind of a manual dermabrasion or exfoliating.
Treat dry patches with extra moisturizer.
Dry patches andpeelingwill likely happen when you use retinoids.
Be patient about your results.
In dermatology, people want to do something once and thats it, says Dr. Kim.
However, she says that you oughta be patient andplay the long gamewhen it comes to retinoids.
So if a prescription retinoid is irritating, then you may want to use a weaker retinol.
Or your doctor may be able to prescribe you a lower-dose retinoid that your skin tolerates.
Call your dermatologist if youre in pain.
Also, if youdevelop a rash, this could mean you are having an allergic reaction to the product.
Again, you may not feel comfortable with physical office visits right now.
Additional reporting by Melissa Matthews
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