Tretinoin may be all the rage in the skincare world recently. Touted because of its ability to take care of acne, lessen fine lines and wrinkles, and improve sun damaged skin, there’s no wonder it’s so popular. But can it be safe to your skin?

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



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

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

Tretinoin vs. Retinol: exactly what is the difference?
Tretinoin and retinol are generally classified as retinoids — but there are some key differences bewteen barefoot and shoes:

Tretinoin
Synthetic type of vitamin A
Only available with a prescription (classed like 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 used for?
It may seem like tretinoin just has been around the skincare radar in recent years, nevertheless it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been used by almost half a century. It may be found in reducing inflammation associated with acne, clear existing acne and reduce the severity of outbreaks.

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

Improving pores and skin and texture
Reducing the appearance of wrinkles and wrinkles
Reducing the appearance of dark spots on the skin
Improving premature aging of skin on account of sun damage (photoaging)
Other research around the use of retinoids within the treatment of aging of the skin found that ​“amongst the retinoids, tretinoin possibly is easily the most potent and certainly probably the most widely investigated retinoid for photoaging therapy.”

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

Most people start to notice a difference of their skin after two or three weeks of utilizing the product, nonetheless it can take 6 or more weeks for the full benefit to be seen.

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

Likewise, it’s important to possess a thorough skin check by a melanographer or dermatologist to confirm whether or not the spots you would like to fade really are sunspots and never something more sinister. It can be difficult to recognize the difference from the harmless sunspot and a potential skin cancer or melanoma so make sure to have your skin layer spots professionally checked before using tretinoin or other prescription retinoids.

What are the unwanted side effects of tretinoin?
Prescription retinoids like tretinoin are extremely powerful. This means you must rely on them properly underneath the guidance of one's dermatologist or doctor — or you might risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or a damaged skin barrier.

Due to its potency, tretinoin might cause some skin irritation when you first begin using it as your epidermis needs time to adjust towards the active ingredients. Some other common negative effects of tretinoin include mild to moderate:

Skin redness or inflammation
Dryness
Peeling or flaking
Itching
However, most people notice a reduction in these unwanted side effects after a few weeks of using the product.

Tretinoin photosensitivity: Why you have to be extra careful within the sun when working with this product
Another unwanted effect associated with the use of tretinoin is photosensitisation. This means it can make you more sensitive to sunshine’s harmful UV rays and you may burn easily when encountered with sunlight.

From a skin cancer prevention perspective, this can be problematic. One of the key risk factors for skin cancer is a history of sunburn so it’s easy to understand why photosensitivity from tretinoin is concerning. While there is currently no evidence to suggest tretinoin use increases your likelihood of skin cancer, it’s crucial that you just take extra precautions with sun protection when you use this product.

How to protect your skin layer from the sun when working with tretinoin:
Avoid excessive sun exposure — do not utilize this product in the event you work outdoors or spend a lot of time out within the sun
Wear SPF 50+ sunscreen every day — even if you’re only staying indoors as indirect sunlight through windows can still damage or burn your skin
Wear sun protective clothing when outdoors

Make regular skin checks part of your epidermiscare routine
At MoleMap, we agree that looking after your skin can be a top priority. But when it comes to your skin health, we encourage that you think beyond skincare products and begin making regular skin cancer checks part of your epidermis 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 love peace of mind that you simply’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.