A Vitamin A derivative, Retinoid is one of the most potent skin care and acne treatments today. In fact, Retinoic Acid is one of the most recommended treatments by the dermatologists due to its capability to eradicate various skin care conditions. Retinoid Products can be bought over the counter and through prescription. There are basic differences to the two however.
More than four decades ago, retinoid was originally prescribed in treating acne among young adults and adults. However, the specialists noticed that retinoic acid had positive effects on the overall skin condition. Retin-A which came from tretinoin was first prescribed by doctors.
Today however, there are two other versions, adapalene and tazarotene. These are usually prescribed by dermatologists but you may also find creams with these active ingredients in stores and online. While the prescribed creams are more powerful, they can cause skin irritation. You should start trying over the counter retinoic acid-based products since they are usually less potent compared to prescription products.
Over the counter versions of retinoic acid are more commonly known as retinal or retinol. These active ingredients are added to creams, lotions and serums, all of which can be applied topically. Read the labels of the product that you are using and you might find the term retinol or retinal in the list of ingredients. You could have already using retinoic acid without knowing it.
There are some minor side effects to using retinoic acid but they are easy to treat and avoid. Retinoic acid can cause peeling, reddening and burning. Nevertheless, these side effects can be minimized by using the product every other day and slowly increasing your use until you can use the product daily. You can further minimize the side effects by layering the cream with a moisturizer after every application at night.
When you use the cream don’t be turned away if you experience irritation at first. You must also learn how to properly apply retinoic creams so you can maximize the benefits. Retinoic acid can provide immense benefits like improving skin tone through equal and proper distribution of melanin and reducing wrinkles by boosting the production of collagen. Other benefits of retinoic acid include reducing the breakdown of collagen, fighting acne, sun damage, speeding up the turnover rate of the cells and shrinking pores.
Overall, Retin A and Retinoid creams can leave the person who uses it with smoother, brighter and smoother skin.