Retinol is just one ingredient that can help clear and plump your skin. It can take several weeks before you'll start to see results from retinol, and your skin may look worse before it gets better, so try not to get discouraged.
Going overboard on the potent ingredient (known to cause irritation and dryness at high concentrations) can dry out your skin and make your wrinkles look more noticeable, says Rebecca Kazin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, D.C. Avoid this side ...
Flare-ups typically last about 4-8 weeks, or 1-2 cell cycles. However, if yours lasts longer than this, this could mean something deeper is going on, you should talk to your dermatologist. Bear in mind that if you have sensitive or dry skin, you may experience worse retinol uglies for longer.
"Results will depend on the potency levels found in the formula and, interestingly, some people convert retinol into retinoic acid more quickly than others," says Nussbaum, noting that the skin typically takes between three to four weeks to adapt to consistent use.
Retinoids. Retinoids that include retinol, retinal aldehyde (Retin-A), retinyl esters, adapalene, tazarotene and tretinoin are chemicals that come from vitamin A that help reduce lines and wrinkles in your skin and improve your skin's texture, pigment and hydration levels.
The immediate side effects of retinol treatment can take the form of a surge in acne, blackheads, whiteheads, and rashes. This is termed retinol purging. It lasts for about 2-6 weeks depending on the quality of the skin, following which the positive effects ramp up.
Additional benefits include fading age spots and softening rough patches of skin. However, it takes three to six months of regular use before improvements in wrinkles are apparent—and the best results take six to 12 months.
With diligent use, most users see visible improvement to their skin tone, smoothness, and breakouts within the first few weeks. Fine lines and small imperfections take several weeks to months to start to fade, while deeper lines and more significant hyperpigmentation may take several months.
There are 3 things you can do to speed this up. It's a great time to consider a hydrating mask to add oomph to your basic routine. And a barrier repair cream might also be helpful, to amplify and expedite repair. Finally, you might even need to use a little 1% hydrocortisone cream for a few days.
It can range from minor pimples to cystic acne, as well as dryness, redness, and peeling. Also, it is important to remember that retinol isn't the direct cause of acne. Acne breakouts which occur during the purge phase would have developed on their own and retinol only speeds up their appearance.
Retinol's claim to fame is that it promotes cell turnover, which means that it brings new, healthy cells to the surface of your skin in order to replace old dead ones. But in the process, it also brings up all kinds of other stuff hiding under your skin, which may lead to sudden breakouts.
The telltale signs of retinol burn include skin that is red, irritated, flaky, inflamed, sore to the touch, and/or shedding. "You could also be experiencing breakouts or inflamed acne that is not usual for your skin," adds Idriss.
First, the answer is yes, retinol can make wrinkles worse, especially when you first start using it.
Sleep deprivation, dehydration and even the time of day all affect our skin's appearance, causing creases to vary in visibility--which explains why it's possible to wake up looking fresh-faced and notice fine lines the same evening.
The best product you can use in conjunction with retinol, according to Dr. Zeichner, is a moisturizer, which can help hydrate skin and reduce the risk of irritation from retinol. “Some people even prefer to mix their retinol with a moisturizing cream to dilute it out,” he says.
Initial skin irritation, dryness, and sensitivity are common when using retinol products for the first time. If you continue to notice these effects on your skin after the first few weeks of use, it's a good idea to discuss this with your doctor or dermatologist3.
To be specific, you cannot mix retinol with AHAs (Glycolic Acid Toner, Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid Treatment, Apple Cider Vinegar Acid Peel), BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum, C-50 Blemish Night Treatment), PHA Toner.
Use retinol once or twice a week at first to see how your skin reacts, and gradually work up to every other day or three times a week. Another key tip for using retinol is to incorporate it into your nighttime skincare routine only, as it makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
“Studies suggest you need to use at least 0.25% retinol or 0.025% tretinoin to be effective, so I recommend using a product that specifies the percentage.” When choosing a retinol product, Dr. Rogers says it's best to start with the lowest concentration before moving up.
How often should I use Retinol? Unless a brand specifically says differently – if your skin is tolerating Retinol well after three weeks of use every three days, move up to every other day, then every day. After 12 weeks you should be starting to see resultsand able to move onto something stronger.
Yes. In fact, retinoids work best if you use them daily. Specifically, try to use them at night because light and air deactivate some types. If you experience any side effects — like skin redness or dryness — then it's a good idea to back down to once every 2 or 3 nights.
Don't: Combine Retinol With Incompatible Ingredients
Some ingredients cause an adverse reaction when combined with retinol, so it's important not to use them at the same time. Don't use retinol with Vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and glycolic acid, which are other common skincare ingredients.
Due to this, skin purging will visually consist of red bumps and breakouts dotted along where you've applied the chemical exfoliant or retinoid product to your skin.
What does it look like? Distinct, acne-like bumps may be purging. However, if you're noticing welts, diffuse redness, or anything resembling a rash, stop what you're doing. Inflammation is a sign of reaction and generally appears as all-over redness rather than individual, blemish-like spots.