"If you're overusing your retinol, or if you're using a retinol that's too strong for you, it can lead to peeling, irritation, and excessive dryness, which may have led to retinol's association with skin thinning," says Dr. Icecreamwala. "This will make your skin look older and accentuate wrinkles."
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 ...
What does retinol do for your skin? Retinol increases skin cell production (proliferation). It helps unclog pores. Retinol also exfoliates your skin and increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a fresher, plump appearance.
Essentially by accelerating cell turnover you are forcing your skin to get older, faster. With Retinoids you can do this in varying degrees. A mild retinoid chemical you may not even notice you have applied it. As far as I'm concerned gentle is best.
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.
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.
Discontinue use if you have negative side effects after a few weeks of use and contact your physician to help reassess your skin type and find a solution that will protect your skin barrier . Consider using moisturizing and soothing topical skin care products with retinol to counteract its negative side effects.
With repeated use, retinol products begin to thin out your skin and will eventually make you more susceptible to UVA rays. If you're not wearing adequate SPF all the time, with passing years you'll have more melasma, more discoloration... Plus, they can be way too harsh on the skin, even if you don't feel the redness.
In addition to sun protection, one of the most effective ways to stay younger looking is with retinol-based skin care. It's a form of Vitamin A, and its versatility lies in the way it works. Retinol aids surface skin cell turnover for healthier-looking, brighter skin.
Retinol can be a skin irritant
Dermatitis, erythema (redness), scaling/dryness, peeling, burning or stinging, and irritation of the skin are common adverse reactions reported with retinol use, and, in some cases, the reactions are so bad, that even at low concentrations it cannot be used by certain people.
You may apply a small amount of retinol under your eyes, being careful to avoid your lashes, eyelid, and lower lid margin. Because the skin surrounding your eyes can be very sensitive, you should start slow — one or two times per week — and build up the frequency of use to minimize possible irritation.
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.
Unlike chemical acids, retinol activates cellular DNA to speed up the skin cell turnover rate. In this way, it also is a valuable asset to aid in the repair of environmental DNA damage and ultimately can even reduce pre-cancerous changes leading to improved skin health in the long term.
Fact #1: Retinol supports healthy cell turnover.
When retinol is introduced, it sinks into your skin and speeds up the cell turnover process, causing your body to pump out fresher, smoother skin quicker.
As we've seen, no, retinol won't be banned in the EU, but the use of certain retinoids will be restricted. The timeframe in which products will be phased out is also rather generous. The reason for this has nothing to do with skincare.
If your skin is tolerating Retinol well after three weeks of use every three days, move up to every other day, then every day. As a rule the more irritated your skin is, the less frequently you should apply it. If your skin responds well, you can start applying Retinol every night.
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.
Things to avoid
Retinol usually finds its best friends in moisturizers and hyaluronic acid, while you shouldn't combine it with vitamin C, glycolic acid, or benzoyl peroxide. In the event you need to use one of these substances, apply it on days when you aren't going to be using retinol and alternate.
Applying ice to swollen or burned areas of your face can relieve retinol burn pain. Short-term use (less than two weeks) of topical corticosteroids like hydrocortisone cream can also help with swelling and discomfort. Sometimes your pharmacy can combine a 1% concentration of hydrocortisone with your retinol product.
Skin experts always advocate applying actives on damp skin for better absorption. However the same rule does not apply to retinol. While you must ensure that you wash your face before application, make sure the skin is dry first. “On damp skin, the retinol will get absorbed more deeply and in turn cause irritation.
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.