Discover the benefits, negative effects and sun safety precautions you need to take when utilizing tretinoin prescription retinoid cream.

Tretinoin has been all the rage inside the skincare world recently. Touted due to the ability to help remedy acne, erase 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 purchase to your skincare routine, you’ll must make sure you use it properly to avoid any unwelcome side effects. Plus, you’ll should be extra careful when out inside the sun. Read on to understand why.



What is tretinoin?
Tretinoin (also called prescription retinoids or prescription vitamin A) is 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 is really a prescription-only topical treatment. This means you is only able to purchase it for those who have a script coming from a doctor or dermatologist who has properly assessed your skin layer and deemed its use appropriate.

Tretinoin vs. Retinol: what is the difference?
Tretinoin and retinol are generally classified as retinoids — but there are many key differences together:

Tretinoin
Synthetic kind of vitamin A
Only available which has a prescription (classed as a medical-grade skincare product)
Highly potent
Retinol
Natural type of vitamin A
Available over-the-counter and discovered in many skincare products
Milder formulation

What is tretinoin used by?
It may seem like tretinoin has only been around the skincare radar in recent years, nevertheless it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been used by almost 50 years. It has been found in lowering inflammation associated with acne, clear existing acne minimizing the severity of outbreaks.

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

Improving skin and texture
Reducing the appearance of face lines and wrinkles
Reducing the appearance of liver spots on your skin layer
Improving premature aging of skin due to sun damage (photoaging)
Other research on the use of retinoids in the treatment of skin aging found that ​“amongst the retinoids, tretinoin possibly is the most potent and certainly the most widely investigated retinoid for photoaging therapy.”

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

Most people start noticing a difference in their skin after 2 to 3 weeks utilizing the product, nevertheless it can take 6 or even more weeks for the full benefit to wear.

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 as well as a topical treatment alone may not be essentially 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 for the best approach to your skin.

Likewise, it’s important to have a thorough skin check by the melanographer or dermatologist to confirm if the spots you wish to fade truly are sunspots instead of something more sinister. It can be difficult to identify the difference from your harmless sunspot along with a potential skin cancer or melanoma so be sure you have the skin 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 make use of them properly within the guidance of the dermatologist or doctor — or you may risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or a damaged skin barrier.

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

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

Tretinoin photosensitivity: Why you should be extra careful inside sun when using this product
Another side-effect associated with the utilization of tretinoin is photosensitisation. This means celebrate you more sensitive to sunshine’s harmful UV rays and you may burn easily when exposed to sunlight.

From a skin cancer prevention perspective, this may be problematic. One of the key risk factors for skin cancer is really 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 which you take extra precautions with sun protection when working with 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 lots of time out inside the sun
Wear SPF 50+ sunscreen every day — even in the event you’re only staying indoors as indirect sunlight through windows could 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 is a top priority. But when it comes to the skin health, we encourage that you think beyond skincare products and begin making regular skin cancer checks part of your skin layer wellness routine too.

By having a professional skin check or mole check every 6 to 1 year, you’ll give yourself the best chance to catch any suspicious spots or lesions early. Plus, you’ll also enjoy 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.