It’s 1513. Juan Ponce De Leon, a Spanish explorer, is sailing through the deep waters of Puerto Rico Trench. Imagine him gazing out through a telescope, hoping that his search would end. The mythical Fountain of Youth was his treasure. He instead reached Florida. Historians have It is now used for more than just treating severe acne. It is used for skin conditions such as anti-aging and retexturing. Dr Hemlatha Kanodia says that people get distracted by the success stories of others online and end up chasing the same results.”
Albert Kligman discovered the amazing effects of the chemical on acne while studying it in the 1960s. Experts discovered that the chemical can have side effects such as a more even skin texture and a repair of sunburn. This results in healthier skin.
Kanodia said that it was okay to use it for other purposes than acne treatment. It is one of the most studied and efficacious ingredients in skincare that can slow down skin ageing. However, like all medications, there are side effects that must be monitored and a doctor must approve of its use.
She has treated many patients who have suffered from self-inflicted burns or skin damage due to improper use of tretinoin. It is a prescription medication but it is readily available on the market. Most times, no prescription is required.
If you’re going to use tretinoin (), here’s how it should be done correctly and how to repair any damage), rashes and chemical burns.
What’s tretinoin? How does it work?
Tretinoin is known by many names, including A-ret, retino A, tretin and A-ret. However, they all belong to the same class of compounds that derive their vitamin A from cosmetics that are topically applied.
Kanodia explains that there are four major categories. There are four main categories: retinol and retinaldehyde; retinyl esters; retinol and retinoic acids. This is the most irritating and potent form. It can be found in the form of tazarotene or tretinoin.
Retinoic Acid is the biological, pure form of the chemical. Our skin has retinoic acids receptors that these products bind and activate to change our skin cells. This triggers massive skin cell turnover, also known as exfoliation. This increased skin cell turnover results in a clearer and smoother complexion. It also stimulates collagen production, which slows down as we age. Kanodia says that retinoic acid is the best form of it, as it has the greatest impact on these results.
As we move down the list, the less potent the derivatives become. This means that our skin has to take more steps to convert retinol or retinyl esters into retinoic acids. The derivatives are also less irritating to the skin and more likely to cause side effects.
What is the deal with the “purge”?
Experts debunk the notion of a “tretinoin purge”, while Kanodia believes there are different strokes that work for different people. You’ll find most people complaining about the purge if you look at the Reddit forums. Some call it “tret uglies” and their “lizard phase”, while others, clearly God’s favourite, claim that they have not experienced any adverse effects.
Tretinoin helps you to shed the outer layers of your skin. It also causes new epidermis cells to rise to the surface faster than the natural exfoliation process. One tretinoin user posted that pimples are the result of all the gunk in your skin’s layers. Kanodia claims that the ‘purge’, which is acne breakouts and skin reddening, are due to severe skin irritation and dryness, which are common side effects when taking tretinoin.
You may notice redder skin and dry patches all over your face. She says that it is important to moisturize your skin, protect it from the sun, and take slow steps to reduce potential damage.
Experts say it will get worse before it gets better. It can take anywhere from 2 to 3 months depending on how much you use the purge. For some, it could be just a few pimples. Others may experience full-blown acne blowouts or skin peeling. Tretinoin is a long-term strategy.
Will retinol or retinal provide me with the same benefits?
The mass following for retinal (retinaldehyde) and retinal (retinol), have grown rapidly since their entry into the market. Experts agree that both have similar benefits, but they differ in the speed and degree of their results.
The difference is in the speed at which you see results. Kanodia explains that Tretinoin has more dramatic and quicker results but can have more severe and serious side effects.