Retinoids: The "one" for Anti-aging?

What are Retinoids?

Everyone's got their favorite tricks for younger, more radiant skin. But this ingredient tops the must-try lists of all the experts and has reams of scientific support.

I recently posted a question on my story which asked about which ingredient would you guys want me to talk about. And, many of you suggested Retinol or Vitamin A.

Frankly speaking, I wasn't much aware of this one. But when I read up on it, I was amazed!

This one is termed to be a great ingredient for anti-aging. But it doesn't stop there. It does have some other benefits as well.

Now, lets start.

I have broken down this series in various questions that I think people would generally have and I will try and answer most of them with the help of this series.

So, the first question and the start of our #skincare101 , What are Retinoids?

Retinoids (the umbrella term for retinol products) are powerful enough to improve skin texture, pigmentation, and tone in just a few drops of serum or dollops of cream.

These vitamin A derivatives have been proven to boost collagen production (reducing wrinkles and preventing fine lines), speed cell turnover (evening out discoloration and brightening skin tone) and unclog pores (making them look smaller and reducing acne). 

Prescription formulas contain retinoic acid, the magic ingredient that fights visible aging; nonprescription alternatives need to be converted into retinoic acid by the skin at the cellular level.

What is the difference between Retinoids, Retinol and Retin A?

The difference is that retinols are gentler versions of retinoids, and you typically don’t need a prescription to use them.

Retin-A, on the other hand, is a prescription-only retinoid, and thus stronger than anything you can get over the counter. Like retinol, Retin-A also improves skin tone, boosts collagen, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and speeds up cell turnover, except it’s a lot stronger, and consequently, more powerful.

To sum it up: retinoids are a chemical class that both retinols and Retin-A fall under.

The main difference between these two are potency, effect and irritation level. Retin-A will be the most effective and potent anti-aging cream but will have the highest irritation factor. Retinol is less irritating but takes longer to achieve results.”

The reason? Retinol needs to work with the skin’s enzymes to convert it to retinoic acid before it becomes effective. Retin-A is potent enough on its own. This is why retinol takes several months of consistent use to see results.

Tretinoin, the most common prescription retinoid, is stronger, more potent and faster-acting than retinol.

Benefits of Retinol

Retinol has Anti-Aging Benefits for Skin

Retinol products can help visibly diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles, increase the appearance of firmness, improve uneven skin tone, smooth and refine the surface of skin, and help mitigate the effects of environmental stressors.

Retinoids work by prompting surface skin cells to turn over and die rapidly, making way for new cell growth underneath. They hamper the breakdown of collagen and thicken the deeper layer of skin where wrinkles get their start. For brown spots that give the skin an uneven tone, retinoids slough them off and curb the production of melanin, a darker pigment.

It has proven to be beneficial in slowing down and reversing the signs of aging, as well as lightening age spots. Using a Retinol product that is rich in antioxidants will usually be your best bet for ensuring beautiful, ageless results.

Be sure to apply your retinol eye cream around your eyes to help with fine lines and crow's feet.

Retinol helps to reduce Hyper pigmentation & Acne

One of the best known uses of Retinol is for battling hyper pigmentation. Yes, Retinol is indeed wonderful for evening out your skin tone and lightening up dark spots.

Since it helps to boost collagen production and also increases the cell turn over, it helps to remove the layer of dead skin cells and brighten the face.

Most people use Retinol for it’s anti-aging abilities, however, this amazing ingredient has also shown its efficacy in fighting acne as well! Retinol helps to soothe inflammation, removes dead skin cells, and has assisted in making pores appear smaller. I also love how this helps to fight acne while lightening acne scars!

How to use Retinol products?

1. Amount

Patients who have never used a retinoid often experience more intense side effects from prescription-strength tretinoin (Retin-A). These include redness, stinging, burning, peeling and flaking. Retinol might work more slowly than prescription-strength retinoids, like Retin-A, but it’s less likely to cause side effects. If you’re new to retinoids and are worried about side effects, start with an over the counter retinol. You can always graduate from a retinol to a prescription retinoid.

When it comes time to apply, it is recommended to first cleanse the skin using a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser. Pat dry very gently. You don’t want to over-scrub or irritate your skin, and harsh cleansers do more harm than good when it comes to the health of your skin’s natural invisible barrier. You can then apply a retinoid serum or cream.

Remember that a little goes a long way — most products only require you use a pea-sized amount for your entire face. Slathering on retinoid creams won't only cause you to quickly use up your supply, but it can also cause redness, dryness and irritation. Even when used judiciously, retinoids can be quite drying. That's why it is recommended to use a moisturizer just before bed.

If you’re new to using retinol, start slowly and with a less percentage of concentration. Mix it with your usual moisturizer or serum to see how your skin responds. And, depending on the concentration of retinol in your product, you can vary the frequency of use from daily to a few times per week.

2. Care

Retinoids break down in sunlight and make your skin a lot more sensitive. Some retinoids are photostable — meaning they won’t break down in the sun — but if you’re unsure, better to use the product at night.

No direct sunlight— not when using any kind of retinoid. Not only is retinoid-treated skin super-sensitive to UV rays and likely to burn, but the sunlight also makes the product less effective. That's why dermatologists strongly recommend putting these products on your face before bed and using a sunscreen every morning.

All forms of retinol deteriorate when exposed to air and light, so make sure you only buy retinol products packaged in airtight, opaque containers.