Are Retinoids Good For Your Skin Problems?

With just one word your skincare routine can change. Retinoids and retinol are what you need to rejuvenate and clear all your skin problems.

Retinoids, belonging to the same family as retinol has been around since 1971. And that is a long time and lots of data about this compound.

These retinoids are derived from vitamin A which has great benefits. These include helping your body’s defense system against illnesses and infections, reducing the risk of acne, and it is even good for bone health.

Let’s break down everything you need to know about retinoids, and this way you will better understand how you should use them and enjoy all their benefits. First of all, you need to know that retinoids and retinol are both in the vitamin A family, but they have different intensities.

It is very simple to explain, just think of it this way: retinol is a weaker form of retinoids. You can easily find retinol over the counter, and in many beauty products, but retinoids tend to be prescription only.

If you have sensitive skin it is best to use retinol, but if your skin needs it and your dermatologist recommends and prescribes it, retinoids can work for you.

How Do Retinoids Work?

Retinoids and retinol both have an active agent that is retinoic acid, which delivers all the benefits to your skin.

Typically, retinol will undergo lots of changes to its formulation to become retinoic acid.

Retinoids, on the other hand, get converted to retinoic acid so they will be faster acting and even more potent.

Retinoids

Use retinoids to get smoother skin, and fewer wrinkles, reduce acne and acne scars, and all together reduce the signs of aging on your skin.

You will get all these benefits for your skin from retinoic acid, which boosts your skin’s collagen production. This is essential because collagen is what gives us that younger look.

It helps with your skin’s elasticity and makes your face plumper which reduces wrinkles, and you are left with younger-looking skin.

Retinol

There is one important thing you need to know when it comes to the difference between retinol and retinoid. You can get retinol over the counter, and you can find it in beauty products. Retinoids are a lot more potent and require a prescription to get them.

No matter which one works for your skin, they both have the same benefits just the delivery times differ. If you are using retinol, you will usually see results after 6 months. While in the case of retinoids, the process will take about 3 months.

Why Use Retinoids Or Retinol?

Try to use retinol and retinoids for a variety of skin problems and conditions. They can be what your skin needs to feel and look like a healthy and younger self.

1. For Wrinkles

Smoothen the lines around your eyes, and forehead just by using retinoids. They will boost your collagen, which helps with wrinkle lines and stimulate blood vessels in your skin. So your skin will be more rosy and plump, leaving no place for wrinkles.

Age spots can get faded and even sun-damaged skin can be helped using retinoids.

Over-the-counter retinol won’t have the same effect as prescribed retinoids when it comes to wrinkles, but they can help ease and smooth sun-damaged skin.

2. For Acne

If you have mild or even severe acne problems that other treatments didn’t solve, retinoids can work for you. Spreading some retinoids on the skin will unclog the pores and this will help other medications and gels to penetrate the skin and do their jobs.

Another way that retinoids help with acne is by preventing the dead cells to clog the pores. While they help reduce acne and clear breakouts, they also help with acne scarring.

The retinoid pill will treat any oil production, bacteria, and inflammation that causes acne.

3. For Warts

Your doctor can prescribe you retinol for warts. This is usually the case when other treatments do not work. Applying retinol cream to warts can stop their cell growth so you can get rid of them.

Make sure that you are following the doctor’s prescription when it comes to using retinoids for warts. You will have to use creams for a few months before warts can disappear.

Retinoids can be the best treatment for any flat warts on the back of your hand.

4. For Psoriasis

The use of retinoids helps slow down the growth of skin cells in patients with psoriasis. The treatment for psoriasis can be usually combined with steroids. You can use gel or cream form to apply to your sores once a day.

The Risks And Potential Side Effects

As it comes with almost every treatment, medication, or even beauty product, there can be certain side effects and even risks associated with using the product. The same is true in the case of retinoids.

So pay attention to these potential side effects that can occur:

• Skin irritation;
• Dryness;
• And swelling.

Your skin can get very sensitive after applying retinol or retinoids to it. It can become red, leave you with a burning sensation, and even scaly skin.

All these can occur when the product you are taking is very concentrated. This is the case with prescription retinoids, which can irritate the skin faster and for longer time periods.

Don’t be alarmed if your skin becomes red and irritated even after the first use. After a few weeks, your skin will be able to tolerate better the retinoids.

Tips And Tricks

In the case of retinol and retinoids, you will look worst before you will look better. You can experience more breakouts after using it, but that is just your skin clearing itself. So make sure to stick to your routine and give it a few months to do its magic.

If you have sensitive skin but still want to try retinoids, mix them together with your moisturizer before applying them. First-time users should start slow and only use it a couple of times a week. Then slowly start to increase their usage frequency.

Wash your face at night and after 20 minutes do your skincare routine using retinol or retinoids. They are best used at night because sunlight can decrease the effectiveness of the product.

Pregnant women should not use retinoids. And if you are trying to conceive, retinoids should also be off the table.