Discover the benefits, unwanted side effects and sun health concerns you need to take when using tretinoin prescription retinoid cream.

Tretinoin has become all the rage inside 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 could it be safe for the skin?

If you’re thinking about incorporating this tretinoin buy into the skincare routine, you’ll must make sure you use it properly to prevent any unwelcome negative effects. Plus, you’ll have to be extra careful when out within the sun. Read on to find out why.



What is tretinoin?
Tretinoin (often known as prescription retinoids or prescription vitamin A) is often a highly potent, medical-grade topical vitamin A cream or gel. It contains retinoic acid, which is among the most biologically available active way of vitamin A, and will come 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 when you have a script coming from a doctor or dermatologist that has properly assessed your skin layer and deemed its use appropriate.

Tretinoin vs. Retinol: what's the difference?
Tretinoin and retinol tend to be classified as retinoids — but there are many key differences together:

Tretinoin
Synthetic kind of vitamin A
Only available with a prescription (classed being a medical-grade skincare product)
Highly potent
Retinol
Natural form of vitamin A
Available over-the-counter and found in many skincare products
Milder formulation

What is tretinoin used by?
It may seem like tretinoin just has been around the skincare radar these days, however 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 that it could also be helpful for:

Improving complexion and texture
Reducing the appearance of wrinkles and wrinkles
Reducing the appearance of brown spots on skin
Improving premature aging of skin because of sun damage (photoaging)
Other research on the use of retinoids within the treatment of skin aging found that ​“amongst the retinoids, tretinoin possibly is easily the most potent and certainly probably the most widely investigated retinoid for photoaging therapy.”

How does tretinoin work?
Tretinoin functions speeding inside the cellular turnover inside the skin, making skin cells divide and die faster in order that new, healthier cells can replace them. However, to be able to stimulate this process, tretinoin must ultimately irritate your skin layer. This is why people often experience uncomfortable unwanted effects when first applying this product.

Most people start noticing a difference inside their skin after two to three weeks utilizing the product, however it can take 6 or more weeks for your 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 layer. However, everyone’s skin is different along with a topical treatment alone may not be the most effective method to fade sun spots on the face or body. This is why it’s important to consult which has a dermatologist before starting any sun spot removal treatment so you can get personalised advice around the best approach on your skin.

Likewise, it’s important to possess a thorough skin check by way of a melanographer or dermatologist to confirm perhaps the spots you want to fade are indeed sunspots and never something more sinister. It can be difficult to identify the difference from a harmless sunspot plus a potential skin cancer or melanoma so make sure you have your skin layer 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 have used them properly under the guidance of your respective dermatologist or doctor — or you may risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or possibly a damaged skin barrier.

Due to its potency, tretinoin might cause some skin irritation when you begin using it as your skin layer needs time for you to adjust on the active ingredients. Some other common unwanted side 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 utilizing the product.

Tretinoin photosensitivity: Why you have to be extra careful inside sun when you use this product
Another side-effect associated with the utilization of tretinoin is photosensitisation. This means it can make you more sensitive to the sun's rays’s harmful UV rays and you may burn easily when encountered with sunlight.

From a skin cancer prevention perspective, this might be problematic. One of the key risk factors for skin cancer can be a history of sunburn so it’s obvious why photosensitivity from tretinoin is concerning. While there is currently no evidence to suggest tretinoin use increases your probability of skin cancer, it’s crucial that you take extra precautions with sun protection when utilizing this product.

How to protect your epidermis from the sun when using tretinoin:
Avoid excessive sun exposure — do not make use of this product in the event you work outdoors or spend considerable time out in the sun
Wear SPF 50+ sunscreen every day — even in case you’re only staying indoors as indirect sunlight through windows can continue to damage or burn your skin layer
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 your skin layer health, we encourage you to think beyond skincare products and begin making regular skin cancer checks part of your epidermis wellness routine too.

By having a professional skin check or mole check every 6 to 12 months, you’ll give yourself the very best chance to catch any suspicious spots or lesions early. Plus, you’ll also relish peace of mind that you just’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.