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One of the most common ingredients that you’ll often find on the label of your skincare bottle is retinol. This is essentially a type of vitamin A, and while it does not get absorbed into your skin, it will do an excellent job at protecting it from environmental pollutants and stressors, as well as the effects of photoaging. It basically exfoliates your skin in a very gentle manner. With that said, not many people know what to do with retinol or what it does, so let’s take a look at 3 facts in this article.
If you have any other questions after reading this article, reach out to one of our dermatologists. They’d be more than happy to help you.
#1. It’s Not Suitable for Everyone
Many people will rave about using retinol to get wrinkle-free skin or a healthier complexion. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that this ingredient is right for you. If you are using retinol or would like to use a higher concentration of retinol, it’s important that you speak with a licensed dermatology practice in Southlake, TX first.
One of the benefits of going with us is that our dermatologists will often conduct a skin evaluation and assessment before they begin anything else. This assessment and evaluation will provide valuable insight as to your skin type, what your skin lacks and what your skin needs. We’ll take this opportunity to also look for any underlying medical conditions that might be contributing to the problem.
Circling back to retinol, it’s not right for everyone. For one, those with sensitive skin should stay away from this ingredient as much as possible as it can easily do more harm than good. It’s also important that you do not use this ingredient anywhere in the eye area. The skin there is much thinner than elsewhere on your face, and as a result, will be a lot more sensitive to the effects of retinol.
Because your skin might be sensitive to this ingredient, most dermatologists recommend starting with a low concentration of retinol and working your way up. Just because your friend can use a higher concentration, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’ll work for you. To ensure that you don’t irritate or damage your skin, start low.
If our dermatologists have deemed that retinol is not the right ingredient for you, we’ll always try to find you an alternative that will be better for your skin. There are many different types of skin care treatments and regimens that can help.
#2. Combine It with a Moisturizer
If you’re a skincare fanatic, then you likely mix different types of compounds together by using them at the same time. This might not necessarily be a good thing when it comes to retinol because your skin will be quite sensitive after its application. You definitely don’t want to add anything else that might potentially irritate your skin, like alpha or beta hydroxy acids. Too much of a good thing might not always be a good thing.
According to most dermatologists, the best thing that you can use with your skin is a moisturizer. A moisturizer will help to hydrate and soothe your irritated skin. In fact, some people even mix retinol with a moisturizer so that it is less irritating in general.
If your skin care regimen includes other types of active ingredients, like vitamin C, you might want to consider applying those products at a different time of day. For example, many dermatologists recommend switching your vitamin C application to the morning instead of at night. Applying vitamin C to your face in the morning might even make it a lot more effective, as it can help fight off free radicals.
There is only one product that we recommend that you apply if you’ve applied retinol and that is sunscreen in the morning before you head out. Even if you plan on staying home or if the weather looks a bit grey, apply sunscreen. Your skin will be a lot more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation after you’ve used retinol and you definitely do not want to make it even more susceptible to ultraviolet damage. You can always speak with one of our professionals to get a sunscreen that’s more compatible with your skin type.
#3. It Takes Time to Work
Last but not least, it’s important to remember that this isn’t some type of miracle drug. You should not expect instantaneous results. In fact, it can take some time and will take some time before you uneven notice a difference. Fret not. That doesn’t mean that the retinol is not working its wonders under all those layers of skin,
Most dermatologists will recommend sticking with a product that contains retinol for about 6 months. By then, you should start to see the results that you are looking for. We highly recommend that you take before and after photos. If you don’t, it’s really easy for you to miss the difference.
Another thing to note is that the retinol may be preventing your skin from looking worse. As a result, even if you don’t see the results that you are seeking soon, it doesn’t mean that the product isn’t working.
We Can Recommend Products to You
If you’re looking for a skincare routine and regimen that will improve the overall appearance of your skin, speak with Compassion Dermatology today. We are one of the top dermatology clinics in Southlake, TX and all of our dermatologists have helped many residents in the area achieve their skin goals. We can help you get rid of pigmentation or even nourish and hydrate your skin with a wide variety and range of different skin care treatments. HydraFacials are particularly popular at our clinic.
For more information, give us a call at 817-380-5911 or reach out to us online. Our dermatologists in Southlake, TX will be more than happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have or walk you through the different types of treatments and services that we have to offer.
