June 21, 2021

All About Retinol In Skincare

We’ve all heard the name, but hardly any of the us know how it exactly works. What we are talking about is retinol, one of the few basic skincare ingredients that have become a household name and are always a part of conversation in the world of dermatology.

Retinol has now long been worshipped by dermatologists, beauty editors, and skincare fanatics as the hero ingredient to battle fine lines & wrinkles! You might think it’s some magic anti-aging ingredient. To truly understand the ingredient let us dive deeper into the conversation.

What Is Retinol?

Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A that is used for anti-aging primarily and is found in a range of skin products. Retinol reactivates the skin renewal process and is a great priming treatment to prepare skin for chemical peels and other medical procedures. An antioxidant by nature, Retinol works by converting itself into retinaldehyde and then forming into retinoic acid. Once converted into retinoic acid, it gets incorporated into the cells.

The magic benefit of retinol is to resurface the skin’s texture for an even toned and smoother look. This benefit comes with other benefits like reducing Sun damage, brown spots, lines & wrinkles.

Some quick facts about Retinol

Type: Antioxidant

Main Benefits: Boosts collagen production and regulates oil production. Also increases cell turnover.

Who Should Be Using It: Anyone who wishes to fight the signs of skin aging. However, retinol is not recommended for woman who are pregnant.

Frequency: Twice a week for starters is fine, application is to be done at night following the use of a moisturizer that suits your skin. Retinol shouldn’t be applied in the day as sunlight basically deactivates retinol.

Main Benefits of Retinol:

Anti-Aging: That’s the number 1 benefit. Since retinol enhances the skin cell turnover, it directly adds a youthful look to the skin.

Evens the overall skin tone: Retinol works against hyperpigmentation to give the skin a smoother look.

Boosting collagen production: Since this is a primary benefit as well, one can expect a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Improves the texture: Since retinol boosts collagen production, it can improve the structure and strength of the skin.

Fights Sun Damage: Retinol actively repairs skin damage due to the Sun.

Does It Really Work?

Yes. Retinol is easily one of the most revered ingredients in the beauty world and has long proved to be effective at tackling early signs of aging including pigmentation, fine lines & wrinkles.

Retinol works effectively due to its antioxidant properties that reduce the appearance of brown spots. Retinol also stimulates flexibility and elasticity of the skin, collagen production for an overall bright complexion and to also regenerates melanin to tackle pigmentation.

What Percentage of Retinol is The Best?

The higher the concentration, the stronger your skin will respond with visible shedding and redness. Skin with no retinol experience should start low (0.3%) and then gradually increase to 0.5% – 1% formulations with each bottle.

The 1% mark is optimal for signs of visible aging or hyperpigmentation and even acne scars, however, this formulation might only be available with a prescription.

How To Apply Retinol

First, make sure that you’re using a product that contains the right form of retinol. Once you’ve found the right product, start by using it once or twice a week.

When first using retinol, you may experience irritation such as dryness and redness of the skin. In case your skin doesn’t get irritated then you may increase the frequency gradually. However, in the case of irritation start by applying a low percentage and use it at intervals.

Once the skin gets adjusted to the usage of retinol, Vitamin C based sunscreens can be added to the skincare routine. Make sure that you do not apply it at night.

When To Start Using Retinol?

Ideally, the age of 25 is a good time to start using retinol as it’s then when our skin’s collagen levels start to deplete. However, it’s important to remember that everyone’s skin is a bit different so it’s important to get in touch with your dermatologist before adding it to your skincare routine.

In How Much Time Will the Results Show?

As with all skincare products, one must be patient for the results to show. On average, the skin is renewed after 28 days of usage. This means that new cells migrate to the surface of the skin after which you will start to see the results.

In case you’d like to know more about when to add retinol to your skincare regime, you may book a consultation with Dr. Jaspreet by calling us at +91-8826141232.