Discover the benefits, side effects and sun security precautions you need to take when you use tretinoin prescription retinoid cream.

Tretinoin has become all the rage in the skincare world recently. Touted for its ability to deal with acne, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and improve sun damaged skin, there’s no wonder it’s so popular. But is it safe on your skin?

If you’re thinking about incorporating this tretinoin buy to your skincare routine, you’ll need to ensure you use it properly to stop any unwelcome unwanted effects. Plus, you’ll have to be extra careful when out in the sun. Read on to master why.



What is tretinoin?
Tretinoin (often known as prescription retinoids or prescription vitamin A) is really a highly potent, medical-grade topical vitamin A cream or gel. It contains retinoic acid, which is the most biologically available active kind of vitamin A, and comes in different formula strengths.

Unlike retinol and other over-the-counter versions of vitamin A, tretinoin can be a prescription-only topical treatment. This means you can only purchase it when you have a script from a doctor or dermatologist who may have properly assessed the skin and deemed its use appropriate.

Tretinoin vs. Retinol: what is the difference?
Tretinoin and retinol tend to be classified as retinoids — but there are several key differences with shod and non-shod:

Tretinoin
Synthetic type of vitamin A
Only available which has a prescription (classed like a medical-grade skincare product)
Highly potent
Retinol
Natural way of vitamin A
Available over-the-counter and found in many skincare products
Milder formulation

What is tretinoin useful for?
It may seem like tretinoin has only been around the skincare radar these days, however it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been useful for almost fifty years. It continues to be found in lessening inflammation associated with acne, clear existing acne and reduce 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 pores and skin and texture
Reducing the appearance of face lines and wrinkles
Reducing the appearance of dark spots on your skin
Improving premature aging of skin as a result of sun damage (photoaging)
Other research for the use of retinoids inside treatment of skin aging found that ​“amongst the retinoids, tretinoin possibly is easily the most potent and certainly one of the most widely investigated retinoid for photoaging therapy.”

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

Most people start noticing a difference inside their skin after 2-3 weeks of employing the product, however it can take 6 or even more weeks for that full benefit to appear.

Can tretinoin fade skin spots or sunspots?
Some research suggests tretinoin can fade the appearance of dark spots on your skin layer. However, everyone’s skin is different as well as a topical treatment alone may not be essentially the most effective approach to fade sun spots in your face or body. This is why it’s important to consult having a dermatologist before starting any sun spot removal treatment so you can get personalised advice for the best approach to your skin.

Likewise, it’s important to possess a thorough skin check by a melanographer or dermatologist to confirm perhaps the spots you would like to fade truly are sunspots and not something more sinister. It can be difficult to recognize the difference from a harmless sunspot and a potential skin cancer or melanoma so be sure you have the skin spots professionally checked before using tretinoin or other prescription retinoids.

What are the side effects of tretinoin?
Prescription retinoids like tretinoin are extremely powerful. This means you must have used them properly underneath the guidance of your respective dermatologist or doctor — or you might risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or a damaged skin barrier.

Due to its potency, tretinoin could cause some skin irritation when you first begin using it as your skin layer needs time for it to adjust to the active ingredients. Some other common 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 negative effects after a few weeks of utilizing the product.

Tretinoin photosensitivity: Why you have to be extra careful within the sun when utilizing 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 harmful UV rays and you could burn easily when exposed to sunlight.

From a skin cancer prevention perspective, this may be problematic. One of the key risk factors for skin cancer is often a history of sunburn so it’s clear to understand 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 which you take extra precautions with sun protection when working with this product.

How to protect the skin from the sun when using tretinoin:
Avoid excessive sun exposure — do not use this product in case you work outdoors or spend lots of time out within the sun
Wear SPF 50+ sunscreen every day — even if you’re only staying indoors as indirect sunlight through windows can certainly still damage or burn your skin layer
Wear sun protective clothing when outdoors

Make regular skin checks part of the skincare routine
At MoleMap, we agree that looking after your skin is a top priority. But when it comes to your epidermis health, we encourage you to definitely think beyond skincare products and start making regular skin cancer checks part of your epidermis wellness routine too.

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