Discover the benefits, negative effects and sun safety measures you need to take when working with tretinoin prescription retinoid cream.

Tretinoin has been all the rage inside the skincare world recently. Touted for 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 can it be safe to your skin?

If you’re thinking about incorporating this order tretinoin 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 your skin and deemed its use appropriate.

Tretinoin vs. Retinol: what's the difference?
Tretinoin and retinol are classified as retinoids — but there are several key differences between them:

Tretinoin
Synthetic form of vitamin A
Only available having a prescription (classed like a medical-grade skincare product)
Highly potent
Retinol
Natural type 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 has only been for the skincare radar in recent times, however it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been used for almost fifty 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 may also be helpful for:

Improving skin tone and texture
Reducing the appearance of face lines and wrinkles
Reducing the appearance of brown spots on your skin layer
Improving premature aging of skin on account of sun damage (photoaging)
Other research on the use of retinoids inside treatment of aging found that ​“amongst the retinoids, tretinoin possibly is regarded as the potent and certainly probably the most widely investigated retinoid for photoaging therapy.”

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

Most people start observing a difference inside their skin after 2-3 weeks of utilizing the product, however it can take 6 or more weeks to the full benefit to be seen.

Can tretinoin fade skin spots or sunspots?
Some research suggests tretinoin can fade the appearance of brown spots on skin. However, everyone’s skin is different plus a topical treatment alone may not be probably the most effective way to fade sun spots on the face or body. This is why it’s important to consult using 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 the melanographer or dermatologist to confirm whether or not the spots you need to fade really are sunspots and never something more sinister. It can be difficult to recognize the difference from the harmless sunspot as well as a potential skin cancer or melanoma so be sure you have your epidermis 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 use them properly underneath the guidance of the dermatologist or doctor — or you may risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or even a damaged skin barrier.

Due to its potency, tretinoin might cause some skin irritation when you begin using it as your skin needs time 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 using the product.

Tretinoin photosensitivity: Why you need to be extra careful inside sun when working with this product
Another side-effect associated with the use of tretinoin is photosensitisation. This means commemorate you more sensitive to sunlight’s harmful UV rays and you can 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 can be a history of sunburn so it’s easy to see why photosensitivity from tretinoin is concerning. While there is currently no evidence to suggest tretinoin use increases your risk of skin cancer, it’s crucial which you take extra precautions with sun protection when utilizing this product.

How to protect your epidermis from the sun when working with tretinoin:
Avoid excessive sun exposure — do not make use of this product should you work outdoors or spend lots of time out inside the sun
Wear SPF 50+ sunscreen every day — even in case you’re only staying indoors as indirect sunlight through windows could damage or burn your skin
Wear sun protective clothing when outdoors

Make regular skin checks part of your skin layercare 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 definitely think beyond skincare products and initiate making regular skin cancer checks part of your epidermis wellness routine too.

By having a professional skin check or mole check every 6 to 1 year, you’ll give yourself the very best chance to catch any suspicious spots or lesions early. Plus, you’ll also love peace of mind that you’re keeping your skin safe — inside and out. Consider scheduling these regular checks at MoleMap Australia Skin Cancer Clinics for expert care and thorough examination.