Retinoids are a component you might hear about regarding skin care products. These substances possess anti-aging and skin-rejuvenating qualities.
Vitamin A results in retinoids. Retinoids come in a variety of forms, one of which is retinol.
Learning more about retinol and retinoids can help you choose the products that will work best for you when using them.
What are retinoids?
Retinoids are compounds that come from vitamin A or those that look like and act like vitamin A. They can be both natural forms of vitamin A or synthetic (human-made) forms. They are often used in skincare, cosmetics, and medicine.
Retinoids may help:
- reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing collagen production
- stimulate the production of new blood vessels in the skin
- fade age spots
- smooth rough skin
Examples of retinoids include:
- retinol, which is available over-the-counter (OTC)
- retinoid esters, also available OTC
- retinoic acid, known as Retin-A, which is prescription only
- isotretinoin, known as Accutane, which is also prescription only
- adapalene, known as Differin, 0.1%, which is available both OTC and prescription — it is not a retinoid but functions much like one on the skin
Prescription retinoids include:
- tretinoin (Retin-A)
- tazarotene (Avage, Tazorac)
- adapalene (Differin)
There is also an over-the-counter, less potent version of adapalene.
Retinol is a form of retinoid that can be found in OTC topical creams. These can improve the skin but are not as strong as prescription creams, so they tend to be less irritating as well.
Retinoids can dry out and irritate your skin, so it’s recommended that you use them every other day and slowly work up to every day. It’s also important to wear sunscreen when using retinoids because they may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun.
What is retinol?
A type of retinoid generated from vitamin A is retinol.
Retinol is frequently used in skin care products because, according to a 2017 study, it is a precursor to retinoic acid. In a lab setting, retinoic acid has been demonstrated to have anti-aging effects on aged human skin.
The molecules in retinol penetrate beneath the top layer of your skin to the middle layer, known as the dermis, while other skin care products remove dead skin.
Retinol combats free radicals once it enters the dermis to increase collagen and elastin. This improves the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by plumping up the skin. It can aid in the treatment of scars and severe acne.
To maintain youthful-looking skin and aid in skin restoration, retinol is frequently applied topically.
Retinol gradually turns into retinoic acid when applied to human skin. Retinol, when applied topically, has fewer adverse side effects than retinoic acid.
But bear in mind that retinol requires a larger dose to achieve the same effects as topically applied retinoic acid.
How to know which to use
Before using retinol or retinoids, see your doctor.
Applying OTC retinol every other day or so may be the ideal way to ease into using a product due to the possibility of adverse effects such as skin irritation, redness, and peeling skin. This aids in product acclimation for your skin.
Consult your dermatologist about switching to retinoids if you aren’t getting the results you desire from retinol.
Also Read:- Vitamin E Toxicity – All You Should Know
Who should not use retinol or retinoids?
Retinol and retinoids included in skin care products should be avoided by those who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant since they may raise the risk of birth abnormalities and miscarriage.
Consult your doctor if you use retinol and are considering starting a family. In order to protect the unborn child or prevent miscarriage, some doctors recommend that their patients use oral contraceptives in conjunction with retinoids.
Inform your doctor about any medications, dietary supplements, and other goods before using retinol or retinoids.
Are there risks from mixing other products with retinol or retinoids?
If you are using a retinoid or retinol cream, avoid utilizing any other products that contain retinoids.
To find out if your anti-aging or acne treatments contain either of these, check the labels. Your risk for negative effects may rise if you use these chemicals in many products.
Consult a dermatologist about goods you might want to avoid if you use retinol or retinoids. You should stay away from any things that can exacerbate the adverse effects of these substances because they can result in them, such as dryness or peeling skin.
The bottom line
Both retinol and retinoids are powerful skin-improving ingredients that can help minimize fine lines and wrinkles.
Even though these topical creams are generally safe for the majority of people, you should see your doctor before using them, especially if you intend to get pregnant, suspect that you could already be pregnant, are already pregnant, are breastfeeding, or are planning to start.
While retinol and retinoids are extremely similar, there are some variations between the two products that you should be aware of in order to make the best choice for your requirements.