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

Tretinoin continues to be all the rage in the skincare world recently. Touted because of its ability to help remedy acne, erase fine lines and wrinkles, and improve sun damaged skin, there’s no wonder it’s so popular. But would it be safe for your skin?

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



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

Unlike retinol and other over-the-counter versions of vitamin A, tretinoin is a prescription-only topical treatment. This means you could only purchase it for those who 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 some 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 just has been around the skincare radar these days, but it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been useful for almost fifty years. It has been found in lessening inflammation associated with acne, clear existing acne reducing 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 liver spots on the skin
Improving premature aging of skin because of sun damage (photoaging)
Other research about the use of retinoids inside treatment of aging of the skin 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 operates by 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 method, tretinoin must ultimately irritate your skin. This is why people often experience uncomfortable negative effects when first by using this product.

Most people start to notice a difference inside their skin after 2 to 3 weeks of employing the product, but it can take 6 or maybe more weeks for the full benefit to be noticed.

Can tretinoin fade skin spots or sunspots?
Some research suggests tretinoin can fade the appearance of dark spots on skin. However, everyone’s skin is different as well as a topical treatment alone may not be probably the most effective strategy to fade sun spots in your 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 around the best approach to your skin.

Likewise, it’s important to have a thorough skin check with a melanographer or dermatologist to confirm perhaps the spots you want to fade truly are sunspots rather than something more sinister. It can be difficult to recognize the difference between a harmless sunspot along with a potential skin cancer or melanoma so make 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 rely on them properly beneath the guidance of your respective dermatologist or doctor — or you could risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or a damaged skin barrier.

Due to its potency, tretinoin may cause some skin irritation when you initially begin using it as your skin layer needs time and energy to adjust on the active ingredients. Some other common unwanted 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 side effects after a few weeks of using the product.

Tretinoin photosensitivity: Why you need to be extra careful in the sun when using this product
Another side effect associated with the use of tretinoin is photosensitisation. This means it makes you more sensitive to sunshine’s harmful UV rays and you may burn easily when encountered with sunlight.

From a skin cancer prevention perspective, this is problematic. One of the key risk factors for skin cancer can be a history of sunburn so it’s obvious why photosensitivity from tretinoin is concerning. While there is currently no evidence to suggest tretinoin use increases your likelihood of skin cancer, it’s crucial that you simply take extra precautions with sun protection when utilizing this product.

How to protect your skin from the sun when you use tretinoin:
Avoid excessive sun exposure — do not utilize this product should you work outdoors or spend considerable time out in 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 epidermiscare routine
At MoleMap, we agree that looking after your skin can be a top priority. But when it comes to the skin health, we encourage that you think beyond skincare products and commence making regular skin cancer checks part of the skin wellness routine too.

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