subject: What You Should Know About Tretinoin [print this page] Vitamin A has been known to be beneficial for clear eyesight and support for night vision. Aside from this, this vitamin also helps in the development of bones, teeth and skin, and working similarly like Vitamin C, Vitamin A helps the body to fight against flu and colds.
For skin problems, tretinoin is probably the best-known form of Vitamin A that is specifically studied for acne treatment and for premature aging correction. Tretinoin can commonly be found in skin care products and has proved its effectiveness on both skin problems and more. Other than these, tretinoin has also proven its worth in clearing away skin blemishes like hyperpigmentation and lessen stubborn stretch marks.
Tretinoin works in a simple way to solve these two skin problems. One is that it hastens the renewal of skin cells such that new skin cells surface and sheds off the old and dull ones. This process of renewal helps prevent comedonal acne (or simply blackheads and whiteheads) from forming and clogging the pores. While in this process, the skin is cleared of other blemishes and wrinkles. Just like Vitamin C, tretinoin also boosts collagen production in the skin.
Although tretinoin may seem as a good solution for the worst kinds of skin problems, it has, nevertheless, other effects on the skin that users need to endure in order to get the skin that they want. Tretinoin is also known for redness and scaling of the skin, which, depending on how the user's skin is sensitive, usually lasts about two to four weeks. The soreness or scaling may also be marked by itchiness or a burning impression. In other cases, users may experience acne eruptions, as the skin lets out impurities before eventually clearing up after.
Tretinoin is so potent that its recommended use is once every other night and application should only be a thin layer. It doesn't wash away easily and is retained in the skin which explains why a small amount really goes a long way.
Moreover, since its effect is the rapid skin cell production, the skin can thin out and be highly prone to ultra-violet light sensivity. This also explains why tretinoin is best directly applied at night time as sunlight is absent, and in conditions where users need to go out in the sun for extended periods of time, applying sunscreen is highly recommended. Lotions or day creams with SPF 30 are widely used and prescribed by dermatologists.
