Discover the benefits, side effects and sun health concerns you need to take when using tretinoin prescription retinoid cream.

Tretinoin continues to be all the rage inside the skincare world recently. Touted because of its ability to help remedy acne, lessen 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 into your skincare routine, you’ll have to be sure you use it properly to prevent any unwelcome unwanted side effects. Plus, you’ll have to be extra careful when out inside the sun. Read on to learn why.



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

Unlike retinol and other over-the-counter versions of vitamin A, tretinoin is often a prescription-only topical treatment. This means you are only able to purchase it in case you have a script from the doctor or dermatologist who's properly assessed the skin and deemed its use appropriate.

Tretinoin vs. Retinol: exactly what is the difference?
Tretinoin and retinol are generally classified as retinoids — but there are many key differences together:

Tretinoin
Synthetic kind of vitamin A
Only available with 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 employed for?
It may seem like tretinoin only has been on the skincare radar these days, nevertheless it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been used for almost 50 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 it can also be helpful for:

Improving complexion and texture
Reducing the appearance of face lines and wrinkles
Reducing the appearance of brown spots on your skin
Improving premature aging of skin due to sun damage (photoaging)
Other research for the use of retinoids in the 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 operates by speeding inside the cellular turnover in the 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 the skin. This is why people often experience uncomfortable side effects when first using this product.

Most people start noticing a difference within their skin after two or three weeks of employing the product, however it can take 6 or higher weeks to 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 the skin. However, everyone’s skin is different along with a topical treatment alone may not be the most effective way to fade sun spots on your own 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 for your skin.

Likewise, it’s important to experience a thorough skin check by a melanographer or dermatologist to confirm perhaps the spots you need to fade really are sunspots instead of something more sinister. It can be difficult to identify the difference from a harmless sunspot and a potential skin cancer or melanoma so make sure you have your skin spots professionally checked before using tretinoin or other prescription retinoids.

What are the unwanted side effects of tretinoin?
Prescription retinoids like tretinoin are extremely powerful. This means you must rely on them properly within the guidance of the dermatologist or doctor — or you may risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or perhaps a damaged skin barrier.

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

Tretinoin photosensitivity: Why you'll want to be extra careful in the sun when utilizing this product
Another complication associated with the using tretinoin is photosensitisation. This means it makes you more sensitive to the sun's rays’s harmful UV rays and you might burn easily when encountered with sunlight.

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

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

Make regular skin checks part of your skincare routine
At MoleMap, we agree that looking after your skin is a top priority. But when it comes to your skin health, we encourage you to 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 yr, you’ll give yourself the most effective chance to catch any suspicious spots or lesions early. Plus, you’ll also relish peace of mind that you simply’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.