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

Tretinoin has become all the rage inside the skincare world recently. Touted due to the ability to deal with acne, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and improve sun damaged skin, there’s no wonder it’s so popular. But is it safe for the skin?

If you’re thinking about incorporating this buy tretinoin into the skincare routine, you’ll have to be sure you use it properly in order to avoid any unwelcome unwanted effects. Plus, you’ll have to be extra careful when out inside sun. Read on to find out why.



What is tretinoin?
Tretinoin (also referred to as 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 type of vitamin A, and also comes in different formula strengths.

Unlike retinol and other over-the-counter versions of vitamin A, tretinoin is really a prescription-only topical treatment. This means you could only purchase it when you have a script from a doctor or dermatologist that has properly assessed your epidermis and deemed its use appropriate.

Tretinoin vs. Retinol: what's the difference?
Tretinoin and retinol tend to be classified as retinoids — but there are some key differences bewteen barefoot and shoes:

Tretinoin
Synthetic way of vitamin A
Only available with a prescription (classed like a medical-grade skincare product)
Highly potent
Retinol
Natural kind of vitamin A
Available over-the-counter and discovered in many skincare products
Milder formulation

What is tretinoin used for?
It may seem like tretinoin only has been about the skincare radar these days, but it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been employed for almost half a century. It may be found in reducing 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 may also be helpful for:

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

How does tretinoin work?
Tretinoin operates by speeding the cellular turnover inside the skin, making skin cells divide and die faster to ensure that new, healthier cells can replace them. However, to be able 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 observing a difference inside their skin after two to three weeks of utilizing the product, but it can take 6 or higher weeks for your full benefit to appear.

Can tretinoin fade skin spots or sunspots?
Some research suggests tretinoin can fade the appearance of dark spots on your skin layer. However, everyone’s skin is different along with a topical treatment alone may not be probably the most effective strategy 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 getting personalised advice around the best approach for your skin.

Likewise, it’s important to get a thorough skin check with a melanographer or dermatologist to confirm perhaps the spots you would like to fade are indeed sunspots rather than something more sinister. It can be difficult to spot the difference from the 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 effects of tretinoin?
Prescription retinoids like tretinoin are extremely powerful. This means you must use them properly beneath the guidance of your dermatologist or doctor — or you can risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or possibly a damaged skin barrier.

Due to its potency, tretinoin may cause some skin irritation when you initially begin using it as your epidermis needs time for you to adjust for 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 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 harmful UV rays and you can burn easily when confronted with sunlight.

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

How to protect the skin from the sun when utilizing tretinoin:
Avoid excessive sun exposure — do not make use of this product should you work outdoors or spend considerable time out within 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 epidermiscare routine
At MoleMap, we agree that looking after your skin is often a top priority. But when it comes to your epidermis health, we encourage one to 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 12 months, you’ll give yourself the best chance to catch any suspicious spots or lesions early. Plus, you’ll also love 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.