Topical vitamin A-based medications called retinoids—probably the most widely used and best-studied antiaging compounds—can reduce wonderful lines and wrinkles. Tretinoin, under the brand name Retin-A, was the primary retinoid. It was used as an pimples treatment within the Seventies, but later researchers discovered that it also fades patches of actinic keratosis, evens out pigmentation, and quickens skin cell turnover. does.
Retinoids reduce wonderful lines and wrinkles by increasing collagen production. They also stimulate the production of recent blood vessels within the skin, which improves skin tone. Additional advantages include fading of age spots and softening of rough skin patches. However, it takes three to 6 months of normal use—and 6 to 12 months for best results—before wrinkles show improvement.
Because retinoids may cause skin dryness and irritation, doctors often recommend using them only every other day at first after which progressively work as much as nighttime use. Wear sunscreen throughout the day because retinoids increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. These medications have to be used consistently to keep up their advantages.
Tretinoin (Retin-A, generic), tazarotene (Avage, Tazorac), and adapalene (Differin) are prescription retinoids. Adapalene can be available over-the-counter (in a 0.1% formulation vs. a 0.3% prescription version). Other retinoids are undergoing clinical trials.
In addition, several over-the-counter products can be found that contain retinoids, resembling retinol. Because they should not as strong (and thus less irritating), they should not as effective at reducing wrinkles as tretinoin; But they do improve the looks of photo-aging skin. Tretinoin might be used with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) for extra skin-smoothing effects.
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