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Health

What Is Retinol Face Cream?

By Dee Jones
Updated May 17, 2024
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Retinol face cream is a popular skin-care product often used to help improve the overall condition of the skin, reduce the visible signs of aging, and treat skin conditions like acne. Derived from vitamin A, retinol is a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent harmful carcinogens from breaking down skin cells. It also stimulates the production of healthy skin cells, which is essential in healing skin damage caused by aging and the environment. Retinol also stimulates collagen production, which can help fill in the fine lines and wrinkles caused by age, shrink pores, and soften the skin.

There are many benefits to using retinol face cream. Due to its ability to unclog pores and remove dead skin cells, among other things, products that contain retinol are often recommended for people with acne. In fact, acne suffers who use retinol creams often begin to see results in less than six weeks. Those who have fine lines, wrinkles, and thin skin resulting from aging will also find retinol face creams beneficial. The healing properties of retinol can also help to reverse sun damage and relieve sunburn.

While effective retinol face creams can be purchased over the counter, prescription creams, called retinoids, are more powerful, and tend to work much faster. Oral retinol, also available by prescription, is often used to treat moderate to severe forms of acne. When using a combination of retinol products, there is a danger of vitamin A toxicity, so it is recommended that a doctor be consulted before using any combination of vitamin A supplements, retinol creams, and oral retinol. Those who are allergic to vitamin A should also consult a doctor before using a retinol face cream.

There are some health concerns surrounding the use of retinol face cream, but it can be used safely if the proper caution is taken. Pregnant women are advised to consult a doctor before using retinol creams. Side effects from using creams containing retinol can include peeling, redness, skin irritation, itching, and sun sensitivity.

Fortunately, retinol's side effects tend to disappear soon after use of the cream is discontinued. Using too much retinol can result in much more severe consequences, including eye damage and liver failure. Anyone with doubts or concerns about using a retinol face cream should consult a doctor.

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Discussion Comments

By Heavanet — On Apr 16, 2014

@talentryto- There are several things you can do to keep skin irritation from retinol cream to a minimum. First of all, start using these types of creams slowly. If you use just a dab of retinol cream on your face 2 or 3 times a week at first, you will have fewer side effects as your skin adjusts.

Next, make sure you wear a sunscreen, because exposure to sunlight will make retinols react more powerfully on the skin. It also helps to apply retinol creams at night and avoid using them during daylight hours.

Finally, if you notice that your skin continues to get irritated from using retinols, you should talk to your doctor or dermatologist about using cortisone cream until your skin adjusts. It will soothe the irritation and ease the itching sensation caused by the retinol cream. This will allow you to continue using this beneficial skin treatment to get all of the benefits it will provide over time.

By Talentryto — On Apr 15, 2014

I would like to use retinol cream, but every time I try it I get red, itchy skin. After reading this article, I realize that these symptoms are just temporary. Does anyone have advice for getting through these side effects until your skin adjusts to the retinol face cream?

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