Retinol Skin Care Products

Retinol is another name for Vitamin A and is an essential ingredient for good skin health and is an ingredient in a wide range of skin care products. It is a small molecule which is able to pass through the outer skin layer and affect the collagen and elastin in the inner skin layers. As it can penetrate so deeply into he skin it is effective at smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles and also improving the elasticity of the skin As the skin is smoothed out from within it gives a more youthful appearance and signs of premature aging begin to disappear.

Retinol also stimulates the production of collagen which is necessary for a youthful looking skin. It is also an anti-oxidant and has been used in acne treatments as it can help to clean the pores. Skin care products containing retinol have long lasting beneficial effects on the skin.

Retinol is used a variety of skin care products including the following types.

Retinol Skin Care Serums

Retinol serums are usually applied before bed once a day. Serums are designed for deep skin penetration and should be used for skin that needs more drastic treatment than can be provided by lotions or creams. they are especially effective for skin damaged by the sun and premature aging.

Retinol Skin Care Lotions

Retinol skin care lotions are usually used as moisturisers and to improve dryness. They are especially nice to use after showering or washing the hands. They can also help to repair skin damaged by the sun and restore some of the youthful looks lost by sun damage. A small bottle of retinol lotion carried in your purse will help to rehydrate skin whenever your skin feels dry.

Retinol Skin Care Creams

Retinol creams help to condition and rehydrate the skin and can improve some skin conditions such as fine lines, wrinkles and even acne. they are best applied each night before bed.

Retinol Skin Care Eye Masks

Retinol eye masks can be used to treat fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. They should be used regularly for the best effects and will help to make the eyes sparkle.

Retinol Skin Care Acne Treatments

Retinol acne treatments are highly effective at preventing acne outbreaks as well as improving the appearance of scaring. A combination treatment that has an anti-bacterial component and a pore cleanser plus the addition of retinol makes an excellent treatment for acne.

Conclusion

For most people the skin can feel and look smoother after just one application of a retinol skin care product. After about four weeks of regular application fine lines and some wrinkles should decrease significantly. Twelve weeks of treatment should have a dramatic effect on even deeper wrinkles.

What You Need to Know About Retinol Skin Care Products

Retinol skin care products have been found to be effective for decreasing fine lines and wrinkles, for increasing the level of oils in the skin for people over 40 and to help improve the skin appearance for those with chronic cystic acne. they are of particular benefit for those who have aging, sensitive skin who may not be able to use other, harsher, products.

Some people have found that they experience flaky, dry, red or scaly skin when they use a glycolic acid peel or a chemical peel and for these people a much better choice would be a retinol cream applied daily.

Studies on Retinol Skin Care Products

More and more studies are finding that retinol does indeed have a beneficial effect on aging skin. A recent study at the University of Michigan tested retinol lotions on thirty six elderly healthy people, most around eighty years of age. Over the course of six months they applied the lotion to an area on their upper arms. Skin biopsies at the end of the trial showed significant reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. In a quote from the research article by Sewon Kang, MD stated that “The before-and-after skin biopsies show that retinol treatment boosted structural components in the elders' skin.” If this can work for the skin of an eighty year old then it can certainly help much younger skin to regain or retain a youthful appearance! the effect however is not permanent as eleven of the subjects noticed that their skin had started to returned to its former condition after a further six months without treatment by retinol.

What is Retinol?

Retinol is another name for vitamin A and is one of a group of chemicals known as retinoids. This group of compounds also contains tretinoin which is found in prescription only creams and lotions and is much stronger than retinol. All of these compounds are very small, so small in fact that they can penetrate the upper skin layers to reach the elastin and collagen that support the skin from below. Vitamin A is a vital component of elastin and collagen. Over time environmental damage occurs to these structures resulting in less support for the skin and hence lines and wrinkles. Retinoids, once they have penetrated to this layer can then set about repairing them resulting in a smoother, more elastic skin skin and reduced lines.

Retinol Use in the Treatment of Acne

Retinol skin care products are excellent exfoliating agents and they also efficiently unclog the pores. This makes them good products to use if you have acne.

Retinol for Dry Skin

Retinol skin care products are excellent for the treatment of very dry skin as they moisturise the skin efficiently.

Are There Any Side Effects?

when first using a retinol skin care product you may notice some mild irritation, redness, stinging or itching. This is usually very temporary and is normal. Only if it persists do you need to stop using the product.

Retinol Increases Sun Sensitivity

Retinol skin care products are best used in the evening or before bed. They do make the skin slightly more sensitive to the sun so if you do use them during the day be sure to always use a sun screen as well.