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

Tretinoin has been all the rage in the skincare world recently. Touted because of its 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 your skin?

If you’re thinking about incorporating this Tretinoin Australia into the skincare routine, you’ll have to be sure you use it properly in order to avoid any unwelcome negative effects. Plus, you’ll need 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 often a highly potent, medical-grade topical vitamin A cream or gel. It contains retinoic acid, which is regarded as the biologically available active type of vitamin A, and will come 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 can only purchase it in case you have a script from your doctor or dermatologist who's properly assessed your skin layer and deemed its use appropriate.

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

Tretinoin
Synthetic form of vitamin A
Only available which has a prescription (classed being a medical-grade skincare product)
Highly potent
Retinol
Natural type of vitamin A
Available over-the-counter and discovered in many skincare products
Milder formulation

What is tretinoin useful for?
It may seem like tretinoin only has been for the skincare radar these days, however it’s actually a popular topical treatment for acne that’s been used for almost half a century. It has become found in lowering inflammation associated with acne, clear existing acne minimizing the severity of outbreaks.

But treating acne isn’t tretinoin’s only benefit. A 2012 study indicates that it could also be helpful for:

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

How does tretinoin work?
Tretinoin operates by speeding in the cellular turnover inside the skin, making skin cells divide and die faster to ensure that new, healthier cells can replace them. However, in order to stimulate this procedure, tretinoin must ultimately irritate your skin layer. This is why people often experience uncomfortable side effects when first using this product.

Most people start to notice a difference of their skin after two or three weeks of employing the product, nevertheless it can take 6 or even more weeks for the full benefit to be noticed.

Can tretinoin fade skin spots or sunspots?
Some research suggests tretinoin can fade the appearance of brown spots on skin. However, everyone’s skin is different along with a topical treatment alone may not be essentially the most effective way to fade sun spots on the face or body. This is why it’s important to consult with a dermatologist before starting any sun spot removal treatment to get personalised advice for the best approach for your skin.

Likewise, it’s important to have a thorough skin check by 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 your harmless sunspot along with a potential skin cancer or melanoma so be sure you have the skin spots professionally checked before using tretinoin or other prescription retinoids.

What are the side effects of tretinoin?
Prescription retinoids like tretinoin are extremely powerful. This means you must make use of them properly under the guidance of one's 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 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 rays’s harmful UV rays and you might burn easily when confronted with sunlight.

From a skin cancer prevention perspective, this is 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 chance of skin cancer, it’s crucial that you simply take extra precautions with sun protection when working with this product.

How to protect your skin layer from the sun when working with tretinoin:
Avoid excessive sun exposure — do not employ this product in case you work outdoors or spend time and effort out inside sun
Wear SPF 50+ sunscreen every day — even in case you’re only staying indoors as indirect sunlight through windows can certainly still damage or burn your skin layer
Wear sun protective clothing when outdoors

Make regular skin checks part of your skin layercare routine
At MoleMap, we agree that looking after your skin can be a top priority. But when it comes to your skin layer health, we encourage you to definitely think beyond skincare products and begin making regular skin cancer checks part of your skin wellness routine too.

By having a professional skin check or mole check every 6 to 12 months, you’ll give yourself the top chance to catch any suspicious spots or lesions early. Plus, you’ll also love 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.