The Benefits Of Tretinoin and it’s side effects

Retin-A otherwise known as Tretinoin is an amazing anti-aging Skin care product. It smooths, tones, firms and all of the good stuff. There is so much I can say about the benefits of tretinoin for ageing skin. I’ve been using it for over two years, so it’s safe to say that I have dealt with it all. The struggle at the beginning; almost six months of super-dry skin and the peeling. The spots, the wondering if it really is the best anti-aging skin care product ever. As time went on and I still looked…..exactly the same I started to wonder if it was all just hype after all.

I persevered of course because that’s what I do. Give it at least a year Rach I said to myself. A year is an acceptable amount if time to give anything in life. If it hasn’t worked it’s miracles by then then it’s not going to. Actually I’ve come to realise that it isn’t a miracle cream. It’s good. The best skin care product I’ve used, but not a miracle.

Unrealistic Expectations – It’s a Cure For Wrinkles

Retin-A is most definitely NOT a cure for wrinkles. If you had wrinkles before you started using it then you’ll still have wrinkles. When you think about it rationally it seems obvious. The thing is, we hear all of these women on YouTube saying what a miracle it is and we translate that into ‘cure for wrinkles’ because that’s what we all want.

In fact, the only cure for wrinkles is botox and that’s temporary.

Retin-A Side Effects

• Dry Skin
• Peeling
• Spots for at least 4 weeks
• Irritation
• Itching
• swelling

These are the common side effects of Retin-A. However, all of these side effects are short lived. The dry skin may persist but you will be able to combat that with some moisturising tricks. My skin is naturally dry and drier after Retin-A. I manage it with a simple routine though. It’s taken me a long time to perfect my hydrating skin care routine but it works well and I maintain glowing skin at low cost.

SPF and Retin-A

There is no room for negotiation here. You simply MUST use an SPF each and every day if you are to use tretinoin. Why? Because your skin will be very sensitive to the sun and you will burn much easier.

Even if you aren’t using a retinoid I’d suggest an SPF. The reason our skin ages is mostly down to the harmful rays of the sun. There’s little point in using this awesome anti-aging skin care cream if we aren’t going to then protect our skin from the sun.

So should you let the side effects put you off of using Retin-A? That’s a personal choice and very much depends on your staying power. Can you cope with peeling skin and skin that will look worse before it looks better?

If the answer is YES then go for it. Monitor your skin and be sensible. If it is constantly irritated than you can probably assume that a strong retinoid isn’t right for you. It doesn’t suit everyone.

Retin-A on Ebay

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