Advantages of Using Retinol Skin Care Preparations

Retinol skin care preparations have been shown helpful for diminishing wrinkles and fine lines and for increasing the level of oils in the skin for those of us who are over 40. They are also of use in improving the appearance of the skin for people with chronic cystic acne. In addition retinol skin care preparations are especially helpful for those who have sensitive or aging skin who may not be able to use other harsher products. Many people have found that they experience flaky, dry, red or scaly skin after they have used a glycolic acid peel or a chemical peel and for these people a better option would be applying a retinol cream daily.

Research Studies of Retinol Skin Care Products

More and more studies are finding that retinol certainly has a useful effect on older skin. A fairly recent research study at the University of Michigan tried out retinol lotions on a small number of quite elderly, healthy people, most of them in the region of eighty years old. During the course of 6 months they used the lotion on the skin on their upper arms. At the conclusion of the trial skin biopsies showed substantial reduction in wrinkles and fine lines. If this is effective for the skin of an eighty year old then it can surely help much younger skin to regain or retain a young-looking appearance! However the result is not permanent as a few of the elderly people saw that their skin had begun to return to its previous condition if left for six months without retinol application.

What is Retinol?

Retinol is a derviative of vitamin A and is one of the retinoid group of chemicals. These type of compounds also contains tretinoin which is used in lotions and creams not available OTC as it is a good deal stronger than retinol. All of these compounds are very small, so tiny in fact that they can permeate the upper layers of the skin to contact the collagen and elastin that provide support for the skin from below. Vitamin A is a crucial component of elastin and collagen. Over the years damage takes place to these structures resulting in decreased support for the skin which results in lines and wrinkles. Retinoids, when they have reached this layer, set about repairing the collagen and elastin, the outcome of which is a more elastic, smoother skin with reduced lines.

Acne Treatments Using Retinol

Retinol products are excellent exfoliating agents and they also effectively unblock pores. This action makes them good treatments to use if you suffer from acne.

The Use of Retinol For Dry Skin

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

Do They Have Any Side Effects?

When you first use a retinol skin care product you may experience some mild irritation, itching or stinging. This is typically very temporary and is considered normal. If it lasts longer than a few days you would be advised to stop using the product.

Take Care in the Sun After Using Retinol

The best time to use retinol skin care products is late in the evening or before going to bed. They make the skin slightly more sensitive to the rays of the sun so if you use them in the day be certain to apply a sun screen as well.