Posted on June 8, 2009 in Latest News
What is retinol?
Vitamin A is available in two forms
- Beta-carotene, which is found in plant based food.
- Retinol, which is found in animal based food.
The retinol used for treating acne is manufactured artificially, in labs.
Use of retinol for acne
Retinol has been known to be beneficial for the skin. Recently, it has been found that it can be used for the effective treatment of acne.
How it works
Acne is formed when a superficial layer of skin emerges over the follicles of hair. This skin layer clogs the pore, resulting in the trapping of pus in the pore. This results in whiteheads.
Retinol treats acne by destroying the superficial layer of skin.
Retinol not only treats acne but also prevents it. If applied before acne is formed, it stops the superficial layer of skin from forming.
The reason for the high effectiveness of retinol in treating acne is that the human skin reacts quickly and positively to it.
Side effects of retinol
- Retinol makes skin more sensitive.
- Some people experience irritation of skin when they use retinol.
-
Retinol is known to cause birth defects and should NOT be used during pregnancy.
-
Using highly concentrated retinol will cause much damage to the skin.
Availability of retinol
Retinol products are available in three categories
- Mass Market Products are available freely available over-the-counter in drugstores and cosmetic counters. They are manufactured for the general public. They contain small levels of retinol. They can only be used for minor problems.
- Professional skin care products are manufactured for distribution to skin care professionals. These contain higher levels of retinol than mass market products. These are usually used by skin care professionals to treat their customers.
- Medical skin care products are prescribed by doctors. These contain high levels of retinol. They cause adverse reactions if used unregulated. They are to be discontinued after the condition is treated.
Things to remember while using retinol products
- Apply retinol products only at night.
- Apply only after cleansing.
- Use sunscreen during the period of retinol usage.
- Watch how your skin is reacting to retinol.
- Do not apply in high doses.
- Look for products which have glycolic acid, hydroxy acids or vitamin C in conjunction with retinol.
- If after a few weeks of usage you do not find high improvement, contact a skin care professional or a doctor.
Comments
Leave a Reply
