Can tretinoin make hyperpigmentation worse?

Topical application of tretinoin significantly lightens postinflammatory hyperpigmentation; to a clinically minimal but statistically significant degree, it also lightens normal skin in black persons.

Can retinol make hyperpigmentation worse?

“If the retinol you're using is too strong for your skin causing inflammation, darker skin tones may have a higher risk of discoloration, or hyperpigmentation, from the use of it," she adds. Dr.

Does tretinoin bring out pigmentation?

Uneven skin tone

Tretinoin evens skin pigmentation by dispersing melanin granules ⁵. Melanin is a natural pigment that contributes to skin, hair, and eye color. When overproduced, it creates flat brown spots or patches on your skin that are darker than your usual complexion.

How long does it take for hyperpigmentation to go away with tretinoin?

If you're using topical tretinoin to reduce wrinkles, discoloration, age spots, and/or rough feeling skin, it can take 3–4 months or up to six months before you see results. If you stop using the medication or are inconsistent with your treatment, any improvements you see may disappear over time.

Does tretinoin make dark spots darker?

Tretinoin can help dark spots fade, allowing you to have a more even skin tone. It decreases the amount of melanin in your skin cells (Zasada, 2019). When used for discoloration, tretinoin is usually combined with other skin-lightening products, sometimes in the form of a chemical peel (Lawrence, 2021).

I STOPPED USING TRETINOIN - This is what happened to my skin

Does hyperpigmentation get darker before it fades?

Yes. Active treatment accelerates cell turnover, pulling pigmented cells to the surface at a faster rate. This increases the concentration of melanin in the epidermis, which can create a temporary darkening of the spots. The darkening means the pigment is coming up and is ready to be shed away.

What percentage of tretinoin is best for hyperpigmentation?

Tretinoin Hyperpigmentation Cream 0.1% contains the highest available concentration of tretinoin, the active ingredient most prescribed by dermatologists to treat hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, and signs of premature aging.

What fades hyperpigmentation the fastest?

Dermatologists consider products with hydroquinone, alone or combined with other lighteners, to be the gold standard for fading dark spots because it slows the production of pigment.

How do you know if tretinoin is working?

After 4 – 6 weeks

After 4-6 weeks, your skin will get used to tretinoin and will begin to be noticeably smoother and more even. A lot of the initial irritation will settle down and true “retinization” of your skin is in full force.

Does tretinoin make melasma worse?

Topical 0.1% tretinoin produces significant clinical improvement of melasma, mainly due to reduction in epidermal pigment, but improvement is slow.

Why do I have more dark spots after using retinol?

Answer: Retinol made more age spots appear

If you are using a retinol without a sunscreen it may be possible. In addition, if the retinol irriates your skin and you are getting red spots they can then turn brown-this is call post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Why my skin is getting darker after using retinol?

The reason the skin is darkened when using Retinol is because this substance can make your skin more sensitive to light, if you are regularly exposed to the sun without effective skin protection, it will cause tanning.

Why is my hyperpigmentation not getting better?

Some cases of hyperpigmentation may never go away completely. If hyperpigmentation is caused by injury, then as the skin heals the discoloration will lessen as melanin is absorbed into the tissue surrounding the injury.

What are the dangers of tretinoin?

A brief sensation of warmth or stinging may occur immediately after applying the medication. Skin redness, dryness, itching, scaling, mild burning, or worsening of acne may occur during the first 2-4 weeks of using the medication. These effects usually decrease with continued use.

Will my skin get worse if I stop tretinoin?

For many, tretinoin is highly effective at treating acne, but it's still possible to experience breakouts once you stop using it.

What to avoid when using tretinoin?

Avoid using skin products that can cause irritation, such as harsh soaps, shampoos, hair coloring or permanent chemicals, hair removers or waxes, or skin products with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime. Avoid using other medications on the areas you treat with tretinoin topical unless your doctor tells you to.

Why is my hyperpigmentation getting worse?

What triggers hyperpigmentation? Triggers include sun exposure, hormonal changes, and trauma to the skin, for example, due to acne or an injury. Picking at scabs and spots may make it worse. Some face creams can irritate the skin, leading to further hyperpigmentation.

What is good for severe hyperpigmentation?

Is tretinoin better than retinol for hyperpigmentation?

However, because tretinoin is prescription-strength retinoic acid and works at a higher capacity than retinol, it is typically more effective at reducing redness and pigmentation.

What is the strongest tretinoin you can use?

Topical tretinoin comes in a range of strengths, with the lowest strength being 0.01%. The strongest tretinoin available is 0.1%—that's 10 times stronger than the lowest percentage.

Is tretinoin stronger than 1% retinol?

Also known as retinoic acid, tretinoin is about 20 times more potent than retinol. It's stronger because retinoic acid is a form of vitamin A that acts directly on the skin to boost cell renewal, turnover, and DNA damage repair.

Why is my pigmentation getting darker?

What causes hyperpigmentation? Skin gets its color from a substance called melanin, which is made by skin cells. When those skin cells are damaged or unhealthy, they can produce too much melanin. The melanin can clump, causing that area to appear darker.