Is retinol OK long-term?

If you're wondering if you're clear to use your retinol as a long-term anti-aging strategy without negative side effects (like compromising the strength of your skin), both derms agree the answer is yes — in fact, you'll need to use it continuously if you want to keep benefiting from the effects, says Dr. Colbert.

Is long-term use of retinol safe?

A report in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology concluded that retinoids are “suitable as long-term medications, with no risk of inducing bacterial resistance.” Another study tested the safety of tretinoin cream over 52 weeks and found no problems.

Should you take a break from retinol?

It's best to start with a retinyl palmitate or retinol, and to try it for three months and then have a three month break. This is due to research that suggests cell turnover is no longer increased after three months of usage.

What happens when you stop retinol?

You see, retinol impacts your skin's normal function, and when you stop it your skin has to re-learn how to regulate itself properly again. So typically when people stop using it they experience either bad acne or bad dryness for a few weeks afterwards.

Is retinol ruining my skin?

Retinol is well known for worsening the condition of the skin before improving it. Most people who introduce retinol to their skin, experience severe breakouts, dryness, itchiness, and redness. The immediate side effects of retinol treatment can take the form of a surge in acne, blackheads, whiteheads, and rashes.

Understand potential bone toxicity in patients with prolonged retinoid use

Can you use retinol all year round?

Answer: Absolutely! You should use retinoids (e.g., retinoic acid or tretinoin) all year long, including the summer season. Retinoids can temporarily make your skin more sensitive to the sun due to the fact that tretinoin pulls oil and dry skin cells away from the skin.

What happens if I use retinol every night?

So if you start using retinol every day out of the gate, you can end up with some painful inflammation and a damaged skin barrier, negating any potential positives. One way to avoid that irritation is to start slow, explains Ranella Hirsch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Boston.

Can retinol make you look older?

First, the answer is yes, retinol can make wrinkles worse, especially when you first start using it. What is happening is a drying effect, and one can get epidermal sliding from separation from the dermis.

What to avoid when using retinol?

Don't Mix: Retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and AHA/BHA acids. AHA and BHA acids are exfoliating, which can dry out the skin and cause further irritation if your skincare routine already includes retinol.

Can I use retinol under my eyes?

Should you use retinol under your eyes? Yes, definitely. While it is true that retinol – a form of vitamin A – is a powerful ingredient and the skin under your eyes is delicate, there's no reason why you should miss out on the amazing benefits of retinol.

When should you stop retinol?

Discontinue use if you have negative side effects after a few weeks of use and contact your physician to help reassess your skin type and find a solution that will protect your skin barrier . Consider using moisturizing and soothing topical skin care products with retinol to counteract its negative side effects.

How long should I stop using retinol?

If you stop retinol and do not begin a prescription retinoid, the benefit of preventing acne will go away. The skin cycle of cells being “born” at the base of the skin and moving to the top, dying and desquamating into the surrounding environment takes about 4-6 weeks.

Should I stop using retinol in winter?

Phasing it into your routine can help to avoid any sensitive skin flare-ups, but there may still be some, which is why the winter months are the best time to introduce a retinoid to your skincare routine – you are less exposed to sunlight, and retinoids can thin our skin's uppermost barrier.

What happens if you don't refrigerate retinol?

Retinol and vitamin C products

Make sure to leave some space in your fridge for your retinol and vitamin C skincare, as these antioxidants can degrade much quicker and become unstable when exposed to heat and sunlight. Storing these products in the fridge keeps the formulas stable and helps with preservation.

Does retinol cause long term damage?

Topical retinol is generally safe for long-term use without any detrimental health risks.

Will wrinkles come back if you stop using retinol?

You could switch to a retinol product, such as 0.5 retinol by SkinMedica. This product gives a lot of the results of actual Retin A without all the side effects. If you stop cold turkey, your skin will likely slowly revert back to its original appearance.

Which is better for wrinkles collagen or retinol?

Collagen and retinol give the best results when used on appropriate skin types. If you already have signs of ageing and have matured skin, choose retinol. But, in your late 20s and early 30s, use collagen to add brightness to your skin. Also, consider your skin type before making a decision.

Should you avoid retinol around eyes?

Because the skin around the eyes is more sensitive, Dr. Kashlan recommends that her patients avoid the eye area altogether. For patients with sensitive skin, she suggests applying Vaseline to the eye area to protect the skin from irritation before using retinol or retinoids on the rest of the face.

Should you put retinol on your neck?

Yes, you can safely put retinol creams on your neck. “Retinol can sometimes cause redness or irritation as a side effect, but it is worth the effort. Fortunately, there are beginner formulations that can get skin acclimated gradually,” Dr. Schlessinger says.

Will retinol help Crepey neck?

Dr. Kassouf recommends retinol topical creams to help reduce that crepey look. Retinols help restore skin's elasticity and thicken collagen (which gives our skin its structure) as well as elastin (which gives our skin its stretch).

Does retinol tighten neck?

Use Retinol for Neck Firming

For board-certified dermatologist Roberta Del Campo, Retin-A (or retinoic acid) is a hero product for neck firming. "[Retinol] is a vitamin that helps speed up cell turnover and increases collagen production," she says.

Does retinol tighten skin?

#1 Retinol

Improved skin fullness – Retinoids stimulate collagen production, which helps diminish wrinkles and sagging, and leave skin looking fuller and tighter.

Why do my eyes look worse after retinol?

Some people do look worse before they look better because you can get an initial dryness and peeling as your skin gets used to the increased cell turnover for up to 6 weeks. If this is tolerable, you can add a hydrating eye cream applied twice a day.

Can retinol make Eyebags worse?

Retinol, salicylic acid, glycolic acid—all effective ingredients that can improve the look and feel of your complexion. But they can lead to irritation, and when used too close to your delicate eye area, that irritation can lead to bags.

What happens if you put retinol on your eyelids?

Yes, you can, retinol is able to work on the upper and lower eyelids and areas of skin. This is because it can penetrate the lower layers of the skin and boost collagen production. This will result in the skin around the eye will become tightened with signs of sagginess, fine lines, and wrinkles visibly reduced.