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A good preventative skincare routine is one of the best ways to ensure ageless skin even as you grow older. Collagen and retinol are two of the most important factors for supporting firm and resilient skin, and as you age your body will naturally begin to produce less, so supplements and serums are a valuable addition to your lineup. But while retinol can do wonders for the skin for fighting against fine lines and wrinkles, there are some scary side effects that a dermatologist warns you should be weary of before integrating a new product into your lineup.
Retinol has been known to fight against fine lines and wrinkles, but if you’re just now introducing it into your skincare routine you may suffer from some unfortunate side effects as your skin adjusts. Dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner explains, “While effective, the downside is that it can potentially lead to irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. During the first 2 to 4 weeks, your skin undergoes an adjustment period known as retinization. During this time, the skin often gets red, itching, and peels.”
Peeling and redness may be alarming to see when you’ve just begun using a new skincare product, but Zeichner notes that in the long term it’s nothing to worry about and will ultimately improve your skin over time. “To get used to retinol, you just need to push through. To minimize these side effects, you can try and apply retinol along with a moisturizer and use it every other day instead of daily application,” he says.
It’s important to remember that retinol, otherwise known as Vitamin A, can make your skin more sensitive to outside factors when you first begin use, so make sure to prioritize other protective aspects of your skincare routine as well. “While retinol thickens the deeper skin layers, it thins out the stratum corneum, or top layer of the skin. This can make you more sensitive to a sunburn. So you must always wear sunscreen with retinol,” Zeichner warns.
A well balanced skincare regimen, complete with vitamins and proteins is exactly what your skin needs to minimize wrinkles so that you can rock smooth skin at any age. Retinol is a wonderful tool for achieving these results, but it’s valuable to remember that you still need to care for your skin with SPF to protect against sun damage, especially as you integrate retinol into your lineup. You may suffer through redness and irritation for a few weeks, but ultimately your skin will benefit from the extra TLC.
