If you’re at the point in your aging where you notice the wrinkles, crow’s feet, frown, and laugh lines developing on your face, you may have heard about tretinoin in your anti-aging search. Many people start noticing facial wrinkles in their late 20s to early 30s, but some find it most apparent in their mid-to-late 30s and early 40s.
Everyone develops aging spots and wrinkles differently since we are all unique. But as we age, the lines on our faces tend to be more prominent. Tretinoin is one of the most effective anti-aging treatments that are topical, where you can apply it directly on your skin.
However, if you want to gain the most optimum use of this product, you should use it properly. Understanding how wrinkles and symptoms of agings develop on your skin, as well as following directions for the use of tretinoin as given by experts at the top botox centers in NYC, will help you to get the most out of your anti-aging regiment.
How Do Wrinkles Develop?
Wrinkles take several years to develop, slowly becoming deeper and more pronounced on the skin’s surface. Your skin starts to thin when you hit your 20s and also begins to produce less elasticity, which is what causes wrinkles to start developing.
Gravity also plays a role in the signs of aging, causing the skin to sag, and age spots and discoloration will appear around this time. In addition, your skin’s collagen production is decreasing, and your skin is creating new cells at a much slower pace, so it’s less likely to repair and rejuvenate, making wrinkles more noticeable and more permanent.
A large part of the aging process is attributed to your genetics, so there’s nothing to control the wrinkles that occur on your skin. However, exposure to the sun is a significant factor in signs of aging and can make up for as much as 90% of the change that happens with your skin as you get older.
The Role of Tretinoin
Wrinkles can be treated with tretinoin, belonging to a class of compounds known as retinoids, which derive from vitamin A, boosting collagen production and stimulating the production of new blood vessels, which helps to improve the look of aging, discoloration, and sunspots.
Tretinoin helps speed up your skin’s cell production to make new cells faster to replace old ones. Ultimately, it reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation. It is also known to help treat other skin issues, including acne.
With proper tretinoin use, you will have smoother and younger-looking skin that doesn’t show signs of aging. This is because the outer layer of skin that has been more exposed to weather and pollution is removed to give your skin a fresh appearance.
How To Apply Tretinoin For Maximum Results
Before going through the steps to apply tretinoin, you should know when not to use it on your skin. If your skin has any of the following:
- Windburn
- Sunburn
- Open cuts or wounds
Do not apply tretinoin, and wait until your skin has healed. It would help if you also were careful not to get tretinoin around the eyes, lips, or inside the nose. Wash those areas out with water if you accidentally get tretinoin there.
Tretinoin is easy to use and apply to your face. The ideal time to do this routine is in the evening before bed to ensure that the tretinoin can do its best. Follow these steps to apply tretinoin properly:
WASH YOUR FACE
Before you apply it, make sure you wash your face with a mild cleanser or soap, or just use warm water. Harsher cleansers or ones that can irritate the skin (like an acne treatment) are unnecessary.
BLOT DRY
Don’t rub a towel over your face, but instead, use a towel and softly blot your face dry. You don’t want to irritate your skin in any way, so be gentle and allow your skin some time to dry entirely before applying any tretinoin.
START WITH A SMALL AMOUNT
Tretinoin is powerful, so you do not need to use a lot when you apply it. Instead, take a tiny amount about the size of a pea, and apply it all around the face gently. Then, apply it evenly to the most affected areas of your skin where you experience blotchiness, wrinkles, or sunspots.
If you are using a product with tretinoin and other ingredients, make sure to follow the instructions provided on the label. They may want you to use more or less for effectiveness depending on different active ingredients in the cream or gel.
LET THE TRETINOIN ABSORB INTO YOUR SKIN
After application, you mustn’t touch your skin or do anything else around your face. Set a timer for twenty minutes to allow your skin to absorb the tretinoin fully. Don’t apply to any other skincare products.
Once the time has passed, you can safely use any other facial products, such as a moisturizer or hydrating cream, to prevent your skin from getting dry. Dryness is a common side effect of tretinoin and other retinoids.
Other Helpful Tips When Using Tretinoin
To get the most out of using tretinoin, there are some other helpful suggestions that you can make with your skincare habits that will improve the overall effectiveness of the product. To get the most out of it, you should:
- Stay Hydrated – Even though you’re not ingesting tretinoin, it does have the effect of drying your skin out. Staying hydrated will help maintain your skin’s hydration while letting the product do its job.
- Use Consistently – It may take some time, weeks or even months, for the effect of using tretinoin to become visible to you. Exercising patience is important, but you also need to be using the product consistently over time, and you’ll be able to notice the changes in your skin’s texture and appearance. If you miss a dose, try to take it immediately, but if it’s too close to the next time for use, just resume as usual to your schedule – don’t double dose.
- Use Sunscreen – Tretinoin may increase your skin’s sensitivity, especially to sunlight. Don’t go outside for long periods, and if you are spending time outdoors, be sure to utilize sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to shield your sensitive skin.
It would be best to familiarize yourself with common side effects of using the product, such as dry skin, stinging sensation, and irritation. In some cases, you may also see an increase in acne breakouts. Usually, these eventually go away, but they can be challenging when you start using tretinoin.
If you are prescribed tretinoin by a doctor, be sure to use the medicine as directed by your doctor to get the most out of it and not irritate your skin. Tretinoin can be an excellent addition to your skincare routine, helping you effectively minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, sunspots and tone your skin for an even, smoother, and younger glow!
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
