Retin-A Q&A
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Will Starting Retinol at Age 29 Prevent Lines and Wrinkles?
asked 1 year ago by 4347anon in Ohio
Latest answer by Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Question viewed 2,939 times
Tags: age 25-34, lines, wrinkles, skin, skin tone
I don't smoke, and I'm happy with how my skin looks now. But if Retinol helps prevents the lines/wrinkles of the future, I'll use it now. I hesitate because it sounds more like it helps when your skin already needs a boost, and because making my skin cells regenerate faster for no reason doesn't sound like a good idea. Is Retinol recommended if I'm 29, have no lines/wrinkles and have even skin color?
4 answers to Will Starting Retinol at Age 29 Prevent Lines and Wrinkles?
+3
Retin A is great for preventing photoaging
Retin A is different from Retinol. Retin A is the brand name for tretinoin. Tretinoin is a prescription and has been demonstrated for many decades now to provide significant benefit in terms of reducing the signs of photoaging such as pigmentation and fine lines. I have patients that have been using retin A for many years and their skin looks great. I recommend this to my patients to start early.
+2
Can Start Anytime; Retin A Better
Retinoic Acid and its sister (or maybe, since it's harsher, I should call brother) Tazarotene are retinoids. Adapalene the third of this trio is a synthetic retinoid. They are more effective in both anti-acne and anti-aging aspects than Retinol. This is due to the fact that Retinol, found in numerous OTC anti-aging products, requires the skin to convert Retinol to the acid form, Retinoic acid, for it to achieve maximum effectiveness. In this conversion...
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Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist
Virginia Beach Dermatologist
+2
Retinoids and Retinols are great preventative medicines
Retinoids have been shown to increase the thickness of the dermis which can prevent and treat fine lines and wrinkles. They have also been shown to reverse early skin cancers and treat acne. Retinoids are only available with a prescription (Retin-A, Tazorac, Differin)
Retinols are non-prescription versions and are about 1/10 as strong as retinoids. Retinols are commonly found in cosmetics and drug store creams. There may be some benefit, but the strength is low...
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+2
Retinol good; tretinoin and tazarotene better
The data to show the cumulative benefits of prescription retinoids like Tazorac and Retin A are profound. I would assume retinol would have some (but not as much) benefit.
