Will Retin-A micro work for wrinkles? (photo)

Question

Hi I am a 27 year old moderate smoker trying to quit. I recently saw a dermatologist becuase I was concerned about wrinkles around my eyes (crows feet). He told me to buy a few eye creams. He also prescribed me retin a micro. He said it would smooth out some lines on my face. I am kind of scared to try this medicine as I don't have acne. I fear that this will cause me to breakout or develop acne if I use it. Should I be scared to try it?

Faiyaaz Kalimullah, MD, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for your question and for submitting your photo.  With over 30 years of scientific studies and evidence, Retin A is by far the most effective topical cream for preventing fine lines and wrinkles that we know of (other than sunscreen).  Although it was initially discovered as an acne treatment, Retin A has actually been shown to stimulate collagen production in the skin, gradually improving the appearance of fine lines.  Retin A is unlikely to cause new acne or breakouts - the most common side effects of Retin A are redness, peeling, and sun sensitivity.  Generally speaking, it's best to use Retin A at bedtime after thoroughly washing and drying your face.  I would recommend using just a pea size drop to cover your entire face - with Retin A, less is definitely more!  I also generally recommend against applying Retin A to the eyelids, particularly when first starting out, as the skin there is very thin and sensitive and is particularly prone to irritation from Retin A.  I find it's also often best to start out using Retin A every other night, and gradually build your tolerance to it over time - most patients find that their skin adjusts to it over the course of 6-8 weeks or so. That said, Retin A alone is unlikely to fully treat the fine lines that you are noticing - most patients opt to have Botox injections as well to fully treat the crow's feet.  Please follow-up with your dermatologist if you have any concerns.  Best of luck!

Medical Relations - SkinCeuticals · Answer

Happy to help! Retinol is a form of vitamin A that is clinically proven to help improve the appearance of aging skin. Retinol is shown to help improve uneven skin tone, promote cell turnover, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and should not develop acne. If you are new to using retinol, SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 is ideal for first time users and is enriched with a soothing complex of bisabolol to help minimize irritation, calm, and soothe skin. This concentrated facial cream with pure retinol improves the appearance of visible signs of aging and pores while minimizing breakouts. If you are not sure if you should be using retinol, seek your physician for consult. To complement retinol application, follow with SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2. Formulated to be the ideal pairing for retinoid, Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is a potent corrective moisturizer that features the cholesterol dominant ratio of naturally occurring lipids needed to replenish and reinforce the skin barrier as it ages. Hope this helps.

Kristina McLean, MD · Answer

Retin-A was originally an acne medication, but during several studies patients noticed it greatly improved/corrected their scars and wrinkles and it has now become a gold standard product for anti-aging and wrinkle correction. It is very commonly prescribed for patients who have never had acne and are just trying to correct wrinkles and/or scars.
 It will not cause you to breakout if you haven't had acne before.  If you have any underlying breakout it may surface them and there is some initial redness and flaking as it resurfaces the superficial skin layers and brings up new healthy skin.  This initial phase can take anywhere from 2 weeks - 2 months and varies for every patient, you definitely want to use a good hydrating product as the eye area is more sensitive to this process.  Best of Luck.

Will Retin-A micro work for wrinkles? (photo)

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Will Retin-A micro work for wrinkles? (photo)

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