Can Retin-A Thicken Nasal Skin?

Question

Is It Safe to Put Retin-A on a Patch of (1 Yr. Post-op) Thinned Nasal Skin to Thicken It?

Steven Hacker, MD · Answer

No, Retin A does not thicken skin. It is effective at reducing the signs of photoaging and is an excellent choice for this but it will not thicken skin.

Shawn Allen, MD · Answer

Retinoids (Retin-A is a brand name) can be used to thicken the second layer of skin called the dermis. It can take up to one year to see noticeable changes but the top part of the skin (the dead cell layer) will be nicely exfoliated quickly (can lead to initial redness and peeling) and so the initial result is thinner skin albeit only slightly.  However, long-term retinoids at prescription strength can thicken the skin despite the initial thinning of the superficial layer.

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD (retired) · Answer

Retn A should be very safe to put  on skin which was surgically treated one year ago. While Retin A does thicken the dermis to an extent, the results would be imperceptible. There is a bit of thinning of the dead cells on the top of the epidermis ( the reason for the "glow" when using Retin A) which causes the redness sometimes seen after sun exposure.

Can Retin-A Thicken Nasal Skin?

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Can Retin-A Thicken Nasal Skin?

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Everything you need to know about Retin-A

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