“Exfoliating is abrasive and irritating, and you do not want to compound the skin irritation by heightening your skin's sensitivity,” she says, adding that if you're getting certain in-office treatments like lasers, microneedling, microdermabrasion, you will want to take a break from your retinol.
Don't use retinol with Vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and glycolic acid, which are other common skincare ingredients. If you want to take advantage of the benefits of these ingredients, make sure you use them in the morning rather than at night when you apply retinol to avoid skin irritation and redness.
Most people who introduce retinol to their skin, experience severe breakouts, dryness, itchiness, and redness. The immediate side effects of retinol treatment can take the form of a surge in acne, blackheads, whiteheads, and rashes. This is termed retinol purging.
Since retinol can irritate your skin, it's best to start slow. After a patch test, you might use a product once every few days, and then gradually ramp up to once or twice per day. At first, you might experience redness, itching or burning, but these symptoms go away as your skin gets used to the treatment.
Those who are new to retinol need to start slow. “I recommend using retinol every two days or even just once per week to start to avoid irritation, redness, and skin purging, then gradually increasing frequency if no issues arise,” suggest Dr. Engelman.
The retinol uglies aren't inevitable—but should they occur, rest assured that the eventual pros are likely to outweigh any initial cons. As far as how long the skin purge lasts, Dr. Samolitis says it typically spans about two weeks.
It doesn't happen to everyone, but many people find their breakouts worsen before they get better when they start using a retinol product. Of course (as with any new skincare product) you'll want to conduct a patch test 24 hours before using retinol for the first time.
Rule 3: Slow and steady wins the race
“Retinol can cause irritation when it's first used, so start off using the product once or twice weekly and gradually build up to every night,” advises Mahto, who says the same rule applies whether you're introducing a prescription retinoid or an over-the-counter product.
If you've surpassed your 20s and are concerned that you've missed your window for reaping the benefits of retinol, don't worry—it's never too late to start. Dr. Arthur says she's had patients who reported noticeable results after starting retinol in their 60s and 70s.
A 0.5-percent concentration is a good baseline.
For beginners, most dermatologists recommend a retinol with a concentration of 0.25 percent to one percent to see results. If your skin is not sensitive, you can usually tolerate something right in the middle; Dr.
New York dermatologist, Dendy Engelman, M.D., explains that the skin gradually adjusts to retinol. "Clinically, we've seen that it takes about three weeks for skin cells to adapt to retinoic acid and begin building their tolerance," says Engelman, which is why some degree of irritation is totally normal early on.
To acclimate your skin to the retinol, start using it twice a week (every three days) in the evenings. If you aren't experiencing any redness or flakiness the next day, you can bump it up to every other day—and then even every day if your skin can handle it.
Despite dermatologists describing retinol as a skin-care star, it can come with an unpleasant side effect: retinol burn. Also known as retinol irritation, it's essentially what happens when your face can't tolerate the powerful ingredient and subsequently devolves into a flaky, peeling, red mess.
Skin experts always advocate applying actives on damp skin for better absorption. However the same rule does not apply to retinol. While you must ensure that you wash your face before application, make sure the skin is dry first. “On damp skin, the retinol will get absorbed more deeply and in turn cause irritation.
Skin purging happens when new ingredients, like retinol, promote increased cell turnover, which causes clogging and worsening breakouts. This is particularly the case as oil and debris that is trapped deeper underneath the skin comes to the surface.
It's Never Too Late to Start Using Retinol as an Addition to Your Skincare Routine. At any point in life, retinol is a positive ingredient for your skin, ultimately achieving outstanding results.
Retinol and hyaluronic acid are two popular skincare treatments people use for fine lines, wrinkles, and sensitive skin. Both are powerful agents that offer a range of benefits, so you may be wondering, “Can I use hyaluronic acid with retinol?” The short answer is yes, you can.
"Too much retinol will produce too much cell division, causing large numbers of immature cells to rise up to the surface without the proper bonds to hold them together." When too many cells rise up to the surface, the skin can start to peel, as the lipids and bonds that are needed to hold them together haven't yet ...
Yes. In fact, retinoids work best if you use them daily. Specifically, try to use them at night because light and air deactivate some types. If you experience any side effects — like skin redness or dryness — then it's a good idea to back down to once every 2 or 3 nights.
First, the answer is yes, retinol can make wrinkles worse, especially when you first start using it. What is happening is a drying effect, and one can get epidermal sliding from separation from the dermis.
What Does Skin Purging Look Like? If your skin is purging, you'll usually notice small, red pimples that may even feel uncomfortable to touch. You may also experience dryness, peeling, and irritation.