Is Tretinoin the New Marmite of Skincare?
from web site
When retinol first burst onto the skincare scene, it was the Marmite of beauty ingredients – some adored its effective results and were happy to suffer the resulting ‘retinol uglies’ while others were put off by its dry, flaky complexion. Now tretinoin (or tretinoic acid) – the more powerful big sister of retinol – is having its moment with videos tagged #tretinoin boasting one billion views on TikTok and Google searches doubling in a year.
Tretinoin is a highly effective treatment for acne vulgaris, reducing redness and clearing existing breakouts by increasing cell turnover. It also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by boosting collagen production. It can also be used to treat hyperpigmentation caused by sun damage or acne scarring, helping fade dark spots. Lastly, it can improve skin tone and texture by reducing tactile roughness and improving the appearance of pores.
While tretinoin is an amazing ingredient with many benefits, it is not without side effects. The main ones are redness, itching and peeling of the skin – this is particularly more intense with higher strength treatments so you should always start with the lowest strength prescribed by your GP or dermatologist and gradually work your way up.
It’s also important to use sunscreen every day as tretinoin can make your skin sensitive to sunlight. It’s also not recommended to use tretinoin if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive as there aren’t enough controlled studies of its safety for pregnancy.tretinoin uk
