12/11/2023 0 Comments Prescription retin aRetin-A can get a bad rap because patients don’t realize that they need to pick an appropriate regimen (every other night, for example), an appropriate vehicle (a cream base is often best to start with, especially if you’re dry), and an appropriate concentration (you should start at a very low level, like 0.2%, and slowly graduate to higher concentrations). If you’re going with a prescription product, keep in mind that there are many different concentrations. They’ll use this low concentration for a month, then a year, and then graduate to stronger concentrations. But the bulk of my patients will start with a very mild Retin-A 0.2% mixed in a cream. It’s a good way to see if they’re compliant, and to make sure they’re using a sunscreen. In my patient population, it’s perfectly reasonable to start with a retinol. Matarasso: Retinol is a mild exfoliant, while the prescription products are unequivocally exfoliating. I find that they heal more homogeneously and more quickly, because they’ll get a more uniform application of the peel or laser.Īyla: In your opinion, is it necessary to use a prescription product, or can an over-the-counter product also deliver results that are significant?ĭr. I’ll put many of these patients on Retin-A to reduce sun damage and precancerous lesions.įinally, if a patient’s going to have any type of resurfacing with lasers, or a chemical peel, I like to start them with Retin-A first. ![]() I also use Retin-A for patients who have gotten a lot of sun damage or actinic keratosis (little rough, scaly spots from UV exposure). If you just use these products sporadically, you’re not going to see real results. But with any topical preparation, it’s a matter of diligence and continuity. You’ll notice some subtle improvement in discoloration after a few months it takes a good 8-12 months to see a significant improvement in fine lines. Because, while Retin-A is addressing the superficial layers of the skin, with time, you get neocollagenesis (new collagen growth), which leads to a reduction in fine lines. It’s also a good way to prevent or reduce very fine lines. Matarasso: It’s great for adult acne, and I use it often with adults who have early onset photodamage - it can mitigate and prevent brown spots and solar lentigines. About 80% of my patients are using some form of it.ĭr. Quite frankly, I’ve never seen anyone who is actually allergic to these products. They assume they can’t use it or they’re allergic to it, when they just didn’t have the information or guidance they needed. I’ll frequently have patients come in who have used retinol or Retin-A before and became irritated as a result. Unfortunately, I think there’s a lot of misinformation about both Retin-A and retinol - and with OTC products in particular. I prefer that my patients use a prescription product eventually, but I think it’s absolutely appropriate for a patient to start with an OTC product, like a retinol, because it’s not as irritating or abrasive. ![]() It’s over the counter and readily available it’s a gateway to get started on Retin-A. This is the aldehyde, or non-prescription form, of tretinoin. Over time, in addition to helping with acne, we’ve found that it’s a great way to reduce photodamage. At a basic level, Retin-A provides a slow, controlled exfoliation, taking off the very top layer of the stratum corneum. ![]() ![]() Retin-A was first used a good 30-35 years ago, primarily for patients with acne. Matarasso: Retin-A, also called retinoic acid or tretinoin, is vitamin A in a cream form. Is an over the counter retinol product enough, or do you need to get a prescription retinoid like Retin-A? To get the straight scoop, we consulted Seth Matarasso, MD, our favorite West coast dermatologist.Īyla: Tell us about the difference between Retin-A and retinol.ĭr. For example.)Īt the same time, there’s a lot of confusion around it. (Fantastic news for those of us who might have tanned a tad too aggressively during spring break in college. Even the more delicate flowers among us can now enjoy its benefits: smoother skin, increased collagen synthesis, less hyperpigmentation, even the reversal of sun-induced damage from days gone by. There are decades of data to attest to their efficacy and safety, and new formulations have rendered retinol, in particular, less irritating. We love retinoids - which include retinol, Retin-A, and other derivatives of Vitamin A - because they comprise the gold standard in performance-focused skincare.
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