“Retinoids: Retin-A and retinols”
Welcome to our initial monthly newsletter about skin care and ancillary services. We hope you find this as educational as our weekly newsletter on cosmetic surgery, health and fitness.
Retinoids are an essential part of skin care and great looking skin! It is a classification of topicals that include retinoic acid (tretinoin, Retin-A) and retinols. Retinols are converted by the skin to retinoic acid. Isotretinoin or Accutane, although in the same family, is an oral medication used for significant acne. Like Accutane, Retin-A, which was developed in 1969, was primarily used for acne and today common for its cosmetic improvements.
There are a number of advantageous cosmetic effects retinoids have on the skin. They enhance collagen production while decreasing breakdown. The result is not only thicker skin but also, new smoother skin. Retinoids affect pigmentation and give an evening of the skin coloration particularly when used with hydroquinones which are in bleaching creams. Lastly, there is some evidence of increasing blood supply and the rosy appearance to skin.
Want more youthful skin, fewer wrinkles, and smaller pores? Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT) or microneedling does just this by stimulating collagen. Similar to laser resurfacing or chemical peels without the downtime. Purchase our face package of three treatments and get the fourth one FREE. Go to www.dermapen.com for details of CIT.
Starting on Retin-A, almost everyone has dry, flaky, red skin for about 6 weeks. This can be minimized by using a low strength or even a retinol and applying 2-3 times per week with the use of a moisturizer. Summer is actually a good time to start due to the humidity in the air. Contrary to popular belief, retinoids do not increase skin sensitivity to the sun. Changing environments like vacationing may cause more irritation due to dryness and require more moisturizers. Don’t forget to use sunscreen daily.
Only a pea size amount of Retin-A is necessary for the face. It should be applied at night because sunlight reduces its effectiveness. Improvement is usually seen at around 12 weeks and will continue for up to about a year at which time switching to a higher concentration may be beneficial.
We have retinoids and sunscreens 20% off for April and May.
Here’s to Beautiful Skin,
Cincinnati Institute of Medical Skin Care
Peter McKenna, M.D.
513.793.5772
McKenna Cosmetic Surgery Center . 10577 Montgomery Road . Cincinnati . OH . 45242
(We now offer spa facials and waxing including some Saturdays)
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