What is a retinol and how does it work?
The science bit!! Retinol is a highly recognised and loved product in the skincare industry. Known for its profound anti-ageing properties, it is adopted into many people’s skincare evening routines. Since the first retinol hit the market in 1971, it’s quickly become known as a cure-all for all skin problems from ageing skin to acne.
Retinol is also known as Vitamin A, used first as an acne medication, retinols can unclog pores, allowing other medicated creams and gels to work better.
Many people think that a retinol exfoliates the skin as they can experience some dryness and irritation, but retinol is actually a lot more complex than an exfoliator. They affect gene expression and enhance collagen level. So, you can use an exfoliator whilst using a retinol in your routine. Retinoic acid is an extremely effective cell-communicating ingredient that can connect to almost any skin cell and tell it to behave like a healthy, younger skin cell.
Prescription Skin Care – Alumier MD – Kingswood Parks Dental (kingswoodparksclinics.co.uk)
How to use Retinol…
Dermatologists recommend you use retinol once a week only initially. This is safe to do for a month or so, then this can be increased to 2 times a week, but only to be used on the night-time. This is because retinol breaks down in the sunlight and will not be affective. You should apply onto the skin after cleansing and leave to soak in before applying a moisturiser.
What are the main benefits of using a retinol?
-Treats acne
-Increases cellular turn over
-High anti-aging properties
-Prevents free radicals from harming the skin
-Reduce existing wrinkles
-Unclog pores
-Reduces redness
When it comes to purchasing your retinol, ideally you should seek a prescribed retinol as this tends to be a more concentrated; an active one. If you purchase over the counter in a high street store, the retinol will not be as strong and effective. There are also different strengths; 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 2. If it is your first time using a retinol, you need to ease your skin into it and start at the lowest concentration, and slowly increase it once your skin is responding well after a few months. Eventually, you will be able to increase to the most intense percentage, resulting is the best results. You need to make sure you follow this advice as too much strength, too quickly can make your skin adversely react and become too irritated which will potentially deter you from using it in the future. Once using a retinol in your routine, you do need to expect slight irritation and ‘power through’ as this is normal and is part of the process.
Here at Kingswood Parks Clinics, we offer prescription retinol only, in a range from lowest to highest strength. Carefully prescribed by our skin care experts. For more advice about Retinol or other prescription skincare, contact the practice to arrange a consultation:
Contact – Kingswood Parks Dental (kingswoodparksclinics.co.uk)