You have heard of Retinol as being the greatest weapon against aging skin, and that is true. However what exactly does Retinol do and how does it differ from Retin-A, tretinoin, or retinoid acid? This can be very confusing – lets see if we can clear it up for you.
Retinol is a highly effective topical form of pure vitamin A. It is a powerhouse used to treat aging skin and has many benefits including:
💧Restores water, lipid, and protein in the skins barrier surface
💧Improves a healthy skin cycle
💧Promotes cell turnover and improves overall skin texture
💧Breaks up pigmentation to improve skin’s tone and complexion
💧Promotes healthy collagen and elastin production, improving skin firmness and elasticity
💧Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
💧Stimulates the skins natural rebuilding and repairing process
💧Exfoliates and removes dead skin cells
💧Provides protection against further damage
Retinol comes in several strengths – some are available over the counter and some require prescription. The prescription strength of Retinol is also known as retinoid acid, or tretinoin. (The brand name often used is Retin-A). Retinoid acid is classified as a medication rather than a cosmetic, meaning that it affects the actual structure of the skin cell to improve it’s condition and reverse the signs of aging. Retinol, which is the lower dose formulation, is classified as a cosmetic, and does not require a prescription. This non-prescription lower strength of retinol is found in many over the counter skin care products.
So – which is best? The answer is – both! Over the counter retinol products work to maintain beautiful healthy skin. However it is often necessary to use a prescription form of Retinol to “kick start” the process – to reverse those aging processes quickly and effectively. This can be in the form of a strong Retinol chemical peel OR the addition of a higher potency retinol, used nightly for a limited period of time, or both.
At BeautoxEtc we offer ZO Skin Health which in our opinion is the most comprehensive and effective medical skin care line. Retinol is used in several of it’s daily use products for anti-aging, acne, and skin brightening. ZO also offers several higher dose Retin-A products including a wonderfully effective 3 step peel. Book a free consultation to discuss further to see what is the right treatment for you. www.BeautoxEtc.com
