How to use a Retinoid!!

*Important!! Don't use a retinoid if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.*

*Plan ahead
It takes about 4 to 6 months for your skin to become acclimated to a retinoid. Check your calendar for a "safe window" where you have no major events (your daughter's wedding, a high school reunion) on the horizon. Then, follow these other starter steps to get the best results for younger-looking skin.


*Consider summer
Any retinoid is likely to dry out your skin to some extent, so summer--when there's more humidity in the air--is an ideal time to start using one.


*Dab only a pea-size amount
This is powerful medicine, so don't smear a ton of the stuff on three times a day. Just a tiny pearl-sized amount is all you need for your whole face. Immediately afterward, pat a tissue on your skin; if it sticks, you've used too much. Next time, use half the amount.


*Go slowly, You should ease into them.
Most experts suggest applying a retinoid every third day, at least for the first 2 weeks. Use retinoids every other day for the next 2 weeks, and build up to daily use. For some people (especially those with fair complexions and light-colored eyes), the process might take longer, and others may be satisfied with the results of using retinoids every other day. You'll have to keep up your routine for life to maintain the benefits . You should ease into them.
Follow your doctor's instructions for application. More likely than not, you'll want to begin using your prescription once every two or three days to allow your skin to adjust.


*Go easy with your skin care & clean out your cabinets
It's best to ditch the harsh exfoliants, glycolic acid, and vigorous scrubbing. Benzoyl peroxide and alpha hydroxy acids may deactivate retinoids, so don't layer them. Your skin not only won't respond well to it, it also doesn't need it. Go gentle into that good nighttime skin care routine.
Facial products likely to react with retinoids: scrubs and exfoliation products, alcohol-based toners and astringents, and medicated cleansers and makeup.


*For Sensitive Skin Users
A small percentage of people with ultrasensitive skin can never tolerate a retinoid; if you're one of them, use a gentle physical exfoliator twice a week to soften your skin. Do this in the morning!


*Wax ahead of time. Say adios to waxing.
Schedule one last facial-waxing appointment--dry skin is more prone to burning. Allow any irritation from retinoids to subside before resuming waxing. Waxing can cause excess redness on retinoid-treated skin; don't use a retinoid for several days before a treatment. Say adios to waxing. Learn to love tweezers, as your days of eyebrow waxing are over (if they ever began). If you wax while using a retinoid, a layer of skin is likely to come off with the wax. Not fun.


*Sleep on it
Apply retinoids before bedtime because sunlight can destabilize their effectiveness, advises Baumann. To keep dryness, flakiness, and redness to a minimum, cleanse skin about 20 minutes beforehand; damp skin increases risk of sensitivity. Then apply the retinoid and, in another 20 minutes, your moisturizer. This will avoid sealing the medication into your skin, which makes it stronger and more likely to irritate.


*Be vigilant about sunscreen
Because retinoids slough dead surface cells, removing skin's natural protection against UV exposure, every morning be sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 (the higher the better: 50!!); you can also use a topical antioxidant like a serum with green tea to reduce inflammation. and be extra-conscientious about sunscreen to prevent collagen loss in the first place. SPF is a must. Seriously. Because retinoids make your skin photosensitive, wearing sunblock every day is imperative. Look for at least SPF 30.


*Keep it away from your lips, your eyes and your nostrils. Why? Your skin will peel.
Here is what will happen: You'll apply the cream or gel, la-di-da, and all will go well until a few days pass. Then, bam! Tiny, tissue-paper-thin bits of skin will begin to peel off. It is a little weird, to say the least. Make things easier on yourself by waiting 30 minutes after washing before applying your prescription, and use a gentle moisturizer.


*That cream could be cheaper than you think.
You do need to see a dermatologist to get a prescription for retinoids. But if you have health insurance, your copay could be less expensive than the cost of a fancy (or not-so-fancy) over-the-counter skin cream.


*Things will get worse before they get better.
Even if your skin doesn't peel or get red, you could see a surge of whiteheads a few weeks into your treatment. Don't freak out; this is actually a good thing, as it means the retinoid is working. Withstand it for a couple of months and your skin will reward you.


*They really work.
There's a reason retinoids continue to be prescribed even decades after their debut. Here's more about it, but the bottom line is that retinoids' effectiveness has been measured time and time again in double-blind studies.




Hope you enjoy these great tips!