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The 4 Most Important Things to Know Before Using Tretinoin

Dermatologists and estheticians agree that retinoids are the gold standard in anti-aging and anti-acne ingredients. That’s because they resurface the skin, transforming it to be smoother, plumper, brighter, firmer, and more even. It’s worth noting that I’m using the plural “they,” because the word “retinoid” doesn’t refer to a single ingredient. Rather, it refers to a category of ingredients. Yep, that’s right. It’s an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of vitamin A derivatives, including retinol, retinaldehyde, and tretinoin. (Here’s a breakdown of the different types of retinoids for your reference.)

Different retinoids have different strengths, and tretinoin is in the top tier. Sure, it can dramatically improve the state of the skin, but it can also cause gnarly side effects like dryness, flakiness, redness, and irritation. That’s why it’s only available by prescription so it can be used (and your skin can be monitored) under the guidance of a medical professional.

Still, tretinoin is a popular skincare ingredient for a reason. It’s potent, and it can give the skin incredible anti-aging (and anti-acne!) results. But before you book that appointment with your derm to get your hands on a tube of tretinoin, I recommend taking a beat. First, let’s get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about it. Questions like, ‘How does it work?’ ‘What skin types is it best suited for?’ And, last but not least, ‘how can you avoid—or at least minimize—the potential side effects?’ Keep scrolling for all of this and more.

(Image credit: Stocksy)

What Is Tretinoin?