If there is one sure sign that you’re getting old, it’s the appearance of wrinkles. Some of us are lucky enough to have inherited a genetic make-up that spares us the worst of the ravages of the passage of time, but at the end of the day all of us will, to a greater or lesser extent, develop signs of skin aging such as wrinkles, creases, lines and brown age spots.
So just why does our skin age in the way that it does? Skin aging is a complex biological process, the mechanisms of which are not completely understood, but what is known is that it’s influenced by a number of internal and external factors such as sun exposure (photoaging), smoking, gravity, genetics and the repeated movement of facial muscles. These cause the changes in the skin that we associate with aging - skin becomes thinner and more translucent, changes in skin colour occur and wrinkles, creases and lines appear.
Skin becomes more translucent because the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis) thins with age. Colour changes result from a gradual decrease in the number of, and increase in the size of, melanocytes which are pigment containing cells in the skin. The wrinkling and appearance of lines is due to degenerative changes in collagen – the fibrous connective tissue that gives skin its strength.
For many people, sun and UV exposure is probably the major factor that accelerates the changes associated with skin aging - this sort of skin aging is sometimes called photoaging. Just compare your facial skin to an area of skin that is less sun exposed, and you’ll get some idea of how damaging photoaging can be. Even in the winter months or on cloudy overcast days, there can still be enough UV light to damage your skin. It’s hard to detect these changes on a day to day basis but over time the damage caused becomes increasingly evident.
If you smoke as well, then you will simply be exacerbating the problems of sun damage and skin aging in general. Smoking is known to damage the skin in a number of ways such as affecting its elasticity, and is particularly associated with the development of wrinkles, acne-like changes and drooping.
Given that we live a society that appears to be obsessed by youth, it is not surprising that the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries have realised the huge market potential of products aimed at trying to halt or even reverse the effects of age on the skin. But with such a wide array of products on offer, how on earth do you know what to chose? And how do you know that you really will get the results that the manufacturer’s claim? You could easily spend hundreds of dollars but would you really look any younger?
Fortunately, you need look further than Retin-A. Retin-A is a skin cream that contains the retinoid Tretinoin (also known as ‘All-Trans Retinoic Acid’ or ATRA) - an acid form of Vitamin A. The effects of the topical application of Tretinoin (i.e. massaging Tretinoin into the skin) have been well studied by the scientific community and it has been proven to be effective particularly with regard to photoaging. Overwhelming clinical and histological evidence (i.e. the study of the microscopic structure of the skin tissue) demonstrates that topical retinoids such as Retin-A not only halt but even reverse, to an extent, certain structural changes caused by excessive sun exposure!
And the effects of using Retin-A can be seen really quickly. Used for a period of just 6 weeks, the results can be quite astonishing - fine lines completely gone, severe wrinkles greatly reduced, minor colouration irregularities diminished leaving skin with a regained youthful glow! No wonder so many expensive skin products rave about the small amounts of Retin-A they contain.
Although scientifically proven to be effective it was initially it was developed to treat acne and indeed Retin-A still is a superior acne treatment. As far as acne treatment is concerned, when applied topically (i.e. applied to the skin) Retin-A works by decreasing blackhead formation and stimulating follicle cells that push out blackheads, leaving the skin clear and blemish free.
For those using Retin-A with regard to reducing the signs of aging and improving the appearance of skin generally, Retin-A appears to work by acting to stimulate the blood supply to the skin which in turn increases the turnover of dead skin cells. The effect of this is to leave you with new, more youthful looking skin.
And the use of Retin-A is not just limited to the face - it can also be successfully used on the back of hands. Nor is it limited to improving the appearance of aging skin or for the treatment of acne, Rein-A can be used to treat and reduce the appearance of stretch marks and to speed up the rate of skin repair after cosmetic surgery.
Using Retin-A couldn’t be easier. Simply apply Retin-A sparingly to the skin's surface until it has been completely absorbed. Initially you should do this 5 times a week and thereafter about 3 times a week. Avoid any contact with the eyes. It is also recommended that you use a moisturizer and a high factor sunscreen because Retin-A increases skin sensitivity and the risk of sunburn.
Retin-A is available in three different strengths. Just follow the simple guidelines below to know which one is right for you:-
- The 0.025% cream is for general skin improvement
- The 0.05% cream is designed for reducing wrinkles and fine lines
- The 0.1% cream, is the strongest strength available and is designed for acne and blackhead removal
If you have never used Retin-A before, it is strongly recommend that you start with the lowest strength cream and if necessary, work your way up slowly.
When you first use Retin-A you may notice a little skin reddening. This is due to the improvements in the skin’s blood supply. As your skin adjusts, so this effect will lessen and after just a matter of a few weeks, a whole new you will be revealed
Retin-A – Don’t Hide Behind Acne Prone Skin!
Retin-A is a highly effective treatment designed to address acne prone skin, as well as the appearance, number of wrinkles and general condition of the skin.
It contains an ingredient called tretinoin (or may be referred to as retinolic acid), which is derived from vitamin A. Although the action of tretinoin remains largely unknown, current evidence suggests that when applied topically, tretinoin decreases blackhead formation and stimulates an increased turnover of the follicle cells that extrude blackheads (comedones).
Improving blood supply to the skin in this fashion, results in a new, more subtle and more youthful looking skin. Retin-A can reduce severe wrinkles within 6 weeks, and completely remove fine lines. It is also used to speed up the rate of skin repair following cosmetic surgery.
There are three versions of Retin-A available: The 0.025% cream is for general skin improvement, the 0.05% cream is designed for treating wrinkles, and the 0.1% cream, is designed for acne and blackhead removal.
If you have never used Retin-A before, it is strongly recommend that you start at the lowest dosage and if necessary, increase the dosage slowly over time.