Why does your skin react badly to retinol?

Retinol is one of the most acclaimed active ingredients, on everyone's lips for its many virtues for the skin.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
31 January 2024 Wednesday 09:58
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Why does your skin react badly to retinol?

Retinol is one of the most acclaimed active ingredients, on everyone's lips for its many virtues for the skin. It is a derivative of vitamin A whose main advantage is to enhance skin renewal. This ingredient is crowned as the best anti-aging ally, but this is not its only positive point.

Improves the firmness of the skin, thanks to the fact that it stimulates the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. It also promotes the elimination of dead cells, renewing the dermis and improving its texture. It reduces wrinkles and expression lines, treats blemishes and softens acne marks, provides luminosity, has an antioxidant effect, improves the appearance of pores and regulates excess sebum.

However, more and more people are encouraged to incorporate retinol into their facial care routine. But it is important to do it properly so that the skin does not react badly to this ingredient which, although it has many advantages, is also aggressive.

If you have started using retinol, you may have observed certain adverse reactions on your skin. The most common are redness, irritation, tightness and the appearance of pimples. This happens through a process called skin retinization, which takes place while the dermis gets used to the action of this active ingredient.

Let's remember that retinol unclogs pores, eliminates excess sebum and impurities from the skin. All this dirt comes to the surface of the skin, manifesting itself in the form of pimples. It is also common for the skin to be more sensitive, irritated or reddened after starting to use retinol.

Typically, skin retinization lasts about four weeks, at which time the dermis gets used to this ingredient and begins to enjoy its benefits. But for this to be the case, it is imperative to get started correctly in the use of retinol and not make certain common mistakes.