RETINOL AT 22??? Wait or start now.
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Tue Feb 28, 2012 4:34 pm

Hi! I'm new to this forum. I work at a spa and have learned a significant amount of info regarding skin care but I am still a little weary on starting retinol at a young age. I know it is amazing for your skin, but what are the long term effects if you start at 22. I know you should take precautions in your 20s to help prevent for the future, but should I start retinol this young or wait a few years?

free skin care · Tue Feb 28, 2012 5:30 pm

It really couldn't hurt for you to start now. It could help prevent wrinkles from showing up down the road. The retinol will just give a nice glow to your face too and even out your skintone. Just remember to use sunscreen every day!

free skin care · Tue Feb 28, 2012 5:59 pm

also retinol helps with acne. Dr's sometimes prescribe it to acne patients

Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:19 pm

I hear different things. Some people say it would be fine to start now and some people say if you start at a young age, you'll have no skin when you're older (t will be so thin)! I went to a deem before who gave me atralin which tore my skin up. My skin was flawless before I tried it and now I have a few scars on my face from breaking out which is the main reason I am thinking of trying retinol again. If I am doing a vit c and sunscreen, is that enough of a precaution for the future? Maybe start retinol at 25 or later?

free skin care · Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:20 pm

At 22, you mostly need to use sunscreen and avoid products that are too harsh for your skin. Retinol products might be something to use, but I wouldn't worry about it unless you've suffered some extensive sun damage in your 'youth'. Retin A is the big gun and will work better than retinols, but you might be able to start a retinol now.

free skin care · Tue Feb 28, 2012 8:21 pm

Mizzlady wrote:

I hear different things. Some people say it would be fine to start now and some people say if you start at a young age, you'll have no skin when you're older (t will be so thin)! I went to a deem before who gave me atralin which tore my skin up. My skin was flawless before I tried it and now I have a few scars on my face from breaking out which is the main reason I am thinking of trying retinol again. If I am doing a vit c and sunscreen, is that enough of a precaution for the future? Maybe start retinol at 25 or later?

The Vitamin C and sunscreen sound good. Retinol will not thin your skin. If that's the reason you're concerned about using it there's no need to worry. The retinol could help your skin turn over more quickly than without which could help your scars go away sooner. The scars are probably not that deep.

free skin care · Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:16 am

Mizzlady wrote:

I hear different things. Some people say it would be fine to start now and some people say if you start at a young age, you'll have no skin when you're older (t will be so thin)! I went to a deem before who gave me atralin which tore my skin up. My skin was flawless before I tried it and now I have a few scars on my face from breaking out which is the main reason I am thinking of trying retinol again. If I am doing a vit c and sunscreen, is that enough of a precaution for the future? Maybe start retinol at 25 or later?

If your skin was flawless why did you go to a derm? Sounds extreme to me to see a derm if you had no existing issues...

Anyways, the scars will most likely heal - they are probably only hyperpigmentation scars or discolorations, rather than indented pitting - the latter which does not really go away.

free skin care · Thu Mar 01, 2012 12:32 am

I've been using Retin A since I was a teen, now in my 30's I notice my friends starting to get wrinkles, but I'm not. I attribute it to retin a because even my younger sister is getting lines on her forehead. So based purely on my own experience, I think it could be helpful long term to start retinoids young. Just be sure to WEAR SUNSCREEN!

Thu Mar 01, 2012 6:46 pm

@jom - I went due to a mole on my back and while I was there she gave me a sample of tretinoin to try. Needless to say, I will never go back to her. I was in the waiting room longer than I was with her, but my visit wasn't the point of this.

I know it will turn your skin cells over faster and what not, I just heard from some people that after a while your skin can get very thin. A lady I work with has used retinols on her face since she was my age and now has broken cappilaries from using it so much. Everyone has their own opinions of it, that's why I was asking. Just to gather some more info. Thanks all!!

free skin care · Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:37 pm

Mizzlady wrote:

@jom - I went due to a mole on my back and while I was there she gave me a sample of tretinoin to try. Needless to say, I will never go back to her. I was in the waiting room longer than I was with her, but my visit wasn't the point of this.

I know it will turn your skin cells over faster and what not, I just heard from some people that after a while your skin can get very thin. A lady I work with has used retinols on her face since she was my age and now has broken cappilaries from using it so much. Everyone has their own opinions of it, that's why I was asking. Just to gather some more info. Thanks all!!

Mizzlady, I was not the one who asked why you went to the derm. That was Glamcat. I could be wrong but I'm sensing that you're a little frustrated. I don't want you to go away mad. It is true that Retin A can cause broken caps, my sense is that it may not be as much of a problem with retinol but I don't have any research to back that up. The truth is that everyone reacts differently and while one person can get broken caps others will not. There's no way to know how your skin will react other than trying it for yourself. You could start by using it only 2 or 3 days per week. There have been many threads on the costs (not just monetary) and benefits of Retin A. You could do a search on the forum to find out more about the experiences other people have had and get links to the research on Retin A. HTH

free skin care · Fri Mar 02, 2012 6:59 am

Mizzlady wrote:

I just heard from some people that after a while your skin can get very thin.

Retinoids don't thin the skin, they actually do the opposite. They do absolutely irritate the skin, which is a good thing but each person needs to monitor that irritation and not over do it. Its important to start slowly to reduce the irritation and build up a tolerance. Unfortunately alot of derms don't tell their patients that. They aren't for everyone though. I dont know why your derm would have give you a sample if your was flawless.

free skin care · Sat Mar 03, 2012 12:15 am

Indeed, retinol/tretinoin/vit A derivatives can be great for the skin if you know how to monitor for the side effects. They pretty much help normalize skin cell production - it doesn't thin out the skin. Just as long as you're optimizing your usage based on the effectiveness and side effects that you're experiencing, you shouldn't encounter too many serious problems

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