Hello Gorgeous!
Now that we’ve talked about the benefits of retinoids and what the difference is between over-the-counter retinols and prescription strength retinoids, let’s dive a little deeper into retinoids and its benefits for controlling acne. Retinoids are not necessarily an all-encompassing medication for controlling all types of acne. Some types of acne require additional medications to be used in conjunction with retinoids to control acne. Note the use of the word “control”. Acne is a disease and using a retinoid is a means of “controlling” the disease. Retinoids do not eliminate the disease; it keeps it under control. So how does it help control acne? Retinoids unclog the pores which reduces breakouts, reduces the inflammation from acne, and can reduce the discoloration that some people are prone to during the healing process of acne (also known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). With consistent use, it typically takes about 3-4 months to get acne under control.
Many are concerned about making acne worse once they start on RetinA, otherwise known as, The Purge. Unfortunately, purging of acne can happen. I’m not gonna lie, it’s not fun! But having uncontrolled acne is even worse. The purge doesn’t last forever. It typically lasts between 2-8 weeks. One tip to minimize the purging is to use the least amount of skin care products. If you’re an acne sufferer, you probably have a whole arsenal of products that are meant to help with breakouts. Your best bet is to stop using all of those other products. The problem being that RetinA can be very irritating and worse so if used with other acne products. And guess what… too much irritation can in-turn create more acne! Stick with the basics at the beginning, cleanser, RetinA, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
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