Retinol Side Effects

Retinol is widely used in many skin care products like facial and body lotions, besides being used as a dietary supplement. Retinol based cream products have been claimed to have anti-aging effect on skin and have been reported to be effective in treating acne. It is a good practice to check the side effects of such cosmetic products before using them on your skin. This article talks about retinol side effects for those of you who are concerned regarding this subject.

People have a tendency to overuse skin creams and therefore it is essential that they know about retinol side effects. If you are thinking of trying out these anti aging cream products and anti wrinkle skin care products, then this article will clear your doubts about what exactly makes them work and what are the precautions that need to be taken while using them.

What is Retinol?
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A, which is fat soluble and a vital nutrient required by the human body for maintaining clear vision and sustaining bone growth. Out of the many forms of vitamin A, retinol is the most usable. The body derives vitamin A from provitamin carotenoids and retinoids. Retinoids are derived from animal sources like meat, eggs and dairy products. Carotenoids like beta carotene are assimilated from green vegetables. Retinol being vitamin A, is an anti oxidant and a prime ingredient of many skin rejuvenation products.

There are many reasons for the choice of retinol as an ingredient in these anti-aging creams. It has the property of increasing water content of the skin by attracting moisture. It gently removes the dead top layer of the skin, made up of old dead tissue. The reason retinol based cosmetic products have an anti aging effect is not just because they remove dead skin layers. Retinol also increases production of collagen and promotes cell division. There are two types of proteins in the layers below the skin, which are collagen and elastin. Elastin increases the elasticity of skin while collagen improves its rigidity. Increased production of collagen reduces fine wrinkling of skin and it is also known to reduce the pigmentation caused by exposure to sunlight.

The anti-aging property that retinol provides is also a result of its active derivative being retinoic acid or Tretinoin. The aging of skin occurs due to the action of free radicals on it. When retinol gets absorbed and penetrates the skin deep inside, its antioxidant property reduces the effect of free radicals and halts the process of aging. Due to the deep absorption of retinol, it can remove even the deepest of wrinkles quite easily. So, these were some of the benefits of retinol. Let us have a look at retinol cream side effects in the next section.

Side Effects of Retinol
Despite so many benefits of retinol cream, there are some reported retinol side effects. One of the often reported retinol side effects is reddening of the skin in the applied area, along with a mild stinging sensation. However, this effect reduces after some time as your skin gets used to it. If the effect persists after regular usage, then you should consult a dermatologist and temporarily stop usage of the cream.

Another one of retinol side effects is that the skin becomes extra sensitive to sunlight. People using retinol based creams are advised not to expose skin to direct sunlight, immediately after application. Other side effects include irritation on the applied skin area. A slight scaling of skin has also been reported in some cases. These itching and scaling effects are often a result of excessive application of the cream. Moderate usage is recommended. As a dietary supplement, it is recommended that its intake be well controlled. High concentration of vitamin A can cause toxicity problems, especially in pregnant women and children.

Hope this article has given you an idea about the possible retinol side effects that may be encountered. Any cosmetic or medication, is after all an artificial modification of the inner working of the body. There are bound to be some side effects depending on the nature of a person's skin. As long as these side effects are negligible, one can safely use such cosmetics like retinol based anti-aging creams.