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When to Consider retinoids for More Youthful-Looking Skin
Aug 1, 2023
How old you are is your business, but your face may be blabbing your age to the world. Slack skin that’s lost its luster, blotchy spots, and crepey wrinkles are dead giveaways.
Fortunately, you have many choices these days, and we offer the best of the best skin care treatments here at Polavarapu Plastic Surgery in Fort Worth, Texas. As a board-certified plastic surgeon with many years of experience, Dr. Kiran Polavarapu understands your facial anatomy and your skin’s biological needs. She’s tested the most advanced treatments and technologies and stays on the cutting edge of the latest research, so you can trust her recommendations when it comes to safe, effective, high-quality anti-aging products.
One of the lesser-known yet most effective treatments is Retin-A®, a well-researched, FDA-approved topical that tackles multiple signs of aging. Here’s how it works.
Why does my skin look old?
Each year, your skin undergoes changes that can lead to dryness, rough texture, and wrinkles.
Your epidermis, the outer layer of your skin, contains specialized cells called keratinocytes that help form a protective barrier on your skin's surface. These keratinocytes become more adhesive over time, meaning they stick together more tightly, giving your skin a rougher texture.
As you age, the epidermis cells have a longer lifespan, building up in your skin and developing into age spots or hyperpigmented areas.
Moving deeper into the skin, we come to the dermis, which provides structure and support to your skin. Your dermis contains collagen bundles that keep your skin firm and elastic, but they begin to break down in your mid-20s, leading to a loss of elasticity and the formation of wrinkles.
In addition to collagen breakdown, the quantity and quality of elastin in your dermis also decline. Elastin is another protein that helps to keep the skin pliable and resilient. Over time, these changes in collagen and elastin can lead to sagging, wrinkled skin.
What retinoids do for your skin
Retinoids are derived from vitamin A and became popular in the 1970s as an acne treatment. It didn’t take long before researchers discovered that this topical medication could also solve some other skin issues, and here’s why.
Retinoids attach to and activate specific receptors in your skin cells, increasing collagen production, which is essential for maintaining healthy, youthful-looking skin.
Retinoids also increase cell turnover, which means you shed old, dead skin cells more quickly, revealing fresh, new skin underneath.
Types of retinoids
There are three main types of retinoids. Tazarotene treats acne and psoriasis, reduces fine lines and wrinkles and improves skin texture. Adapalene is a milder retinoid available over-the-counter and treats the same issues.
Retin-A is the brand name of the retinoid tretinoin, considered the gold standard in anti-aging skin care. In addition to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improving skin texture, it fades dark spots and age spots. Because prescription Retin-A can be harsh on your skin, causing redness, dryness, and flakiness, follow Dr. Polavarapu’s instructions to the T.
When to consider Retin-A
Dr. Polavarapu assesses your skin and determines the best treatments to help you reach your goals. Here are some of the conditions Retin-A treats:
Dull skin texture
Dry, flaky, dull skin is an instant ager. Retin-A sluffs off old skin cells that cling onto the surface to reveal newer, brighter skin below.
Sun damage
Overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays eventually damages your skin cells and causes clumps of pigment (melanin) that appear as freckles and dark spots. Retin-A reduces minor freckling and hyperpigmentation.
Fine lines and wrinkles
Loss of collagen is the main cause of fine lines and wrinkles, which is why the most effective anti-aging treatments stimulate collagen production. Retin-A not only triggers collagen production but also slows down the breakdown of your existing collagen stores.
Acne
Retin-A started as an acne treatment and still stands as one of the best breakout approaches. The medication dislodges blackheads and forces the debris that blocks pores to the surface, where you can whisk it away with routine cleansing.
Pre-chemical peel treatment
If you have a chemical peel on the books, Dr. Polavarapu may recommend using Retin-A before your appointment to thin your skin and enable the acids to penetrate more deeply and evenly.
To learn more about the many benefits of Retin-A, request a consultation with Dr. Polavarapu online, or call us at 817-615-8576.
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