What Is Retinol and How Can It Treat Your Skin?

What is retinol good for- It improves skin health. (Image via Pexels/ Andrea Piacquadio)
What is retinol good for- It improves skin health. (Image via Pexels/ Andrea Piacquadio)

When thinking about skincare, retinol immediately pops up in our mind; but what is retinol?

Vitamin A in the form of retinol is frequently used to treat acne and smooth out wrinkles. Retinol is the most popular form of retinoid, which comes in a variety of strengths and is called by many names.

Retinol is typically added to over-the-counter products and is less potent than most retinoids. Unlike less strong retinoids, these are easily accessible and do not require a prescription for use.


What Is Retinol Used For?

The simple answer to the question- what is retinol used for is that it improves skin health.

In contrast to many other products for dead skin, retinol does not remove dead skin cells. Instead, the tiny molecules that makeup retinol penetrate the dermis, which is located deep beneath the epidermis (outer layer of skin).

What is Retinol used for- to boost collagen synthesis. (Image via Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio)
What is Retinol used for- to boost collagen synthesis. (Image via Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio)

Retinol aids in the elimination of free radicals as it enters the intermediate layer of skin.


What Does Retinol Do for Your Skin?

It boosts the skin's natural ability to produce substances like hyaluronic acid. These substances support the maintenance of moist, supple skin. Additionally, retinol increases collagen synthesis and inhibits the decomposition of pre-existing collagen.

When retinol enters the skin, it first transforms into retinoic acid, which then becomes biologically active.

If you're still wondering what is retinol good for, check out this list:

1) Brightens dull skin

Retinol helps brighten drab skin. Pregnancy, stress, sun damage, unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking, binge drinking alcohol, or environmental pollution can all contribute to dull skin.

Woman applying cream on her face. (Image via Pexels/Cottonbro Studio)
Woman applying cream on her face. (Image via Pexels/Cottonbro Studio)

Retinol acts by reducing production of dark-pigmented melanin in skin cells. Skin diseases like melasma, which discolors the skin, are brought on by these cells. The skin grows healthier and appears more radiant as a result of retinol's ability to stimulate skin cell renewal.


2) Anti-aging treatment

Anti-aging is another point to add to the answer to this question- what is retinol good for? Retinol has three main mechanisms by which it combats aging. It lessens the visibility of wrinkles and fine lines, protects against sun damage, and eliminates dark spots.

The body produces collagen, a protein that ensures that the skin looks smooth. A reduction in collagen production is the root cause of wrinkles and fine lines.

Retinol acts to lessen the appearance of these fine lines and wrinkles by increasing collagen formation by increasing blood flow to the skin. By strengthening the inner layer of the skin, it helps reduce appearance of wrinkles.


3) Reduces acne

Although retinol is frequently associated with its anti-aging properties, it was initially created to treat acne. Acne can be brought on by dry, dead skin cells that obstruct pores.

Retinol aids in the chemical exfoliation of this pore-clogging debris, which aids in the treatment of current acne and the prevention of new outbreaks. That can eventually lessen likelihood of developing acne scars.

Woman with clear skin. (Image via Pexels/Shiny Diamond)
Woman with clear skin. (Image via Pexels/Shiny Diamond)

What Is Retinol Good For?

For various types of skin, retinol provides a number of benefits. As a result of its antioxidant capabilities, it aids in scavenging molecules known as free radicals that are formed when the skin is exposed to potentially hazardous elements, including pollution and UV rays from the sun.

Collagen, a protein that provides skin with its elasticity and plumpness, is broken down by free radicals, which causes damage to the skin. Damage to collagen causes fine lines, wrinkles, droopy, and loose skin.

Retinol changes what the skin does when it's applied to skin, as it's absorbed into the nucleus of the cell, which is essentially the cell's brain.

It has a significant role in promoting cellular turnover, which brings healthy new skin cells to the skin's surface to replace old, dead ones.


Now that you know what's retinol and how it's good for the skin, here are some important things to note:

When using retinol for the first time, you could feel some skin irritants like dryness and flaking. Additionally, accelerated cell turnover may force any pimples that are developing underneath the skin's surface to emerge to the surface, which can temporarily worsen your complexion before it improves through a process known as purging.

Lady applying skincare product. (Image via Pexels/ Ekaterina Bolovtsova)
Lady applying skincare product. (Image via Pexels/ Ekaterina Bolovtsova)

Therefore, if you start using retinol every day right away, you risk developing severe inflammation and a compromised skin barrier, which would cancel out any potential benefits. Start off slowly to avoid annoyance.

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