Retinol FAQ

(Frequently Asked Questions)

 

Q: What is Retinol and what does it do for the skin?

A: Retinol is a form of Vitamin A. Vitamin A comes in many forms, and some are more suited for use on the skin than others. All-trans retinol is an immediate a precursor to Retinoic Acid, which has been clinically proven to reduce wrinkles by skin regeneration & remodeling. It also is very effective in the treatment & prevention of acne.

 

Q: What is the difference between the Retinol in your Retinol Nite Repair & other “retinol” products on the market?

A: The form of retinol that we use in our product is pure pharmaceutical grade all-trans retinol. It is completely converted into retinoic acid in the skin within 120 minutes of application. Products that already contain the converted form of retinoic acid are available only by prescription. Therefore, since our product turns into retinoic acid AFTER it is applied to the skin, we are able to make it available to our customers OTC (over the counter), so you do not need a prescription from your doctor or dermatologist to purchase our product.

Most other “retinol” products available today do not use the pure, free-form of all-trans retinol in their products (mostly due to cost). They use either vitamin A derivatives or esters, but these contain retinol in extremely small amounts. Therefore, the concentrations of actives must be very high, as these forms have low conversion rates. This often results in a very irritating product. We feel that our product is one of the least-irritating retinol products available.

 

Q: I have read that only retinoic acid can treat acne, not retinol. Is that true?

A: Again, it is only true of the products that contain retinol derivatives (i.e. retinyl palmitate, aldehydes, etc.) because they contain the pure, active form of retinol in minute concentrations. Our product contains 100% pure, active, all-trans retinol that is completely converted by the skin into retinoic acid.

 

Q: Can your Retinol Nite Repair be used on sensitive skin?

A: This question is difficult to answer. Everyone’s skin is different & “sensitive” is a very subjective term when describing the tolerance level of one’s skin to actives. Even in what is considered “normal” skin types, there most likely will be some irritation at the onset of treatment. And this is good. One of the most desirable effects of retinol treatment is the exfoliation of dead/damaged skin cells & the turnover of new skin cells. If you have not used a retinol product before, we suggest that you start out with the 0.5% and follow the Pulse Treatment Schedule to alleviate dryness or discomfort. We also recommend the use of an FDA approved Facial Sunscreen during the day, and avoid using AHA & BHA products on the same day as our retinol product.

 

Q: Are there any reasons why someone should not use this product?

A: Yes. There are contraindications for use. We strongly recommend that you not use any retinol product if:

1.              You currently are, may be, or are trying to become pregnant.

2.              If you have had negative reactions to other retinol products in the past, including but not limited to Retin-A.

3.              You regularly receive facial waxing. The use of an active retinol product results in a disrupted stratum corneum during treatment. Facial waxing can cause trauma, damage, or tearing of the skin that may result in permanent scarring.

 

Q: Are the results immediate? When will I see an improvement in my skin?

A: No, immediate results with any retinol product (even prescription forms) are very atypical. Remodeling the skin using a retinol treatment should be a slow & steady process. You may go through a short period of dryness & slight irritation for 2-3 weeks, until your skin adjusts to the treatment. This will be followed by a period of sebum balancing, where dry skin will begin to produce slightly more oil & oily skin will begin to produce less. Then you will start to see visible changes in your skin, such as the reduction of blemishes & light scarring, and the reduction in the visible appearance of wrinkles & fine lines. You should start to see a visible improvement within 6-8 weeks of starting treatment.