Anti Aging Wrinkle Cream- Doctors Do Not Always Agree On Using Retinoids
The Pros and Cons Of Using Retinol
Many people believe that skin specialists and dermatologists are on the same team when it comes to retinoids,but that is not always the case when the topic comes around these medically prescribed age erasers. For the most part there are always two sides to a story,and this one is no different. Over the years prescriptions for retinoids such as Retin-A,Renova,and Tazorac have skyrocketed. The medications that contain the vitamin A derivative has been the gold standard anti aging regimen,and assumed to be the best anti aging product available to men and women wanting to keep wrinkles at bay. Certainly there have been many decades of clinical research and studies that confirm that retinoids in fact do work to smooth out wrinkles by speeding up cell turnover. They have the added benefit of reducing or fading sunspots,and helping the skin to build collagen naturally without injections.
However,there may be those in the skin care field who are not as confident as they once were filling out the prescription because of new claims that retinoids can also thin the skin. Retinoids are irritating,but it is a side effect that most women and men learn to live with. But what if the peeling,lobster-red faces,and irritation of this product were causing chronic inflammation that was actually leading to premature aging? Now that does not sound good!
The Pros and Cons of Retinoids
The Pros For Retinoids
There is some tough science to back up retinoid use for aging skin. “It’s hard to argue with the science behind retinoids,they are prescription drugs,says Miami dermatologist Dr. Leslie Baumann. These are legal drugs that are approved by the FDA,and drug companies must do rigorous scientific studies to completely prove that their products do what they claim and for retinoids that is to “get rid of wrinkles”. These products are the only topical product on the market that can provide concrete evidence to this fact.
Many dermatologists will argue that it is absurd that retinoids thin the skin because,studies show that they actually increase the thickness of the dermis,or deeper layer of the skin where wrinkles begin. The doctors argue that is the patient’s use of the medication that gives the impression the skin is thinning. Using the medication is simple;patients apply a pea size amount as scheduled by their doctor. Some start with a every other night before finally going to a daily application,but many patients need to build up a tolerance to this type of product over several weeks before they can apply them daily and many patients apply more than the recommended pea-sized amount. This can results in a certain amount of flaking or peeling,but there is some truth to the fact that too much skin inflammation will eventually break down your skins collagen.
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Dermatologists say that if you are using retinoids you don’t have to have undo worry about using them,unless your skin is chronically red,peeling and itching. If you have been using retinoids for over a year or more,and do not have chronic red,peeling skin that is inflamed than you’re not destroying your skin,you are actually building up the collagen and helping it.
The Cons Against Retinoids
The people that are shouting “stop the retinoids” are for the most part not dermatologists,some are plastic surgeons like New York City facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michelle Yagoda,who states that “The key is looking at the retinol studies and understanding how much collagen can really be built,”she says. “It doesn’t matter if it gives you 10 percent less of a wrinkle—that’s so microscopic,our eyes can’t distinguish it.”She feels that retinoids are so simple to prescribe for most patients,that it has become automatic for doctors to do it. She feels that patients should be offered an alternative which they rarely get. She believes that in her experience and practice that using glycolic acids to treat wrinkles and smooth the skin are just as effective and sometimes better-tolerated by many men and women.
There are many positives when it comes to retinoids,but one of the most important to patients and doctors alike is that they produce quick results,smoothing wrinkles and clearing up skin discolorations. However,Simon Erani,lead researcher for the skincare company Somme Institute,states that he believes that while your skin may be looking better,“you’re not noticing how your skin looks papery and thin.”He believes that any skin inflammation will damage skin in the long run,which is why he’s excluded it from Somme’s formulations.
Others like NY City aesthetician Susan Ciminelli states that she can spot a retinoid user right away because;“Their skin looks brittle because it has lost its cushion.”Her belief is that the retinoids are stripping away the skin,and that the way to a more youthful glow involves the addition of natural moisturizers and emollients.
However,to play devil’s advocate plump skin does look healthier,and more youthful,but as we age we naturally loose fat,and collagen,and no moisturizer or emollient can add those back. To build up new collagen you will have to use products such as retinoids,or inject dermal fillers to fill in the wrinkles and help build up new collagen.
Retinoids require a prescription and are FDA approved for use,but you can find OTC vitamin A and anti aging wrinkle creams that are derived from retinol. Over the counter products may be less effective when first used,but many doctors believe that long term use is what brings about change to the skin. It takes 4-6 months to see actually skin changes with any new anti aging wrinkle cream that you use,and most people quit using products before they can become effective. It should be stated that OTC retinoids do not require FDA approval or have to go through the same rigorous testing for effectiveness and safety that medically approved FDA medications are required to do.
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