How Does Tretinoin Affect Acne?

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Many young people from teenagers to adults often suffer from the skin condition called acne. This condition is known to cause unsightly pimples that occur on the face and the body. Acne can be quite damaging not only to the body, but also to the self-esteem of the individual who suffers from the condition. With acne affecting millions of people, there are a host of treatments that can be used to combat this skin condition. Thousands of products are available and they all claim to do the same thing. Some are proven to be more effective than others. One such product is tretinoin, which is available in an ointment, gel or cream. Many of the popular acne treatments use tretinoin as an active ingredient.

Acne occurs when the pores located on the surface of the skin become blocked. This blockage affects the sebaceous glad and that often causes acne to develop. When these blockages occur, this is often due to the development of excessive sebum production. Blockages can also occur when dead skin cells get clogged in the pores. Excessive sebum production is mainly associated with hormones in the body. An increase in Androgens can often cause production to increase. Generally acne treatments that are available often focus on clearing blocked pores or targeting the hormones in the body. The main focus of tretinoin is to ensure that the pores of the skin are kept clear.

Released in 1971, Tretinoin is one of the first retinoids that were released as a topical treatment for the skin condition acne. Retinoids are similar to vitamin A chemically and this is a very important vitamin that is needed to have healthy skin. Tretinoin was used primarily for the treatment of comedonal acne, as well as other skin conditions. Tretinoin generally works to keep the pores of the skin open through two different processes. In the first process, tretinoin affects the epithelial cells so that they are not as sticky. As a result these cells will be able to be exfoliated off the skin much easily. It also affects the epithelial cells in a way that they are able to be shed more quickly, before comedones (blocked pores) can develop. Since these cells won’t be around to clog the pores of the skin, the development of acne is greatly reduced.

It is very important to note that people who use tretinoin to treat acne will often noticed that their skin will look worse than before. The reason behind this is the fact that tretinoin can irritate the skin. As a result, the skin can have a scaly, red look to it. There is also the possibility that there is an increase in the amount of acne that is seen on the body. Generally it takes between 1-2 months before there is any real improvement of the skin. It is a very long process, that is why it is important for people to stick with it.

The main side effects associated with the use of tretinoin is the reddening of the skin, acne getting worse, thinning of the skin, irritation and much more. As a result of these side effects, it is often recommended that people stay out of the sun or reduce their exposure. If they do plan on going out in the sun, they should wear a sunscreen that has a SPF 15.

Tretinoin has been around for awhile and it is common in many different acne treatments. It should be noted that newer retinoids are slowly replacing tretinoin. These newer retinoids have specifically target different areas related to the development of acne.

For people who are interested in using tretioin to treat their acne, they should consult their doctor. The doctor will be able to give you much more information as it relates to this product. They will be able to tell you if it is right for your skin, as well as the benefits and side effects that can occur.

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