Other antioxidant superstars help prevent damage. But retionols are the only known substance, that can actually undo skin damage.
Acting as a peel and an antioxidant, retinols:
fade acne scarring and hyper-pigmentation,
erase fine lines and prevent wrinkles,
and promote collagen and elastin production.
Does this sound too good to be true? Well it’s not. Retinols are one of the most exciting skin care ingredients, and science proves it.
What is a Retinol?
When retinol and other retinoids come into contact with skin, enzymes in the body convert the retinol into retinoic acid, the active form of vitamin A. And vitamin A helps skin by increasing cell turnover which in turn, stimulates collagen and elastin production, speeds skin repairs and recovery, and helps skin stay hydrated and glowing, thus slowing aging.
Who should use Retinols?
Whether you are a teenager struggling with acne breakouts, in your twenty’s trying to fade acne scars, a thirty or forty something preventing fine lines and wrinkles, or in your seventies seeking to fade age spots . . . retinols are for you.
Synthetic vs. Natural
There are natural and synthetic (or prescription) forms of retinoids. Prescription strength products are more “active” than over the counter (OTC) products. In skin care, too active an ingredient may not be an advantage, per the side effects of dryness, sun sensitivity, peeling and redness. For the natural skin purist, Rosehip seed oil is an excellent source of trans-retinoic acid that avoids the irritation that prescription retinoic acid can cause, yet has all the benefits. Why are the side effects eliminated? The skin does the work in the molecularization of retinoic acid, converting only what it needs and eliminating the risk of overdosing.*
Experts unanimously recommend retinoids or OTC products with retinol as anti-aging super stars, but check it out for yourself. Since changes happen slowly use OTC retinols for at least three months in the treatment of scars, photo-aging, wrinkles, and age spots, to see an effect.
*Contributions to Identification and Application of Active Components Contained in Rosa Aff. Rubiginosa prepared by the Faculty of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of San Marcos, Lima, Peru & and Dr Horst KehI, from the School of Pharmacology of the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, USA, December 1988. The results were after a two-year study that included 180 patients. Additional testing has demonstrated healing on scar tissue even with scars over 20 years old.
Reprinted from The Georgetowner, Body & Soul, March 22nd - April 4, 2017 edition.