Starting Retinol Instructions

Starting Retinol Instructions (Topical cream)

Warning: Tretinoin, a prescription oral pill/medication used for acne treatments can cause birth defects (for women who could become or are pregnant). Retin-A (topical cream tretinoin) should not be used if pregnant or if trying to become pregnant. Both can cause you to become sunburned very easy so sunblock should be used when going outside.  Vitamin A can also be used in excess and cause harm; don’t take too much.

Retinols are similar to Retin-A. They are a topical cream used to stimulate the skin.      

What do Retinols do?

They increase the rate of turnover of the epithelial cells (top cells). This results in the young fresh cells being pushed to the surface of your skin faster. This removes the damaged skin and replaces it with healthy skin. The top layer of your skin becomes thicker as well; resulting in less wrinkles.

Typically patients apply the retinol cream to their face (not eyelids) each night before bed. Often patients will develop a rash and flaking if starting the retinol too fast or too high of a dose. Often patients will think that they are allergic to the retinol, however they just used it to much, too soon. If you are starting a retinol for the first time, I suggest the below taper as a starting point.

Taper:

Start with 0.3 Retinol strength

Week 1 Wed

Week 2 Mon Fri

Week 3 Mon Wed Fri

Week 4 Mon Wed Fri Sun

Week 5 Mon Wed Thu Fri Sun

Week 6 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sun

Week 7 every day (use 0.3 Retinol)

Increase to 0.5 Retinol strength (on the following days)

Week 1 Wed 0.5   (the other days use 0.3 Retinol)

Week 2 Mon Fri 0.5   (the other days use 0.3 Retinol)

Week 3 Mon Wed Fri 0.5   (the other days use 0.3 Retinol)

Week 4 Mon Wed Fri Sun 0.5   (the other days use 0.3 Retinol)

Week 5 Mon Wed Thu Fri Sun 0.5   (the other days use 0.3 Retinol)

Week 6 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sun 0.5   (the other days use 0.3 Retinol) 

Week 7 every day (use 0.5 Retinol)

Increase to 1.0 Retinol strength (on the following days)

Week 1 Wed 1.0   (the other days use 0.5 Retinol)

Week 2 Mon Fri 1.0   (the other days use 0.5 Retinol)

Week 3 Mon Wed Fri 1.0   (the other days use 0.5 Retinol)

Week 4 Mon Wed Fri Sun 1.0   (the other days use 0.5 Retinol)

Week 5 Mon Wed Thu Fri Sun 1.0   (the other days use 0.5 Retinol)

Week 6 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sun 1.0   (the other days use 0.5 Retinol)

Week 7 every day (use 1.0 Retinol)