Tretinoin For Effective Acne Scar Treatment

Tretinoin For Effective Acne Scar Treatment

Getting acne does not mean you will be scarred for life as a lot of acne heals and disappears by themselves over time. The most you can expect is hyper pigmentation of the skin which fades over time.

When the acne on your skin becomes infected, it penetrates deeper inside the skin ’s layers and damages the collagen in the dermal layer.

The skin’s tissue gets even further damaged by inflammation increases, and as your skin scrambles to heal the inflammation and repair the damage, scars occur from the healing process.

The severity of the scars is determined in part by the severity of the acne inflammation and by your skins ability to heal.

What is Tretinoin?

Tretinoin is also known as Retin-A; a retinoid and the acid form  of vitamin A. Aside from acne, tretinoin is also used for treating other skin damages done by the sun or from aging. It is used topically and can be purchases in gel or cream form.

You need to use tretinoin under medical supervision. As everyone’s skin is different, your reaction to tretinoin will also vary. It is best to start off with a small dosage and gradually increase it over time to give your skin a chance to get used to it.

The best time to use tretinoin is in the evenings just before going to bed. As some people have experienced redness and itching when they first apply it, it is a case of looking worse before looking better. This does not mean however that tretinoin will work overnight and you will wake up with fresh unblemished skin, it can take anything up to 12 weeks before visible results are seen, so you need to be patient and persistent.

Make sure your face is thoroughly cleansed by a recommended product from your doctor, and that you apply the right moisturizer to protect your skin. Tretinoin has quite a dramatic drying effect on some skin so it is best to moisturize properly to avoid too much “dry skin flaking” syndromes.

Then apply the medication as indicated. During the day, be aware that using tretinoin will make your skin more sensitive to the sun’s rays, so you may need to wear a sunblock or a big hat or both.

How Does Tretinoin Work?

Tretinoin works as a natural exfoliant as well as promoting collagen production, essential to keeping your skin healthy. It also combats bacteria and promotes new cell generation. It works by gently removing the top layer of your skin so that mild scarring will gradually lessen and disappear, allowing newer skin cell to replace the damaged tissue.

As it concentrates on killing bacteria, you may experience skin irritation, redness, itching and a burning sensation. This is also why a gradual increase in the strength of the product is recommended.

This is a treatment that takes time to be effective. If you do not see results within a week or two don’t despair, keep at it and the desired results will happen. If you are at all unhappy or find that this treatment might not be for you, speak with your doctor or dermatologist.

Remember that tretinoin is not for everyone. Consult your doctor before using this treatment and follow your doctor’s instructions for best results.

Products you may like to try :

VITAMIN SERUM 1.7 oz/50ml. (Retinol Retin-a)
Afirm 2x .30% Retinol 1.05oz

Posts for other acne scar treatments:

Hypertrophic keloid scar removal

How to remove acne scars with punch excision

Remove acne scars with dermabrasion