Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1507658
Exclusive member benefit: Get the ASCP SkinPro app at ascpskincare.com/skinpro 65 in a really polluted area or if you're out in the sun constantly, figuring out how to get vitamin A earlier is probably going to be better," Esau says. IS RETINOL NECESSARY FOR SKIN HEALTH? In short: no. But that's only because the benefits of retinol don't necessarily equal skin health. "There are many ways to take very good care of your skin and keep it healthy," Greenfield says. "But taking good care of your skin does involve a lot of thought and planning: using appropriate products, staying out of the sun, etc." Actions like wearing SPF and staying hydrated are far more important for skin health, but there's no denying the powerful benefits of retinol in repairing skin aging. "I still believe that it is the number one ingredient to slow and reverse aging," Esau says. "There are other ingredients that partner and kind of come in, but it really is that one ingredient that is a powerhouse." Additionally, it's important to note that skin care for skin aging can provide value beyond vanity's sake. Research has shown that visible signs of aging can be psychologically distressing, leading to a significantly lower quality of life. 9 When used correctly, retinol can undoubtedly be a game- changer for repairing the effects of skin aging as well as other skin concerns. If your clients aren't yet seeing signs of aging or simply aren't interested in addressing them, though, they likely won't be missing out on much by skipping retinol. It's up to each individual to decide, and that's the beauty of a tailor-made skin care routine. Notes 1. Siddharth Mukherjee et al., "Retinoids in the Treatment of Skin Aging: An Overview of Clinical Efficacy and Safety," Clinical Interventions in Aging 1, no. 4 (December 2006): 327–48, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699641. 2. S. Kang et al., "Application of Retinol to Human Skin in Vivo Induces Epidermal Hyperplasia and Cellular Retinoid Binding Proteins Characteristic of Retinoic Acid but Without Measurable Retinoic Acid Levels or Irritation," The Journal of Investigative Dermatology 105, no. 4 (October 1995): 549–56, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7561157. 3. G. J. Fisher et al., "Molecular Basis of Sun-Induced Premature Skin Ageing and Retinoid Antagonism," Nature 379, no. 6563 (January 1996): 335–9, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8552187. 4. Mukherjee et al., "Retinoids in the Treatment of Skin Aging: An Overview of Clinical Efficacy and Safety." 5. Laure Rittie and Gary J. Fisher, "UV-Light-Induced Signal Cascades and Skin Aging," Ageing Research Reviews 1, no. 4 (September 2002): 705–20, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12208239. 6. Mukherjee et al., "Retinoids in the Treatment of Skin Aging: An Overview of Clinical Efficacy and Safety." 7. Miranda A. Farage et al., "Characteristics of the Aging Skin," Advances in Wound Care 2, no. 1 (February 2013): 5-10, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3840548. 8. Stephanie Watson, Harvard Health Publishing, "Bakuchiol: Does It Make Skin Look Younger? " May 4, 2022, health.harvard.edu/ staying-healthy/bakuchiol-does-it-make-skin-look-younger. 9. Farrage et al., "Characteristics of the Aging Skin." karolina grabowska/pexels