Retinoic Acid
Retinoic acid is usually used for acne, it is more popularly known as retinol or vitamin A. But it increases skin cell turnover, therefore also having an affect on wrinkles in some cases. It can eliminate wrinkles and also simultaneously assists the skin in retaining moisture efficiently.
But the effectiveness varies from person to person. Products come in cream, liquid, or gel forms, and they can also come in over the counter or prescription varieties. It is most commonly used to get rid of fine lines and can have little to no effect on deep wrinkles. So it is not meant to be the ultimate solution. It should also be noted that retinoic acid can irritate some sensitive and even hardy skin.
But the bigger question is what causes wrinkles? As a person ages, the content of their skin and body decreases. You lose collagen, elastin, peptides, human growth hormone, and other elements. Your skin ages this way, and it inevitably manifests the process of “getting old.” It produces fewer oils and therefore dries out the skin, making it more susceptible outside forces.
Another factor is what you do to your skin. Users should remember to use more sunscreen when using retinoic acid, as it can make your skin mores sensitive to the sun, and the sun is one of the major causes of wrinkles. You may see some people who look 20 years younger than a person who is actually 10 years younger than them. This could have something to do with genetics. But it often has a lot to do to the outside factors that were in the control of the individual. If you smoke, you are more likely to have premature wrinkles. Likewise, those who wrinkle earlier are much more likely to have spent more time in the sun when they were younger.
If you do choose to use retinoic acid, you should know how it works exactly. It casts of inert skin cells on the epidermis, which innately causes the skin to regenerate, giving you a fresh look with new skin cells. You can often see the difference after only a few weeks of continuous use. The problem is that while it’s producing new skin cells, it does not actually produce the collagen and elastin that holds your skin together and makes it ultimately younger. So once you stop using retinoic acid, you may find that your wrinkles come back rather quickly. In short, while retinoic acid does work, it is a very short term answer.