Can Vitamin A creams really help the skin?

A few years ago while looking at the effectiveness of the latest trends in topical anti aging solutions like ridge and jade rollers, ice globes and gua sha she I was recommended to try Retin-A, a prescription cream known in the market as tretinoin. When it comes to my daily skin care routine I usually alternate between different oils, hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C, but I have never tried any Vitamin A compounds to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. So I gave it a try. 

Vitamin A is found in many anti-aging solutions from lighter over-the-counter versions, known as retinoids and retinol, that take longer to have any visible effect on the skin, to Retin-A which is the strongest and the purest form of Vitamin A, that acts as a smoothing agent in just a couple of months. 

Many anti-aging solutions contain a form of Vitamin A like retinol and retinoids.

How do the different forms of Vitamin A work? 

Vitamin A is known to be beneficial for immunity and skin health and according to its strength it can be available both orally and topically as an over-the-counter solution or by prescription. 

Along with retinol, retinoids are the lighter forms of vitamin A. The primary use of retinoids is to treat acne by unclogging pores and allowing antibiotics to penetrate the skin and lower inflammation, but given their ability to stimulate cell turnover they are quite often used to reduce signs of aging. As such retinoids are the active ingredient in many so-called cosmeceuticals, skin care products with medical benefits: they fight off the free radicals that cause aging while also stimulating the production of procollagen, which in turn helps synthesize collagen. 

Retinol is a natural occurring form of Vitamin A, which is present in many orange colored fruits like carrots, oranges, sweet potatoes and many other provitamin A carotenoids. Like retinoids, retinol is also a common ingredient in many skincare beauty products and it is very effective in stimulating cell turnover. However, it takes longer to take effect as, in order to be absorbed, the body needs to break it down first into retinoid acid which in turn makes the skin smoother, improving its texture and tone.

Retin-A is the synthetic and most potent form of Vitamin A, hence it’s only available with a doctor’s prescription and it stays in the system for up to 72 hours, and it has a more immediate effect leading to quicker results. However, it can also be much harsher on the skin. When I tried it the first time around my skin started to peel off and scale pretty badly. I then started to use it twice a week, initially, and three times after a few months and applied a moisturizer immediately after to prevent excess dryness. It definitely worked!

Vitamin A in its strongest form leads to visible results in just a matter of months.

Whichever version you want to try, be mindful of your skin reaction and always use a good moisturizer in the morning after you wake up and wash your face. It is important to remember that with any Vitamin A product your skin becomes much more sensitive to the sunlight so apply a good and high SPF before heading out. Lastly, the skin greatly benefits of daily hydration.

Try it and let us know if it worked for you!