My WebMD Sign In, Sign Up
WebMD Home

Ask Your Question

WebMD Answers

120 Characters remaining
120 Characters remaining
  • First, try and keep your question as short as possible.
  • Include specific words that will help us identify questions that may already have your answer.
  • If you don't find your answer, you can post your question to WebMD Experts and Contributors.

Close

Featuring Experts From

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
See all
Back to List
  |  
Next Question
Didn't find your answer? Post to
WebMD Experts and Contributors
Q.

How do retinoids work?

Posted:
| Report This Report Question
Answer This
 

Answers From Experts & Organizations (1)

WebMDSUCCESS!
WebMD
7,873 Answers
94,155 Helpful Votes
149 Followers
A.

Retinoids work by prompting surface skin cells to turn over and die rapidly, making way for new cell growth underneath. They inhibit the breakdown of collagen, the protein that keeps the skin firm, and thicken the deeper layer of skin where wrinkles get their start, Chicago dermatologist Carolyn Jacob says.

It is a common misconception, New Orleans dermatologist Patricia Farris, MD says, that retinoids such as tretinoin and retinaldehyde thin the skin and thus leave it more vulnerable to sunburn. They typically cause peeling and redness in the first few weeks of use -- but the topicals actually thicken the epidermis.

"It doesn't make you more sensitive to the sun -- that's anecdotal," Farris says. "But you still have to wear sunscreens when you're on prescription retinoids. You can't be treating sun damage and then not protect yourself from the sun.''

For brown spots that give the skin an uneven tone, retinoids slough them off and inhibit the production of melanin, the darker pigment produced by melanocytes, pigment-producing skin cells, Jacob says.

This answer should not be considered medical advice...down arrowThis answer should not be considered medical advice and should not take the place of a doctor’s visit. Please see the bottom of the page for more information or visit our Terms and Conditions.up arrow

Posted:
| Report This Report Answer

Was this helpful?

YesNo

Thanks for your feedback.

7 of 8 found this helpful
Read the Original Article: Retinoids for Anti-Aging Skin
 
 
1 Answer

Next Question:

Is there a difference between prescription versus store-bought retinoids? Next Question