Skin Benefits of Retinaldehyde with Less Irritation
By Janet Pacik, Practice Manager of Skincare-MD
Aging Skin Can be Improved with Vitamin A Topicals Retinaldehyde: Skin benefits of retinoids with less irritation Delaying the visible signs of skin aging has become a priority for women and men of all ages beginning as early as their mid twenties. Prevention is key to maintaining skin health and youthfulness. As skin matures, the skin rejuvenation protocol becomes more of a corrective and restorative measure. Avene Laboratoires developed patented formulation Retinaldehyde (a.k.a. retinal), the immediate and closest precursor of Retinoic acid inside the body, to provide complete skin rejuvenation using different concentrations of retinaldehyde to address individual patient needs. - Retrinal 0.05% Cream – 0.05% Retinaldehyde: Nightly skin rejuvenation
- Retrinal 0.1% Cream – 0.1% Retinaldehyde: Intensive skin rejuvenation
- Retrinal H.A.F. Firming Gel – 0.05% Retinaldehyde + Hyaluronic Acid Fragments (H.A.F.): Target at deep lines and wrinkles. Applied nightly in conjunction with Rétrinal Cream
Topical skincare products containing retinaldehyde, such as Avene Retrinal Cream 0.05% and Avene Retrinal Cream 0.1%, are available without a prescription. While these skincare products are less irritating than tretinoin, they can still cause skin irritation and/or excessive dryness in sensitive individuals. In just one step, the body can convert retinaldehyde to retinoic acid. Treating the skin with retinaldehyde can produce therapeutic levels of retinoic acid while reducing the risk of side effects associated with retinoid excess. A French study by Dr Boisnic and co-workers (published in the journal Dermatology in 1999) looked at the ability of retinaldehyde to reverse skin damage induced by UVA radiation. The researchers concluded that retinaldehyde exhibited "many of the properties of tretinoin [trans-retinoic acid] in its biological and beneficial effects on photoaging" and in particular improved dermal connective tissue by boosting "repair of elastic fibers and reversing collagen alteration induced by UVA exposure". In addition to skin rejuvenation, there is another application where retinaldehyde may prove comparable or even superior to retinoids -- treatment of acne. Retinoids, such as retinoic acid (tretinoin, Retin-A), have been one of the established acne treatments for decades. Considering that retinaldehyde is converted to retinoic acid in the body it could conceivably have the same effect on acne as tretinoin. Since retinaldehyde is less irritating than tretinoid, retinaldehyde may be easier to combine with other potentially irritating acne treatments, such as alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids or benzoyl peroxide. There is also evidence that retinaldehyde possesses some antimicrobial activity against P. acnes, the bacteria involved in the development of acne. It is often recommended that one start with a lower concentration (Avene Cream 0.05%) and/or apply less frequently (e.g. every other day) and then gradually increase the concentration/frequency to the desired level. We strong recommend that a “high quality sunscreen” be used daily whenever a Vitamin A product is incorporated into your advanced skincare regimen. If you are outside bicycling, swimming, gardening, etc. and receiving a lot of sun exposure, a high quality sun block should be layered over your sunscreen. To meet the criteria of “high quality” these products must contain at least 7% zinc oxide or titanium oxide. All of the sunscreens that are sold on the Skincare-MD website, meet the highest standards of protection and are highly recommended. To view the sunscreens that we highly recommend, please visit our Sunscreen section of our website. Pregnancy and Nursing Advisory: In an effort to avoid injury to the developing baby, most skin care topicals have not been clinically tested on pregnant or nursing women; therefore, we advise that they not be used. Products containing hydroquinoine or products containing retinoids should NOT be used when pregnant or nursing. You should also discontinue the use of skin care products containing these ingredients for at least one month before contemplating pregnancy. If in doubt, please refer to the product insert for further information and consult with your physician. Contact Us If you would like learn more about or order Avene Retrinal Cream, I would suggest that you speak to Lisa Roberge, our licensed aesthetician. Lisa will discuss your skincare goals and concerns with you and how to incorporate Avene Retrinal Cream into your daily regimen. Lisa can be reached at 1-877-416-0600 or 603-296-4920 and is available Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm EST. Lisa is very knowledgeable and is always happy to help our skincare customers.
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