Retinol is a form of vitamin A that is added to skin creams, lotions, and serums. It has anti-aging effects and can help clear acne. Here are some details about retinol and sun exposure:
Positive effects:
- Retinol can help improve skin tone, which can be particularly beneficial when you have signs of sun damage, like wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation.
- Retinol can even strengthen the skin, helping protect it against further environmental damage.
Negative effects:
- Retinol can irritate your skin, causing redness, itching, or burning. It is best to start slow and gradually ramp up to once or twice per day.
- Retinol can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight because the newly surfaced skin is thin and delicate. Retinoids can cause a phototoxic reaction, meaning that in the sun, they change into different compounds that can make the skin sun-sensitive. For this reason, retinoids should only be used at night and should be washed off in the morning.
- Retinoids can break down when exposed to UV rays, rendering them less effective. Therefore, it is recommended to use retinol only at night and wear SPF 30 or higher during the day.
Ingredients or materials:
- Retinol is a form of vitamin A.
- Retinoids are a class of chemical compounds that are derived from vitamin A.
- Retinyl palmitate is the major storage form of vitamin A in the skin and is the retinoid that is most known for breaking down into harmful compounds in the sun.
