Retinal rules, part 2: The ultimate antidote to fix signs of advanced ageing and stressed skin

Did you know there are over 4,000 retinoids?

That makes answering the question, “What is retinal?” anything but easy.

• Retinal belongs to a cast of compounds known as vitamin A derivatives, with the following ranking as the most familiar:

• Tretinoin: Another name for prescription-strength retinoic acid that’s also known as the strongest retinoid because it does not have to change before it starts working in your skin

• Retinal: A slightly less potent retinoid, while still being able to fight signs of photoaging. Retinal only changes (or converts) once in the skin to become the active retinoic acid

• Retinol: A type of retinoid that’s chiefly used to temper skin concerns like wrinkles, hyperpigmentation (like dark spots), or unevenness in skin tone or texture. These must go through 2 or 3 changes before turning into retinoic acid to work in skin

Can retinal counteract signs of ageing on stressed skin?

A 2018 scientific study shows that topical retinals like vitamin A can lessen the effects of stress-induced damage to skin and remarkably reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Even in a trial on subjects averaging 87 years of age, retinol visibly diminished the appearance of wrinkles caused by ageing. It’s no wonder retinal is the derm-recommended solution for mature and ageing skin.

Before you say, “sign me up!” let’s look at the 4 best ways to make retinal in skincare part of your internal/external approach to skin health.

01 Boost skin elasticity Retinal works via 2 main biological effects: An uptick in the skin’s ability to retain moisture, and an increase in the skin’s intrinsic collagen production. Diminishing visible wrinkles with retinal comes with its own suite of sub-benefits as well. If you wear face makeup like foundation, you’ll also enjoy the added bonus of minimising “crepeyness” to create a smoother, more supple base for your favourite cosmetics.

02 Reduce the marks of photoaging

Photoaging refers to skin that exhibits signs of ageing prematurely, due to the long-term impacts of the sun. Photoaging can appear in the form of:

• Loss of elasticity
• Wrinkling
• Roughness
• Broken capillaries

Because photoaging occurs in the lower strata of the skin, many dermatologists turn to ageing skin facial treatments like laser therapy, chemical peels, or topical solutions like prescription tretinoin or retinal to help the skin rebuild itself.

03 Blend with other known “ageing skin hack” ingredients

Many derms recommend combining vitamin C (an antioxidant) and retinal to create a powerful ageing skincare hack—especially for mature skin types 40 and over. The former can work daily and later at night to help you achieve rejuvenated skin. Both work synergistically to combat the effects of a stressed-out complexion.

In the morning:

1. Cleanse with a vitamin C face wash
2. Follow with a vitamin C-infused serum
3. Hydrate with a moisturiser that contains SPF

Retinal should ideally be applied at nighttime because it can make skin sensitive to sun exposure.

At night:

Rid your skin of the day’s residue with another gentle cleanser Wait for the skin to dry completely, then apply a thin layer of your retinal treatment to your skin (you need less than you think!) Wait for the retinal treatment to absorb. Once it has, follow up with a lightweight, nourishing, mild moisturiser

04 Enhance efficacy with SPF

If you still aren’t vigilant about making SPF a permanent fixture in your skincare regimen, recruiting retinal into your bathroom cabinet may be the motivation you need. Retinoids are renowned for making the skin extremely sensitive to sunlight. Not only can UV exposure bring a painful sensation to the skin, but it can also diminish the retinal’s effectiveness, meaning daily wear is essential (plus, it’s a foolproof way to stay proactive against photoaging).

Regardless of your skin concern, when you’re looking for products to aid in even skin tone or skin brightening, SPF is one of the most important steps.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Murad, and are for informational purposes only, even if the advice of physicians and medical practitioners are included. This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not be considered specific medical advice. 

References for this information: American Academy of Dermatology Website, Everyday Care Molecular Medicine Reports, 2017, volume 16, issue 5, pages 6240-6247 Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2016, volume 15, issue 1 National Library of Medicine Website, Retinol Yale Medicine Website, Fact Sheets, Photoaging News-Medical.Net Website, Retinoic Acid Experimental Dermatology, 2018, volume 28, issue 8, pages 906-913