Retinol is a form of vitamin A with many uses in skin care. It is used to treat acne and has anti-aging effects. You can buy retinol over the counter (without a prescription) or visit your healthcare provider to discuss how retinol best fits into your skin care routine. Your provider can prescribe medications that contain higher concentrations of retinoids than you can get over the counter. Retinol is a topical treatment that involves applying it on top of your skin.

What does retinol do for your skin?

Retinol increases skin cell production (proliferation). This helps to unclog pores. Retinol also exfoliates your skin and increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a fresher, plumper appearance.

How long does it take for retinol to work?

Retinol starts working in your cells right away, but it will take several weeks before you see an improvement in the look and feel of your skin. In fact, your skin condition may look worse at first as you adjust to the new regimen.

What can be treated with retinol?

Studies show that topical retinoids can help treat acne, acne scars, and stretch marks. Retinol also has anti-aging effects. Specifically, retinol is good for the following conditions:

Retinol for acne

Acne is a common skin condition. When your pores become blocked by dead skin cells and/or oil, you can develop blackheads, whiteheads, or other types of breakouts. Retinol works against acne by preventing clogged pores. You may still see breakouts for the first two months of treatment—your skin may even look worse (this is sometimes called retinol washout). But if you stick with it, you’ll see clearer skin and visibly improved complexion.

Retinol for acne scars

Acne scars develop as a result of damage and inflammation. These pink, red, or dark patches on your skin may appear as your acne heals and can last for several weeks. Additionally, picking or popping your pimples causes more damage to your skin and can leave permanent scars. Topical retinol treatments can help reduce the swelling and inflammation that comes with pimples and help prevent further breakouts. However, topical retinol treatments don’t always work on severe acne scars that are sunken or raised.

Retinol for dark spots

Dark spots (hyperpigmentation) can develop as a result of sun damage to your skin. If you have light to dark brown spots on your face, hands, neck, or arms, what you're seeing is a buildup of melanin, which gives your skin its color (pigment). Also called sun spots, age spots, and liver spots, these spots are painless, but if you don't like the way they look, there are procedures and topical treatments that can help. Some people find that topical retinol lightens their skin spots, although it takes months and can be irritating to your skin. It's a good idea to see a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in skin conditions) if you're concerned about dark spots.

Retinol for large pores

A pore is an opening on the surface of your skin that allows body hair and oils to pass through. When these pores become clogged with dead skin cells or oil, your pores become larger and more noticeable. Topical retinol treats large pores by increasing skin cell turnover — which makes your skin thicker — and preventing the development of clogged pores.

Retinol for psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes people to have inflammation that causes new skin cells to grow too quickly. The new cells build up, creating a thick, scaly rash that is pink or red. Topical retinol slows down the overgrowth of skin cells and reduces inflammation, which can help with the rash. However, because retinol can also further irritate your skin, your healthcare provider will usually recommend that you use retinol in combination with topical steroids.

Retinol for stretch marks

Stretch marks are scars that develop when our skin is stretched by pregnancy, weight gain, extreme weight loss, or rapid muscle growth. These marks are pink, red, or purple at first and then gradually fade until they appear silvery or white. Topical retinol can help make stretch marks less noticeable, but talk to your doctor before using them during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Retinol against wrinkles

A number of factors can cause wrinkles in your skin. As you age, your skin cells divide more slowly. The middle layer (dermis) of your skin begins to thin, it becomes harder to retain moisture, and your skin has less elastin and collagen. Topical tretinoin and tazarotene can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by slowing the breakdown of collagen and making your skin more elastic. It usually takes several months of topical retinol use to notice a difference.

As you can see, retinol serum works against a variety of conditions to treat. For many of these, we also recommend treating with a dermaroller for better results. You can order retinol and dermaroller in a package here .