Skin Management & Retin A

Your skin protects you from harmful pathogens, pads your bones, muscles and internal organs, and regulates your internal temperature. Skin also plays a social function; when people see you, they see your skin first. Because your skin works so hard for you, it is important that you know how to take care of it. Eating a healthy diet, minimizing stress, and protecting it from the sun are just a few of the precautions you can take to maintain your skin’s health and beauty.

In addition to other procedures designed to take care of the skin like dermabrasion and chemical peels, Retin-A® treatments improve signs of aging, skin pigmentation, and poor skin texture. Tretinoin, a derivitive of Vitamin A, is the ingredient that makes Retin-A® especially effective on skin problems such as:

  • Acne
  • Wrinkles
  • Lines
  • Diminished skin tone

Who Can Benefit from Skin Management and Retin-A®?

Anyone can benefit from proper skin management and care. If you suffer from acne, you may want to consider Retin-A® treatment, though many patients who are treated with Retin-A® for acne notice other improvements in their skin tone. Because of this, the product is also used to treat signs of aging, skin pigmentation, and poor skin texture.

Talk to your doctor, dermatologist, or plastic surgeon to determine whether or not you are a candidate for Retin-A® treatment.

Retin-A® Treatments

The product is available in both a cream or gel form that your practitioner will prescribe upon consultation. You will be instructed on how to apply Retin-A®, first washing with a mild facial cleanser, then patting dry with a clean towel before rubbing the product into the area to be treated.

Repeated Retin-A® application targets the outermost layer of the epidermis, causing it to thin, and to promote the skin cells to produce a thicker layer. Collagen production is stimulated and cellular growth is increased, both processes that result in the production of younger, more vibrant skin.

Possible Side Effects of Retin-A® Treatment

Sustained application of the product, though necessary for ensuring the best results, can cause dryness and peeling of the skin in some individuals. Factors that exacerbate side effects are skin type and concentration strength. Patients using Retin-A® should be monitored in order to keep these symptoms in check. Other side effects include redness, excessive dryness, and swollen or blistered skin. 

If you are concerned about the health of your skin, or if you suffer from acne, please give us a call at the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Kansas to set up a consultation. We are available at 913-588-2000, and welcome your questions and concerns.