All About The Magic Medicine Retinol: When To Use It, And When To Avoid It

How Does Retinol Help In Skincare?

Retinol has made its way into an increasing number of skincare products as you may have noticed. Lately, it has been turning up in just about everything from cleansers to sunscreens as at first it was just in night creams and serums. A fact that cosmetics companies seem to ignore is the problem that retinol should never be used during the day. 

A prescription vitamin A derivative that is highly effective in reversing sun damage and signs of aging is retinol a weaker over-the-counter version of tretinoin. Decreasing fine lines, evening skin colour, improving texture, tightening pores, and stimulating blood flow and collagen production is the effects of tretinoin. As it can be highly irritating and drying, however, quite a few people can tolerate tretinoin. While the results may not be as dramatic as more people will tolerate it well as retinol is milder. Retinol encourages skin cell turnover just like tretinoin, while it should not be exposed to the sun as the new skin is delicate.

This is the reason why these ingredients should be found only in products intended for night use. 

Rapidly breaking down when exposed to the sun and air are the vitamin A derivatives. Coming in pumps or tubes with tight-fitting caps are the retinol containing products. These products do not keep well and should be used within a couple of months once opened. 

How Do You Use Retinol? 

Retinol is now in use in foundations, lipsticks, sunscreens, and cleansers especially those that are touted as anti-aging that worries many dermatologists. Retinol in daytime products is seen to have the opposite effect that makes the skin age faster because it is more susceptible to the sun, no matter the amount of SPF protection promised on the foundation or sunscreen. Just not a good idea is this two-in-one approach of anti-aging sunscreens and foundations. Never buy a product with an SPF number and retinol in its list of ingredients as the two don’t make a good combination which comes as a good rule of thumb. 

As the retinol is washed down the drain and is not on the skin long enough to work, retinol containing cleansers are simply a waste of money. To put it mildly, lipsticks with retinol also arouse very little enthusiasm among dermatologists. The area of the body where skin cancers metastasize faster is the skin on the lips that is very thin and sensitive. Promoting lipstick with retinol is just plain irresponsibility. Since people can safely use retinol on the lips at night, it is also unnecessary.

Retinol like all vitamin A derivative is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding that is something else to consider.

Serums and night creams are included in those skincare products. As they include sunscreens, when pregnant women apply retinol-containing sunscreens on their bellies, it is quite appalling. It is not understandable why the warnings for pregnant women are not on more skincare products. 

Retinol is a useful and proven ingredient in its proper place that is night time products that comes as a bottom line. 

All That You Wanted To Know About Hives And How Do You Treat Them? 

Suddenly appearing on the skin, hives are red splotchy, and very itchy weals. Hives are actually an allergic reaction that usually shows up on the skin but can also appear on mucous membranes such as the inside of the mouth and even in the internal airway also known as urticaria.  

As what starts as an annoying itchy skin condition can morph unexpectedly into a life-threatening episode and so hives are not to be taken lightly. Go to the ER immediately if your lips and tongue start to tingle or to swell. As the hives are occurring internally and the airway can swell and close in a matter of minutes if you have hives and difficulty breathing call 911 instantly. You may die if you don’t get an immediate injection of epinephrine. Hence don’t hesitate.

The question asked here is what then sets off the allergic reaction leading to hives? The following are the more common triggers’ list: 

shellfish

nuts

eggs

berries

chocolate

food additives

aspartame

aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen

medications that include codeine, sulfa drugs, penicillin, and other

antibiotics

insect bites and stings

cat dander

pollen

exercise –the rise in body heat triggers hives 

weather and water temperature – to hot or cold weather or water, some people react with hives. 

tight clothing – setting off the reaction is the friction and pressure points. 

viral infections, that include especially the upper respiratory infections

stress

Hives can be treated with cold compresses, over-the-counter cortisone creams, and antihistamines such as Benadryl, Allegra, and Claritin most of the time. Avoiding specific triggers is obviously critical. Suggesting that patients with hives try a simple diet and keep a food journal for a couple of months, food sensitivities are often to blame but can be hard to pinpoint. Try to wear loose-fitting 100% cotton clothes as people prone to hives should stay away from wool.

In appearance, the hive can be peculiar. Patents tell that they can write their name on their arms and it stays for hours. They have a form of hives called dermographia which literally means skin writing.

The Final Words To Conclude 

Requiring a medical check-up often including a chest x-ray and a complete blood panel are chronic hives that mean hives last longer than six weeks. Such as hepatitis, lupus, or thyroid disease, hives can be symptoms of serious underlying conditions. Hives can also be the result of intestinal parasites and don’t be surprised if the doctor also orders a fecal test. Meaning vasculitis, the inflammation of the blood vessels are stationary hives, which stays in the same spot for more than 24 hours. Here comes the bottom line that it should be seen by a doctor for hives that don’t go away with drugstore products.