Using Tretinoin - Retin-A and Renova

These topical skin preparations, derivations of vitamin A, exfoliate the skin, stimulate collagen production, and even out skin pigments.They may also prevent develop­ment of precancerous growths such as actinic keratoses.

Though Retin-A was approved for acne treatment in 1971 and Renova for skin damage in 1996, the major difference is Renova's emollient, a soothing and smoothing base that may prevent irritation be tt er than Retin-A. Neither Renova nor Retin-A is a moisturizer, however, and you'll need to use moisturizer if your skin is dry, as well as a sunscreen over either product.

Tretinoin always makes your skin sun sensitive, and you can get a blistering burn - even in the shade - if you don't protect your skin. If you use tretinoin only at night and wash it off in the morning before you go outside, you'll still need sun protection.

You should not use tretinoin if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. In addition to sun sensitivity, both Renova and Retin-A can cause redness, irritation, dryness, and peeling. If you have these symptoms, stop using tretinoin and call your doctor. You might need to use a lower concentration or switch to another p ro duct, such as AHA.

Moisturizing Your Skin

Your moisturizer won't add moisture to your skin. What it will do is prevent water loss by covering your face with a layer of oil, or by attracting your body's moisture to the upper skin layers, or both.These products should be applied to the face and neck.

Different skin types have different needs. Since you most likely use moisturizer every day, become a savvy consumer - read and understand ingredient labels.

Types of Moisturizers

The main difference among ointments, creams, and lotions is the amount of oil they contain. Ointments have the most oil. Lotions have the least. All moisturizers contain emollients plus occlusives or humectants, or both.

Occlusives - ingredients that physically block moisture loss - include petrolatum, mineral and vegetable oils, lanolin, zinc oxide, and silicone. Humectants - substances that a tt ract and retain moisture - contain no oil. Glycerin, sorbitol, urea, hydroxy acids, hyaluronic acid, p ro pylene glycol, and sugars may act as humectants in moisturizers. Products containing hydroxy acids should either contain sunscreen or instruct the user to use sun protection.

Lubricating emollients smooth the face by filling spaces within the skin. Common examples are petrolatum, mineral oil, fa tt y acids, plant oils, shea butter, cocoa butter, animal oils, (including lanolin and emu), cholest ero l, triglycerides, palmitates, myristates, stearates, and ceramides. If you read ingredient labels, you'll see these names often.

Moisturizers may contain other ingredients as well:

• Antioxidants such as selenium, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate, retinol), vitamin C (ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate), vitamin D, vitamin E (a-Tocopherol), coenzyme Q-10, alpha lipoic acid, green tea, grape extract, and others. Antioxidants taken as food supplements may protect the body's cells against free radicals - a very reactive, unstable form of oxygen that can cause tissue damage and illness, including cancer. Recent studies suggest that many topical antioxidants - those applied to the skin - can penetrate the top skin layer to fight free radicals.
  
• Rejuvenators - the proteins collagen, elastin, and keratin - may add more to a product's cost than they're worth.Though all three proteins are building blocks of healthy skin, when applied on top of the skin they probably have li tt le effect since the large protein molecules can't penetrate very deeply.

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