Is retinol safe for sensitive skin?Updated a year ago
Retinol can be a safe option for those with sensitive skin, as long as you choose the right retinol and introduce it into your routine safely.
In fact, with its ability to encourage healthier cell turnover, boost skin thickness, and reduce trans-epidermal water loss, retinol can be very beneficial for sensitive skin. It has an unsurpassed ability to create smoother, more even-toned, and youthful-looking skin.
However, retinol and other types of retinoids (i.e., all of the ingredients related to vitamin A) are also associated with an initial period of irritation that dermatologists call retinization.
This doesn’t happen to everyone who starts using retinoids, and it’s also more likely to occur with very strong retinoids like prescription retinoic acid. Then again, those with sensitive skin are more likely to experience retinization.
In the past, dermatologists used to recommend that those with non-reactive skin should just power through that initial period. However, when you have sensitive skin or conditions like rosacea, any irritation or barrier damage can be very hard to tolerate.
The good news is that it’s possible to introduce retinol for sensitive skin, even as a beginner, without irritation.