Wrinkles are called visible folds of the skin that occur as a result of loss of skin elasticity and firmness, as well as excessive activity of facial muscles.
Today, cosmetic companies offer many different creams, lotions and gels that help reduce wrinkles on the face and neck. However, such products do not always help restore aging skin. Therefore, many people use medications that contain more effective components. One of them is retinoic ointment (for wrinkles). Tips and indications for the use of this tool, reviews of specialists and analogues are presented below.
Composition, packaging
Is retinoic ointment effective against wrinkles? Reviews of doctors report that this tool is intended to eliminate other problems. However, representatives of the weaker sex often use it precisely to smooth wrinkles.
The main active substance of the drug in question is isotretinoin. It also contains the following additional components: emulsion wax, dibunol, butyloxyanisole, glycerin , liquid paraffin, purified water and ethyl alcohol (95%).
The ointment goes on sale in aluminum tubes, which are enclosed in cardboard packaging.
Features of the medication
Does retinoic ointment help wrinkles? Reviews of doctors say that the drug in question is positioned as an effective tool for treating acne. It is very popular among women who want to quickly and inexpensively improve their skin condition.
However, it should be noted that many years of experience with this medication allowed him to reveal another beneficial effect. Retinoic ointment for wrinkles under the eyes (reviews of the drug are presented below) is used by women very often. What is the reason for this? We will talk about this a bit later.
Pharmacology
How does retinoic ointment for wrinkles work? Instructions and reviews indicate that this medicine has keratolytic, dermatoprotective, anti-seborrheic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Retinoic acid is an active form of vitamin A. As you know, it is involved in the regulation of cell differentiation.
The instructions say that this tool is good for acne. The ointment normalizes the terminal differentiation of cells, complicates the formation of detritus and slows down the hyperproliferation of the epithelium. This effect helps to reduce the production of sebum, and the skin condition is normalized. Moreover, after using this drug, inflammation around the sebaceous glands is significantly reduced.
Drug properties
What are the properties of retinoic ointment for wrinkles? Reviews of cosmetologists report that there were frequent cases of unsuccessful use of this drug. With prolonged contact with the skin, the medication often caused reddening of the integuments and their peeling.
When applying the ointment for a short period of time and following all the doctor’s recommendations, this drug stimulated blood circulation and enhanced collagen production. It should be recalled that it is the lack of this substance that causes the formation of early wrinkles.
Thus, the use of the agent in question helps to smooth out small folds that have not had time to take root. However, for a better therapeutic effect, the course of treatment with this drug should not be practiced for long.
How often is retinoic wrinkle ointment used? Reviews of cosmetologists report that such a medication should be used twice a year. The first course of treatment is carried out in the spring, and the second in the fall. In this case, the duration of use of the ointment should be no more than 2-4 weeks.
The effect of vitamin A on wrinkles
Does retinoic ointment really help with wrinkles? Customer reviews claim that this drug smoothes facial and age folds on the face and neck. What is the reason for this?
It is no secret to anyone that after puberty a person begins the process of skin aging. It is supported by a decrease in the amount of collagen fibers and the percentage of moisture in the integument. As a result, skin elasticity decreases.
Upon reaching 40 years of age, a significant decrease in collagen content is observed in humans. During this period, it becomes 1/3 less.
To smooth wrinkles and restore aging skin, many people use products with vitamin A. It is this component that contains retinoic ointment for wrinkles. Reviews of doctors say that many women have already managed to try this tool on themselves.
What happens after applying the ointment? In the skin, the proliferation process begins to be regulated. In other words, active cell division begins to form new ones.
It was also noted that the use of this drug promotes the activation of intercellular communication. Thanks to the substances contained in retinoic ointment, the process of pigmentation is regulated, and the work of the sebaceous glands comes back to normal.
Indications
The main indication for the use of this drug is the presence of acne. But, as mentioned above, this is far from the only problem that the medication in question is dealing with.
When is retinoic wrinkle ointment applied? Reviews (analogues of this tool are listed below) report that this drug is used for skin aging (after 30-40 years), as well as at a young age in the presence of many facial folds.
In addition, this medication can be prescribed for seborrhea, rosacea, perioral dermatitis and papulo-pustular acne.
Contraindications
When is retinoic ointment for wrinkles not used? Reviews of doctors claim that this remedy should not be prescribed during pregnancy planning and gestation, during breastfeeding, as well as with hypersensitivity to its elements.
Mode of application
How should I use retinoic ointment? To smooth out wrinkles, the drug in question is applied in exactly the same way as a night cream. However, prior to this procedure, the skin should be pre-cleaned.
The ointment is spread lightly over the face, excluding places around the eyes.
At the very beginning of therapy, the drug should be used with two-day intervals. If no side effects are observed, then they switch to daily use of the medication.
Application Tips
This drug should not be used without medical supervision. This is due to the fact that retinoic ointment is a medicine, not a cosmetic product. The danger is that the local effect of retinoids on the skin has not been fully studied.
During treatment with this drug, sunscreen should be used . Also, at the time of applying the ointment, it is necessary to abandon cosmetics that have a drying and exfoliating effect (that is, scrubs and alcohol-containing lotions should not be used).
In order to exclude photosensitization, the medication in question is applied immediately before bedtime (for example, at 9-10 pm). Such procedures will contribute to a deeper nutrition of the skin.
In the event that the patient's body reacts abnormally to the ointment, it should be discarded and consult a doctor.
Side effects
The use of this drug may cause the following side effects:
- the appearance of a headache;
- neutropenia, decreased night vision, conjunctivitis, anemia;
- dermatitis, itching, dry mucous membranes, erythema, cheilitis, sweating, palmar-plantar peeling, overgrowth of granulation tissue, paronychia, skin rash, dystrophy of the nails;
- muscle pain;
- a change in platelet count, clouding of the cornea, increased ESR, hearing loss, photophobia;
- an increase in glucose and TG concentration in the blood;
- nausea;
- the appearance of nosebleeds.
Sometimes, with the use of this drug, patients may experience thinning of hair, vasculitis, photosensitivity, suicidal tendency, depression, intracranial hypertension, convulsive seizures, hyperostosis and hepatitis.
Similar means and cost of the drug
What can replace retinoic ointment? Her analogues are not very many. According to experts, this drug is similar to the following: Roaccutane, Dermoretin, 13-cis-Retinoic acid, Isotretinoin, Retasol. In addition, doctors often recommend medicines such as Retin A, Videstim, Radevit, Isotrexin, Differin, Adapalen, Effezel, and others to their patients.
How much is retinoic ointment? The price of this tool is about 250 rubles.
Retinoic ointment for wrinkles: real reviews
Reviews of doctors report that the drug in question is one of the most effective. It well removes not only acne, but also fights well with other skin problems.
As for consumers, they completely agree with the opinion of specialists. However, it should be noted that most patients use this drug for other purposes. Despite the fact that it is designed to fight acne, it is often used to smooth wrinkles. With this cosmetic nuisance, the medication copes perfectly.
According to consumers, with proper use of retinoic ointment, the skin on the face and neck becomes more elastic, supple and youthful. However, patients are confused by the fact that this drug can not be used during pregnancy and during its planning.
It should also be noted that some consumers note that against the background of the use of this ointment, they often observed adverse reactions in the form of dry skin, rashes and pain.