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Retinol is the ultimate anti-aging beauty product, and retinoic acid is its active form. Retinoic acid is a stronger product than retinol because it contains more of the active ingredient. This means that you’ll see results faster, but you will need a prescription in order to purchase it.
Retinoic acid is used in ointments to treat acne, and it also helps undo sun damage and makes your skin firmer, clearer, and more radiant. It can be used to treat psoriasis, a condition in which skin cells form bumpy patches or scales.
Retinoic acid is harsh and the skin gets used to it, so you need to keep using it in increasingly large doses to get long-term effects. Another, slightly alarming, the downside is that the first few weeks, as your skin gets used to the product, it may get excessively dry and red, and start to peel – which you don’t want happening on your face.
There are several different types and causes of acne. Cystic acne occurs when pores in your skin are clogged with sebum, dirt, and dead skin cells. This creates a perfect opportunity for the growth of bacteria, which can cause an infection. The infection can grow deeper into the skin, leading to inflammation and redness, causing raised acne bumps (AKA cysts) with pus that can be tender to the touch.
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and can be good for some type of cystic acne. Jojoba oil and rosehip oil are also good for reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, and keeping in moisture for healthier skin. Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for treating cystic acne as well.
The secret to winning the battle against cystic acne is having the right regimen for your skin. Products that are too strong can be irritating and drying, causing your skin to overproduce oil, which leads to more acne. Picking the wrong active ingredients may have no effect. Using the right regimen for your acne type and skin tolerance can effectively clear acne while keeping your skin healthy and balanced.
retinoic acid may be effective for cystic acne, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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