A Wren Says

Multiple skinfluencers insist that the ingredient that you need to add into your routine now is retinoids. They tout it as the premier anti-aging ingredient. If you are deathly afraid of wrinkles, maybe you trust them and run and get the product. But now it is time to stop and think, is that really the right choice for you? Yes, it is considered to be highly effective ingredient and researched backed. But that doesn’t mean it is the right choice for everyone. These are some reasons why you might want to avoid retinoids.

1. You have sensitive skin, eczema, or psoriasis. Retinoids can be harsh and already come with expected side effects like dry skin, flaking, and irritation as your skin gets used to it. These issues can be worse for people with eczema or psoriasis.
2. You spend a lot of time in the sun, and not all of it wearing sunscreen: Retinoids can make your skin more photosensitive and generally more sensitive to environmental stressors. If you are not diligent about protecting your skin, you could be undoing all the work of the retinols by aging your skin by with sun damage.
3. You are taking Vitamin A supplements- Retinoids are a form of Vitamin A. Depending on the type of retinoid you’re using and the dosage, combining topical retinoids and oral supplements could put you over the edge into levels that are dangerously high. This is something you especially want to avoid if you are a woman of childbearing age who is trying to become or could possibly become pregnant.
4. You’re pregnant. Retinoids are suggested to be something you shy away from because there is a  possibility of they could interrupt fetal development and lead to abnormalities.
5. You are just not sure if you want to use it- As I was trying to learn more about retinol more generally, I came across this article, which featured the opinions of skincare specialists who were weary of retinol. Some were concerned that it was possible that there were long term effects that we just don’t know about. Others focused on the ways it sensitizes the skin. Whatever the reason is, if you are at all concerned about retinol, you don’t have to use it. Despite how many people claim it is the best possible addition to the skincare world, you don’t have to use it. There are other proven skincare ingredients you can try out. It doesn’t have to be retinol.