What Happens If You Stop Using Retinol?

What happens when you stop using retinol or retinoids?

Retinol is in the retinoid family of skincare ingredients and are used to treat mature aging skin and acne. Many studies show that retinoids improve acne and wrinkles- but what happens to the skin when you stop using retinol?

The short answer is- you will get a short-term benefit after stopping retinol but eventually your skin will return back to baseline (how it was before you began retinol). There is no downside to using retinol and it does not injure your skin in any way.

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What Happens When You Stop Using Retinol for Acne?

Retinol is not FDA approved for acne, but it is often used to treat acne as a lower strength retinoid that is slowly increased to a prescription-strength retinoid. If you stop retinol and do not begin a prescription retinoid, the benefit of preventing acne will go away.

The skin cycle of cells being “born” at the base of the skin and moving to the top, dying and desquamating into the surrounding environment takes about 4-6 weeks. This means that it can take about 4-6 weeks until you lose the benefit of retinol preventing acne.

We see that our patients will stop their retinoids when their skin clears and it may take 4-6 weeks till new pimples occur. However, this is not a good practice because it takes 4-6 weeks for retinoids to work on acne. So- stopping and starting retinol will make acne come and go.

It is important to remember- retinoids prevent future acne but don’t treat acne that you currently have. It is always best to get on a retinoid and stay on it because there are long term benefits of using retinol.

Skin layers

What happens when you stop using retinol for wrinkles?

If you stop using retinol, will your wrinkles come back?

Yes the wrinkles will come back, but not right away. When you stop using retinol for wrinkles, your skin will eventually go back to the way it was before you began retinol. But- the good news is- you will get a sustained benefit for months after stopping retinol.

Studies That Show What Happens When You Stop Retinol on The Face

In 1990, a study (2) published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology looked at subjects who had seen improvement of wrinkles when treated with 0.1% tretinoin nightly. The subjects were changed to two different skin care regimens: one group used 0.1% every other night and the second group used the lower dose of 0.05% every night. The study showed that both of these skin care regimens sustained improvement of wrinkles. The investigators wanted to know how long it would take the skin to go back to the way it was before beginning the retinoid. When stopping the retinoid completely, the skin benefits remained at least 2 months.

In 1997, a study (3) looked at 126 subjects who had use tretinoin 0.05% emollient cream for 48-weeks. They divided subjects into 3 groups. Group 1 used no retinoid, group 2 used tretinoin 0.05% emollient cream one night a week, and group 3 used tretinoin 0.05% emollient cream three times a week. Group 1 that used no retinoid lost some of the retinoid benefits by six months. Group 2 continued to have some improvement on the 1 night a week regimen. Group 3 maintained the improvement using the 3 times per week regimen. This tells us that in order to maintain the benefit of retinoids, you need to use them at least 3 times a week after completing a one night a week cycle for 48 weeks. (Remember this study was with tretinoin which is a stronger strength than many retinols.)

Retinol works best when you use it- obviously.

But it is nice to know that if you stop for a few weeks or decrease application to 3 times a week- you get a sustained benefit. We advise you to stay on your retinoids veery night if possible to get the best results.

PCA Skin Intensive Age Refining Treatment: 0.5% pure retinol night

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Replenix Retinol 10x Regenerate Dry Serum

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Revision Skincare Retinol Complete 1.0

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Medature Encapsulated Retinol Serum

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La Roche-Posay Redermic R Anti-Aging Treatment Intensive

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La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Pure Retinol Serum

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Biopelle Retriderm Serum Plus 0.75% Retinol

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Obagi 360 Retinol 0.5

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PCA Skin Intensive Age Refining Treatment: 0.5% pure retinol night

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi360 Retinol 1.0

$85.00

Add to Cart

Replenix Retinol 10x Regenerate Dry Serum

$104.00

Out of Stock

Revision Skincare Retinol Complete 1.0

$134.00

Add to Cart

Medature Encapsulated Retinol Serum

$66.00

Add to Cart

La Roche-Posay Redermic R Anti-Aging Treatment Intensive

$54.99

Add to Cart

La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Pure Retinol Serum

$44.99

Add to Cart

Biopelle Retriderm Serum Plus 0.75% Retinol

$89.50

Add to Cart

Obagi 360 Retinol 0.5

$79.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Intensive Age Refining Treatment: 0.5% pure retinol night

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi360 Retinol 1.0

$85.00

Add to Cart

Replenix Retinol 10x Regenerate Dry Serum

$104.00

Out of Stock

Revision Skincare Retinol Complete 1.0

$134.00

Add to Cart

Medature Encapsulated Retinol Serum

$66.00

Add to Cart

La Roche-Posay Redermic R Anti-Aging Treatment Intensive

$54.99

Add to Cart

La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Pure Retinol Serum

$44.99

Add to Cart

Biopelle Retriderm Serum Plus 0.75% Retinol

$89.50

Add to Cart

Obagi 360 Retinol 0.5

$79.00

Add to Cart

What happens when you stop using retinoids

Will my skin go back to normal after stopping retinol?

Yes your skin will return to baseline. How long it takes for the skin to return to normal depend supon:

How strong was the retinoid that you were using

How long you used the retinoid

What other products are in your skin care routine

Your Baumann Skin Type

Do I have to use retinol forever?

Retinol is one of the best antiaging ingredients in skin care.

You do not have to use it forever, but you should if you want to slow skin aging.

To get the best results from retinoids, use them in the correct step of your skin care routine.

Find the best retinoids and skin care routine steps for your skin type!

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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