A dermatologist has revealed the three most common retinoid mistakes he often jokingly “scolds” his patients for – but luckily, they all have simple solutions.
These frequently seen mistakes were shared in a new video posted on TikTok by Washington-based dermatologist Dr. Daniel Sugai, who also goes by the handle @drspf on social media.
Dr. Sugai, who completed his residency at Harvard Medical School, often takes to his social media to share his various skincare knowledge, tips, and tricks.
And this time, she shared a list of mistakes patients should be aware of, starting with why they shouldn’t use retinoids “inappropriately.”
In case you didn’t know, retinoid is a topical cream made from vitamin A derivatives that helps treat acne and reduce the appearance of fine lines and dark spots.
It has been a product that has received a lot of attention in recent years, with many using it for its supposed anti-aging properties.
But as Sugai explained in the video, it’s important to use the powerful product correctly.
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“Just use a pea-sized amount all over your face, I promise it will be enough,” she said of the medicinal product.
She then also urged viewers to continue using the product as she has seen many patients make the mistake of giving up too quickly.
He shared that while you won’t see results overnight, retinol will definitely help your skin after a few months.
“It takes two to three months for these to work on acne, and another four to six months for them to work on fine lines or wrinkles, and even dark spots,” the doctor explained.
Finally, the last mistake the dermatologist shared was not applying moisturizer after putting on the retinoid.
“I see a lot of people suffering from irritant contact dermatitis, a very bad irritation around the mouth and cheekbones because you don’t moisturize after applying that pea-sized amount,” Sugai explained.
She said that sometimes people stop using their retinoid because of this irritation, thinking they can’t tolerate the product.
“Yes, there are some people who can’t tolerate retinoids even if they do a retinoid combination by moisturizing first, then applying the retinoid, then moisturizing,” she said.
‘Some people still don’t tolerate it, but try to increase your chances of tolerating it by moisturizing your skin after using the retinoid as much as possible.’
The doctor recommended using a moisturizer containing niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) in combination with the retinoid, as it can help “support” the skin barrier and regulate sebum on the face.
Some of her personal favorites include CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, La Roche-Posay Double Repair Facial Moisturizer, and Elta MD PM Restorative Moisturizer.
Both CeraVe and La Roche-Posay are commonly found at the drugstore, while Elta MD can be found online at retailers like Amazon.
