Do I have to turn off the lights after using retinol?

Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, has long been an essential ingredient in any skin care routine. Benefits of Retinol include improving skin texture, boosting collagen production and reducing dark spots. However, the use of retinol also comes with certain instructions, in which, there are some questions that are "Do I have to turn off the lights after using the retinol?".

Retinol is derived from vitamin A that is naturally produced by the body to aid in promoting cell turnover, initiating collagen production and reducing wrinkles. Currently, retinol is present in most mainstream skin care products. The use of Retinol is to help unclog pores, exfoliate and smooth the skin, reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, improve skin hydration and treat acne. Therefore, this ingredient has been considered the optimal choice for comprehensive skin care. What's more, retinol can also thicken the dermis (the layer below the surface of the skin) over time, resulting in healthier and younger looking skin.
It's a miracle that any skin type can use retinol, but fair skin or sensitive skin types should use extreme caution as it can sometimes cause irritation. On the other hand, dermatologists also don't recommend retinol for people with over-exfoliated or sun-damaged skin. One more important note that pregnant women should not use retinol.

Most dermatologists recommend starting with retinol in products with a low concentration (0.25% or 0.3%) and seeing how your skin reacts before moving on to a higher concentration.
Here's how to incorporate retinol into your daily skin care routine:
Step 1: Wash your face with a mild cleanser and apply an eye cream. Eye cream will help protect the delicate skin around the eyes. Step 2: Wait until the skin is completely dry before applying retinol. This is important, because if the skin is still damp, the retinol will be able to absorb deeper into the skin and possibly cause irritation. Therefore, moisturizer can be applied while the skin is still slightly damp, but never apply retinol at this time. Step 3: Take a pea-sized amount of retinol and starting at the chin, apply with fingertips in an upward and outward motion. Step 4: Finish with moisturizer. Step 5: Always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen in the morning, as retinol will make your skin sensitive to the sun. According to dermatologists, using retinol should only be done at night and remember that the skin takes several weeks to adapt to the product. Therefore, it is best to use little at first and gradually increase the amount used over time. If skin becomes dry or irritated, only use retinol every other day or even once a week.

One caveat when using retinol is to only incorporate this ingredient into your nighttime skincare routine, as it makes the skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Accordingly, many people wonder, "Do I have to turn off the lights after using retinol?". The short answer to this question is yes. This is because the visible light emitted by the bulb hitting the skin can reduce the effectiveness of retinol to some extent. It is for this reason that doctors who prescribe retinol only use it at night as the last thing to do before bed. Thus, after applying retinol, you should turn off all lights and mobile devices and go to sleep.
Furthermore, it is important for users to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen that reliably blocks both UVA and UVB rays during the day to shield the skin being treated with retinol. Sunscreens should be chosen when there is at least 5% zinc oxide or higher with an SPF of 30 or higher. If you have to turn off the lights at night, using sunscreen during the day will act as a shield on the outer surface of the skin, helping the retinol to promote its beauty benefits on the skin to the fullest.
In a nutshell, retinol is a familiar ingredient in many anti-aging creams and serums. The use of Retinol is to stimulate collagen production and accelerate skin regeneration, smooth wrinkles and fade acne marks, dark spots and age spots. To get the most out of retinol's impressive benefits, it's important to remember to use these products at night, and to turn off the lights and apply sunscreen the next day after using the retinol.
Refer to the website of Vinmec International General Hospital for more knowledge about beauty and health care in each age group.