Why does using retinol darken skin and how to fix it?

Why using retinol for tanning is a question of many skin care people with this ingredient. There is no denying the benefits of chemicals for the skin, especially retinol. However, some people use it incorrectly, causing skin to darken or suffer other side effects.

Let’s find out why using retinol darkens skin to have a timely remedy through the article below!

What is retinol?

Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that is beneficial for the skin, especially for aging skin. Because over time, the rate of cell turnover of the skin slows down. While the vitamin A in retinol works to speed up cell renewal in your skin.

Some of the typical effects of retinol on the skin include:

• Helps strengthen the skin’s protective barrier
• Keep skin moisture
• Improve skin elasticity, limit skin aging problems such as melasma, sagging, wrinkles, …
• Ensures the texture of the skin.

>>> Read more: What is retinol? Uses and how to use retinol to treat acne, anti-aging skin

Why does using retinol darken the skin?

Before explaining why using retinol causes tanning, you need to understand what kind of reaction some people have after using retinol. Especially for first-time retinol users. Possible reactions are:

• Red or tanned skin
• Dry, flaky skin
• Irritated skin.

Why does using retinol darken the skin? The main reasons for using retinol to darken the skin are:

• What’s more, when you first start using retinol, your skin cells will change the way they work. This change in the skin affects the top layer (epidermis) and the deeper layers of the skin (dermis). So at this time, the skin will have to go through the process of thinning and weakening, as well as needing time to recover.
• During this recovery time, if the UV rays in sunlight are long-lasting, the skin will appear brown spots and tanning.
• Initially, you may have used a larger amount of retinol as indicated, with high intensity or frequency, making your skin weaker and more vulnerable.

How to use retinol for dark skin?

When using retinol for tanning, you need to adjust the care and can apply some remedies such as:

Daytime:

• Make it a habit to always use sunscreen before going outside. Remember to reapply the cream after 2-3 hours if there is a lot of exposure to sunlight
• Wear a long dress, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses to shield your skin from the sun
• Limit going out at hours of high ultraviolet intensity, strong sunlight from 10 am to 3 pm, to limit your skin’s exposure to sunlight.

>>> Learn more: How to combine retinol and peptide effectively for skin

Night:

• You should prioritize using retinol in the evening to avoid sunburn
• After using this active ingredient, your skin is easily irritated and weak, you should apply a lotion or serum to soothe the skin, avoid the burning side effects that retinol can cause.

For the case of effective retinol for your skin, you should persist in using it for 8-12 weeks for the retinol to disperse the amount of melanin that gradually disappears.

However, if during the process of the skin reaction is itchy red, or the skin is allergic, should stop using retinol to avoid making the skin condition worse.

>>> Reference: Should you combine niacinamide and hyaluronic acid in skincare?

How to use retinol properly for good effect

To ensure skin safety, you should apply a low concentration of retinol (from 0.25% to 0.3%) to check if the skin has any side effects, then you can gradually increase it. suitable concentration.

Similar to your regular skin care routine, you should include retinol in your skin care routine as follows:

• Step 1: Clean the skin: Use makeup remover to remove dirt, makeup on the face
• Step 2: Wash your face: Use a gentle cleanser to remove excess oil and remaining layers of sunscreen so that the nutrients in the following steps are better absorbed into the skin.
• Step 3: Use toner to balance the pH of the skin
• Step 4: Apply retinol: Remember to let the skin dry naturally and then apply a small amount of retinol to the face
• Step 5: Nourish your skin with a cream or serum to soothe the skin and control the effects of retinol
• Step 6: Always apply sunscreen if it is daytime.

>>> Read more: Should you combine niacinamide and vitamin C in skincare?

Hope readers have an answer for themselves why using retinol darkens the skin so that they can have a way to fix it and adjust the appropriate usage in time. If you know how to take advantage of the benefits of retinol, your skin will become smoother and brighter.