Here’s how retinol can be used for dry, sensitive skin

While retinol is beneficial for the skin, it makes the skin itchy and dry

New Delhi | May 20, 2023 05:30 PM IST

3 min read

Follow these tips to use retinol for dry or sensitive skin. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Retinol is the most popular skincare ingredient that helps reduce fine lines and pigmentation, and enhance the tone and texture of the skin.

Retinol is just another name for vitamin A and has different forms like a retinoid. While it has many benefits for the skin, it does make skin dry. This is the reason why many people with dry or sensitive skin may not use it or even if they might not know the right method to apply it without making the skin dry.

Also Read | How to choose the right type of retinol for your skin

According to Dr Chytra, a dermatologist, anyone can use retinol but the key is the way one applies it.

Taking to Instagram, the expert suggested certain ways that can minimise the irritation while applying retinol.

Dr Chytra suggested going slow on retinol. She recommended applying it once a week and after around four weeks increasing it to twice a week and then a maximum of three days a week for dry and sensitive skin.

Also, she suggested a method called a sandwich method that is likely to help reduce dryness. In this method, retinol is layered between the moisturiser.

Also Read | What is bakuchiol? It’s time we know about retinol’s alternative

However, Dr Vandana Punjabi, dermatologist and trichologist at Khar, and Nanavati Hospital advised against retinol for people with very dry and sensitive skin as this can worsen their skin and also cause photosensitivity in such patients. “For them, I prefer to use other anti-ageing ingredients such as vitamin C, low strength alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) or poly hydroxy acids (PHA),” Dr Punjabi told indianexpress.com.

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If you feel that you really have sensitive skin and do not want to apply retinol then according to Dr Chytra you can try an alternative ingredient called bakuchiol which is much milder than retinol but is as good as retinol. “You can slowly progress to retinol once your skin gets used to retinol,” she said.

But according to Dr Punjabi, there is lack of evidence to suggest that bakuchiol (an extract from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, also called “babchi”) has any anti-ageing benefits. “Few studies have shown that this molecule when used in combination with other ingredients such as vitamin C and oral anti-oxidants resulted in increasing skin firmness and smoothness without irritation,” Dr Punjabi said.

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