The "A" Team: Retin A and Renova When the acne medication Retin A was introduced in 1969, women with severe acne tensely red, irritated, or inflamed, says Dr. Clark. While such severe reactions are rare, they do occur, especially in women with sensitive skin. When the acne medication Retin A was introduced in 1969, women with severe acne cheered. But in 1988, when a study showed that it could also tackle wrinkles, women everywhere stampeded to the nearest dermatologist. As we mentioned, the active ingredient in Retin A (and its spinoff, Renova) is tretinoin. While dermatologists still prescribe Retin A for acne, they also routinely prescribe it for aging skin. Renova is formulated specifically for the treatment of aging skin. Like glycolic acid, Retin A and Renova loosen and remove dead cells on the skin's top layer, making it appear smoother. But research also shows that tretinoin increases the skin's levels of collagen, lightens sun induced freckles and age spots, and improves skin discoloration. At the cosmetics counter. Since Retin A and Renova are drugs, you won't find them at the cosmetics counter. What you will find, however, are anti aging products that contain retinol, another derivative of vitamin A, says Dr. Terezakis. While retinol sounds like RetinA, there is no conclusive evidence that it works like it. As an antioxi Whether a dermatologist prescribes Retin A or Renova depends on skin type. "People with oily skin tend to use Retin A, while those with dry or sensitive skin prefer Renova because it has the consistency of a really heavy night cream," says Dr. Clark. Using either one is a no brainer. Dr. Clark recommends applying two pea size drops nough to cover the whole face and neck to clean, dry skin, either every night or every other night before bed. Dot the medication on each cheek, your forehead, and your chin. Then rub it into your skin, avoiding your upper eyelids. A 2 month supply of either medication costs about $30. Many people using Retin A or Renova notice that their skin feels smoother after a month of treatment, says Debra Jaliman, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. Research shows that the most significant improvement occurs over 4 to 10 months. And the more damaged your skin, the more improvement you're likely to see. Using Retin A or Renova does have a downside. Both, particularly Retin A, can cause skin to swell, burn, itch, or peel. These side effects normally fade in a few weeks as skin becomes used to the medication. But if the irritation continues, a dermatologist may advise applying the drugs less often, or in the case of Retin Aprescribe a lower dosage, says Dr. Perricone. Anti Aging Anti Aging Generation| Anti Aging Health Strategy| Anti Aging for Women| Take a Bite Out of Aging| Check the Index| Aim Low| Fat Factor| The Zobra Diet| Bulf Of Long Life| What about Meat?| Get the Protein, Forgo the Fat| The Taxic Avengers| Great Ways to Ambush Radicals| Going Vegetarian Sparked Her Youth| Is That a Toxin in My "Soup"?| Put Your Diet into Rehab| Little Bean, Big Benefits| Sneaking Soy into Your Diet| The Anti Aging Supplements| Alpha Lipoic Acid| Vitamins Minerals| Bioflavonoids| Coenzyme-Q10| Flaxseed Oil| Ginkgo| Are Harmone Supplements Safe?| Melotonin| Phoaphatidylserine| Pycnogenol| Vitamin C| Vitamin E| Aerobics| Disease-Proof Your Body| Liven Up Your Lifestyles| 12 Tips For a Better Workout| Weather Your Workout| Water| Erasing the Lines of Time| Skin Enemy Number One: The Sun| Sunscreen to the Rescue| A Sunscreen Primer| Sun Tips for Sun Junkies| Clean Up Your Act| Perfect Cleanser| Navigating Moisturizer Maze| The Care and Feeding of Youthful Skin| Special Problems of Aging Skin Cosmetic Nutrients Cosmetic Nutrients| Get Glowing with Glycolic Acid| User's guide of Glycolic Acids| Retin-A and Renova| Using Retin-A and Renova| Vitamin C: Future Youth?| Don't Get Lost at "C"| Getting the Most from C Makeups Makeup That Enhances| Foundation| Concealer| Blush| Powder| Eye Makeup| Lipstick| Winning the Battle of the Mane| Color to the Youthful| Dressed to Impress| Acting Your Age| 10 Attributes of a Youthful Mind Right Weight Getting Your Right Weight| Weighing In| Say Goodbye to Dieting| Putting Exercise into Everyday Events| Defying Disease| Disease Proof Your Lifestyle| Arthritis| Cancer| Diabetes| Heart Disease and Stroke| Osteoporosis|Keeping Your Senses Sharp|Can You Speak Little Louder?|Preventing Hearing Loss|Target Hearing Loss Early|The Eyes Have It|Buying Sunglasses|Eyes Need Exercise|The Life of Visionary Memory Memory Like an Elephant| Keeping the Brain Up and Running|Improving Your Everyday Memory| Get Organized| Living a Memory Enhancing Lifestyle Sleep Sweet Sleep and Relaxation| Turning Out the Lights, Naturally| Easing Toward Dreamland|When All Else Fails