Vitamin A Benefits – Vitamin A in Cosmetics

Are you beginning to notice the first signs of aging? Or maybe you still have pigmentation left over from your last bout of acne. Maybe you want to repair signs of sun damage or maybe it is just overall dullness that you want to combat. No matter what your skin concern Vitamin A can help alleviate it. Why? Learn about Vitamin A benefits for your skin.

Vitamin A is a cell-communicating agent. It can bind to the receptors in any skin cell and normalize its function. The result is a healthy happy glowing younger looking skin! Now, who does not want that?

Vitamin A Benefits for Skin

Vitamin A is the broad term used to refer to a host of derivatives such as Retinol, Retinoids and Retinyl Esters. We will get to the specifics in just a bit, but they are essentially just various derivatives of Vitamin A, just differing in strength.

| Vitamin A Benefits for Aging Skin

The dermis is the layer of skin housing the blood vessels, elastin and collagen. It is this layer that Vitamin A helps stimulate and thicken. Consequently, it helps to smooth out wrinkles and assists improved circulation of blood. It can actually help increase the production of collagen, thus retarding the aging process. In addition, Vitamin A benefits is useful for resurfacing the skin and reduces melanin deposition, which helps eliminate brown spots and pigmentation.

| Vitamin A Benefits for Acne

Finally, even acne sufferers can benefit from the use of Vitamin A. It is known to help minimize the production of sebum and help unclog pores by stimulating the follicular keratin cells (responsible for pore functioning). Sluggish functioning of these cells causes build up and clogging, which causes acne as well as an enlargement of the pore. As Vitamin A is a cell communicator, it can help whip the follicular keratin cells back in action. This helps diminish acne spots and reduce the pore size. Thus, in essence, Vitamin A promotes overall skin health.

What type of products to use?

There are multiple Vitamin A derivatives but among the most used, in order of decreasing strength are:

| Retinoid

These are prescription drugs and include well-known names such as Tretinoin, Retin-A, and Refissa. Synthetic Retinoids such as Adapalene and Tazarotene are also available which are just as effective as the natural versions but are less irritating. Retinoids enter the skin and break down into retinoic acid which is easily absorbed by the skin. These are available as topical ointments and are to be used after toning and before serums.

| Retinol

These are weaker than prescription Retinoids but have a function similar to them once they break down into all-trans retinoic acid. They are readily available in a multitude of skin care products but should ideally be used in a serum, particularly a lipid-based serum which will contain skin soothing ingredients as well. This is because serums are the most readily absorbed of all skin care products and penetrate the deepest. This is the delivery mechanism you want for your active ingredients.

| Retinyl Palmitate (Ester)

This is such a weak form of Vitamin A but more stable than retinol. It is extensively used in sunscreens (which have stirred up a controversy) for no real purpose except the addition of claims.
Whichever strength you decide to use, ensure that the product is stored in an opaque container as all forms of Vitamin A are experience some degradation in the presence of sunlight.