Teenage daughter wants a retina prescription to prevent Future aging?

[Patentrain]

My Daughter who is 16 wants a subscription to one of these retin a services from Christmas. She has lovely skin and only gets the odd spot but she wants to keep her skin as good as possible for as long as possible. I think she is being influenced by youtubers Who are probably in their late 20s but most of their content is pitched at teens.

Also her Aunt, my older sister has used prescription strength retin a since her teens (initially for mild acne) and in her mid 40s has absolutely no lines, pigmentation or sag. She is 2 years older than me and looks about 2 decades younger!

I don’t know what to do. On one Hand it seems harmless enough but It seems very young for such high grade stuff and also she’d have to be very diligent about sunscreen. I just don’t know if she’d wear sunscreen everyday without me nagging!

Would it be unreasonable to refuse her request?

Doesn't retinol cause thinning of the skin in the long term?

And cosmetic experts also agree that using too much or too strong of a retinol product can have a negative effect; retinol is supposed to boost collagen and elastin and improve skin's structure, but too high a dose or too frequent use can actually cause the opposite as it is a drying and sensitising ingredient. Retin-A if I'm not mistaken is one of the strongest retinol products available. It's much better again to use a gentler formula but over a longer time. And build up of use and finding the right strength and formulation are very important.

There are lots of good cosmetic formulas containing retinol available these days. Check out the Ordinary and I think boots have also brought out a new product. But you want to ignore marketing and look for the right percentage and a good stable formula.

@FourTeaFallOut it absolutely can if overused or used in too high doses. Clinical trials show the ability to thicken skin but only if it is used correctly.

I feel like I've fallen into some time-space continuum in which using these products (which I've vaguely heard of but not more) is normal. Have I missed something?

I'm a 50 year old, my skin looks fine, in fact quite nice I think, facial wash every day, odd bit of moisturiser and that's it.

I think it's deeply worrying to start fretting about ageing and having poor skin when you are 16. In fact, I think it's appalling. I'm all for putting forward your best face and enjoying life, but to the point of having to wear a hat, restricting sunshine (which surely might have implications for low Vit D later in life), living your life with caution instead of abandon.

[quote CloudyVanilla]@FourTeaFallOut it absolutely can if overused or used in too high doses. Clinical trials show the ability to thicken skin but only if it is used correctly.[/quote]
Thanks. I think based on this I'd discourage the use of it.

On the one hand it demands careful and patient use and as a consequence of using it, it requires daily sun protection.

This is a lot, isn't it? When I was 16 it required a Herculean effort to remember to take my inhalers properly and that had a direct and necessary benefit - it's a lot of unnecessary and diligent effort for absolutely no payback.

Also, don't you think this amount of thought and consideration that is required of this intense kind of skin care routine only fuels the kind of vanity that only ever actually erodes self confidence/ self esteem?

@Poppingnostopping

I feel like I've fallen into some time-space continuum in which using these products (which I've vaguely heard of but not more) is normal. Have I missed something?

I'm a 50 year old, my skin looks fine, in fact quite nice I think, facial wash every day, odd bit of moisturiser and that's it.

I think it's deeply worrying to start fretting about ageing and having poor skin when you are 16. In fact, I think it's appalling. I'm all for putting forward your best face and enjoying life, but to the point of having to wear a hat, restricting sunshine (which surely might have implications for low Vit D later in life), living your life with caution instead of abandon.

I agree with this, being a similar age myself. But I did start using under eye cream when I was 16 as I was worried about wrinkles. My mother used to laugh her head off. Teenagers can be a bit joyless sometimes, they generally get over it once they discover sex and vodka .

If the retin A is safe then why not, but any chance it is not safe then I would steer clear and let her decide when she is an adult in 2 years.

Prevention better than cure but 16 is too young for that IMO. She'll be much better looking at a decent factor 50SPF for the face (I use the la roche posay shake fluid).

The Ordinary also have a good range, and do have some lower strength retinoids available but definitely not the full strength retin at her age.

It's good she's into skincare though, I looked young for my age as a teen and carried on through my 20s and 30s smugly thinking I didn't need to worry about that. Had a baby at 38 (sleepless nights), I'm 41 now and since last year I seem to have aged overnight with loose eyelid skin dragging down, crows feet etc. I've only been getting into skincare this past year, wish I'd started a bit earlier!

I use skin and me and Dermatica. A dermatologist does the prescription . They both say over 16 but I’m not sure they would prescribe it if there’s nothing to treat.

It does dry your skin out too and you have to use factor 50 every day. Is she ready for the possible purging and dry skin?

@Dannydevitoiloveyourart - not expensive. I get 0.05% tret with 4% niacinamide. It’s £20 a month through Dermatica.

I started a proper skincare regimen at 16. I say go for it.

Clarification: I am only now seeing the above posts about the side-effects/cons of Retinol. I've not used it. I used something different and have been for about 20 years.

Perhaps she can try a different approach.

And hydration is also important, as is proper nutrition and adequate sleep.

She does not need a retinoid for ageing at 16. That is absolute madness.

I use retinol and other actives.
There is a massive difference between a "decent skincare routine" and going down the wormhole of anti-ageing products at 16.
I'd be concerned as a parent of the Botox she's going to want at 18 and the lip plumpers at 19 and the cheek implants at 20.
Companies like Dermatica and all the others sell Tret etc for over 16s as an acne treatment not as an anti-ageing. Retinols are a solution, not a prevention. You can't remove a wrinkle that's not there yet.

You can't prevent future ageing. What about turkey neck and backs of hands and so on?

Am I the only one who thought this would be about eyes and contact lenses?!

All a teenager needs is good SPF. Until they are at least 30. Then they can think about anti-aging products but if they've used the SPF religiously they won't need to.

Personally I’d do it, I’d get the weakest strength but she would need to wear spf 50 every single day forever.

She’d need to do her neck with sunblock too or she won’t match.

Things like collagen production peak really young.

I find it disturbing and tragic in equal measure that a 16 year old is thinking of anti aging products.

Avoiding tanning, wearing a wide brimmed hat, drinking rarely and not smoking have kept my skin nice at 50. I still wash my face with Ivory soap. Both of my grandmothers had skin cancer, so my mother disapproved of tans.

It would make for interesting research to see if Dermatica etc would prescribe tret for anti ageing at such a young age. If they do then they need better regulation.

OP suggest some age appropriate skincare, and have a chat about realistic/ unrealistic expectations and not being overly critical of herself.

@CloudyVanilla

No!!

Your DD is not wrong about retina being good for anti aging but:

1. there are gentler forms which over the long term keep your skin in better less dry condition and offer the same benefits

2. I can't remember the scientific word, but research and scientific theory demonstrates that there is only a finite amount of cell turnover the body can produce. The anti aging benefits of vitamin A are caused because it is a cell communicating ingredient that speeds up cell turnover and makes fresh new healthy better looking skin cells. But over use and starting to young will eventually reduce your skin's ability to do this.

She is much better at this age focusing on diligent SPF and hydrating ingredients. Ingredients like vitamin c and niacinamide as well as mild acid exfoliants are also god ingredients for both good skin and anti aging.

But yes, using retinol products too young will not do her any favours. She is best off starting using these in her mid twenties when her cell tunorver starts happening at a rate lower than her cells are depleting.

This is a really good point. If she starts too young she may end up dramatically shortening her telomeres and that will speed up aging later on

What if she ends up with skin cancer on her face because she’s young and forgets sun cream.

I’m 39 and an avid retinol fan, I’ve had dodgy and prescription stuff. There’s no way I’d let her.

@DeciduousPerennial

She does not need a retinoid for ageing at 16. That is absolute madness.

and worrying that a 16 year old is thinking this way, how has it come to this? honestly I am so glad I’m not a young woman in today’s world.

@SSW101 thank you! Telomeres :)

Tell her to use sunblock, SPF 50. It will be the most effective thing for ani ageing.