The higher the retinol concentration, the better,

don't believe it

I’m Dr. Wiyoungjin of Beautys Doctor.

Please check this first before reading

Q. Isn’t retinol more effective

the higher the concentration?

A. No. If it goes beyond what the skin can tolerate,

the barrier breaks down instead,

and all you get is trouble, not results.

Q. Then what concentration should I start with?

A. For most adult skin, starting at 0.025~0.05%

is the safest,

and it still builds up enough effect.

Dr. Wiyoungjin's

key insight

What retinol concentration suits my skin?

• Doctor-recommended starting 기준

What is retinol?

Retinol is a form of vitamin A,

and it promotes skin cell turnover to improve wrinkles, pigmentation, and pores.

It is a representative active ingredient used for these purposes.

Unlike tretinoin (a prescription medication), retinol

can also be formulated into cosmetics, so it is more accessible,

but that also makes concentration selection confusing.

Higher concentration means better results?

— This is where the misunderstanding begins

Retinol does not produce

immediate results when applied to the skin.

It must be converted into retinoic acid

through retinal by enzymes in the skin

before it can act on cells.

But there is one important thing here.

The amount of these conversion enzymes is different for each person.

That means there is a limit to the total amount of retinol

my skin can process at once.

No matter how much 1% you apply, the rest that the enzymes cannot process

just remains as irritation.

Dr. Wiyoungjin's key takeaway

Retinol's effectiveness depends not on the 'concentration'

but on the 'amount my skin can convert.'

High concentrations that exceed enzyme capacity are

not effectiveness, but irritation.

Starting at a low concentration

and building your skin's enzymatic tolerance

is ultimately the fastest way.

Retinol concentration for my skin,

choose it like this

It varies by case, but

this is usually how I guide people.

Applying it every day is right, but

that's a story for 'after the skin has adapted.'

If you apply it daily before your skin adapts, you get stuck in a loop of barrier damage and

dryness and sensitivity repeating over and over.

In my experience, once you get caught in that loop,

people often lose trust in retinol again

and end up giving up altogether.

When increasing the concentration, please make sure to follow this

If you have used it continuously for 2~3 weeks without irritation,

you can try moving to the next step.

However, don't make a big jump all at once;

it's better to increase step by step and observe for at least 3~4 weeks.

Also, each time you increase the concentration, reduce the frequency again.

If you were using 0.05% daily and increase to 0.1%,

go back to 2~3 times a week.

Retinol should only be used at night,

and in the morning you must use a sunscreen

with SPF 30 or higher.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. Retinol, retinal,

and retinoic acid—what's the difference?

In the order retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid,

they become stronger in effect and also more irritating as they convert.

Retinoic acid is a prescription-only medication.

Q2. Can I also get dermatology procedures

while using retinol?

For procedures that irritate the skin barrier, such as laser or peeling,

it is safest to stop retinol for about 3~5 days before and after the procedure.

safe.

Q3. While using retinol,

is peeling normal?

Mild flaking during the initial adjustment period can be normal,

but if redness or stinging occurs,

it is an irritation reaction.

"If I just endure it, it'll get better"

is a dangerous idea when it comes to retinol.

That was Wiyoungjin.

Read together

▶The truth about Ulthera pain: "Lifting doesn't work better just because you endure it"

▶How many times should PicoWay tattoo removal be done? Full summary by color and area

▶5 safety checklist items to prevent Ulthera sedation accidents

▶JuveLook Glam body procedure explained by Dr. Wiyoungjin

▶One treatment and done? Radiesse dilution method and effects