Dr. Em Natural Skin & Hair Care

When it comes to our skin, we know that products with retinol (ROL) can slow down the aging of our skin and may even cure acne. But what is retinol? Retinol is vitamin A, which is derived from dietary hydrolysis of beta carotene. When we eat foods rich in beta carotene (fruits and vegetables with red, orange, yellow, and dark green pigments), our body metabolically converts them to different forms of retinoids. Vitamin A is important to maintain healthy teeth, bones, mucous membranes, skin, and soft tissues. Know however, that taking vitamin A supplement is not advisable (unless your physician prescribes it) because it is harmful when taken in excess (that is, it may increase your cancer risk).  Retinoids that are specifically formulated for cosmetics, such as topical creams and moisturizers are in the form of retinyl acetate, retinyl propionate, or retinyl palmitate. A very important fact to remember is that topical retinoids can cause dryness, redness, burning, and irritation of the