Does Retin A (tretinoin) help for skin sagging?

Hi Dr Irwin. I have a question regarding Retin A. I know that it's good for acne, and also can help with wrinkles. But what if you have very fine skin with no wrinkles at all but want help for a the early stages of skin sagging. Can Retin A help with that too? I have read both that it can and can't, so I'm a little confused. Also would it have benefits using it just once or twice a week? Thanks very much for your time.

If I’m hearing you correctly, you are asking if Retin A and the other Vit A cousins are helpful to prevent aging.  Anything that builds collagen will OVER TIME  help to prevent skin aging in the form of wrinkles and loss of elasticity (sagging).   So yes!  It makes sense to start it early (assuming you tolerate it well) and keep using it forever.   Tretinoin is STILL the gold standard in anti-aging skin care products.  It won’t help with sagging due to loss of fat and bone over the years though.

You must, must, must use it with sunscreen (SPF 30 with at least 10% zinc or titanium) every single morning!     Hope this helps, Dr. I

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

Ask me your skincare question!

Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

  • All our content is written and researched by myself.
  • My medical office in Seattle has treated thousands of patients for 15+ years.
  • This site is not affiliated or financially tied to any product, treatment or device.
Ask Me Something
SkinTour Skincare
One of the best investments in your skin is your daily skincare. Why? Because you can prevent many problems with blotchy skin color, lack of glow, texture, some types of acne, and fine lines with good skincare products. You can also correct some of these problems with effective skincare products. Great skincare is often more expensive because quality ingredients are expensive. Some companies spend on research/development which benefits all of us and adds to the cost. Are they worth it? In general - yes! I have handpicked some of what I consider to be the best skin care products, and offer them for sale on SkinTour's shop. This is based on my team and I's testing and research at our clinic. Many of the products are in my own regimen. What could be better than using skin care products a dermatologist uses?!