What is a common side effect of using retinoids?

Using retinoids often leads to skin irritation or dryness due to their potent effects on skin cell turnover. Retinoids, which are derivatives of vitamin A, work by speeding up the regeneration of skin cells. This increased cell turnover can cause the skin to become dry, flaky, or irritated, especially when a person first starts using these products.

This side effect is particularly common because the skin needs time to adjust to the effects of retinoids. Users are typically advised to start with lower concentrations and gradually increase to minimize irritation.

While skin discoloration, increased oil production, and loss of skin elasticity may occur under certain circumstances or from other products and factors, they are not standard side effects associated with retinoid use. Thus, dryness and irritation remain the most commonly experienced effects for many users.