All tretinoin made by major pharmaceutical companies should have a potency expiration date stamped on the box or tube. Be sure the expiration date is at least six months away since one large tube may last you this long. Keep the tube capped, since exposure to air and light can inactivate tretinoin. Also store the tube at temperatures under 80F, or it will degrade faster.

Remember, you must be patient with tretinoin. While microscopic changes start immediately, it takes about three to six months before you will see any visible improvement in the mirror. Maximum results are achieved after 12-24 months of nightly use (depending on concentration), and after that you only need to apply it two or three days per week for maintenance. If you stop using tretinoin, the skin will gradually regress. You may want to take before-and-after, close-up photographs of your face to check your progress.

Currently, the best available topical anti-aging treatment is prescription tretinoin (Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Renova, Avita, or generic). Tretinoin is also called vitamin A acid or retinoic acid; but it is a different chemical from regular vitamin A - one form of which is called retinol. A prescription is required for tretinoin because it produces significant changes in the structure of the skin.

Tretinoin was developed many years ago and is often prescribed for acne because it reduces sebum build-up in pores; but a large number of peer-reviewed medical studies done since the early 1980s also show that tretinoin can also improve fine lines, skin texture, and uneven pigmentation.

Pores and Scars

Moderate exercise strengthens the cardiovascular system, which is important for skin health. If you have a sedentary job, try to do some sort of vigorous aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes, three times a week. Simply walking at a brisk pace for 45 minutes, five days a week can give nearly the same benefit. For anti-aging benefits, exercise should not be continued to exhaustion.

Scientific studies have found that very strenuous endurance exercise, such as distance running, greatly increases the production of free radicals and may accelerate other aging processes in cells. Elite endurance athletes don't age any slower or have fewer wrinkles than people who exercise moderately, and in fact they may age faster.

You should use sunblock on all exposed areas of skin when you are outside. Some people forget to apply it to their hands, ears, and neck. You should also use sunblock lip-balm for your lips, which are very susceptible to sun damage. Be sure to cover your nose well with sunblock, because its angle causes it to receive more intense sunlight during mid-day. (The worst photoaging many people have is on top of their nose.)

Sunblock should be used year-round and also on cloudy days, because even diffuse sunlight causes damage. People who live at high altitude should always use sunblock and cover up as much as possible when outside because the intensity of UV radiation is higher there.