Retinol before and after: what to expect by week

People search for retinol before and after photos to find out what will change and when. A photo on its own does not show how long the person used retinol, what strength it was, or what else they changed. Clinical studies are more useful, because they state the strength, the time and what they measured. This guide sets out what those studies found at each point, how acne timelines differ from wrinkle timelines, and how to judge your own results. It is part of Skinli's guide to retinoids for acne.

The timeline at a glance

When	What the sources describe
Weeks 1 to 4	Irritation is most likely. The over-the-counter adapalene label says redness, itching, dryness and burning are more likely in the first few weeks, and that acne may appear to worsen before it improves
Week 4	A 2020 study saw smoother-looking skin with retinol serum. A 2016 study found a thicker outer skin layer
Weeks 6 to 8	NICE says positive effects of acne treatments can take 6 to 8 weeks to become noticeable
Week 12	A 2016 study measured fewer facial wrinkles. NICE reviews a first acne treatment at 12 weeks
Up to 3 months	The adapalene 0.1 percent gel label says results may take up to 3 months of daily use
3 to 6 months	MedlinePlus says tretinoin may take 3 to 4 months or up to 6 months to improve fine wrinkles
Week 24	A 2007 trial found less fine wrinkling with 0.4 percent retinol
Week 52	A 2015 trial reported improvement in fine lines and blotchy pigmentation, still growing with use

Each row comes from a different study or label, with a different product and strength, so the table shows the range of times and cannot predict any one person's result.

Weeks 1 to 4: the adjustment period

The first weeks are when skin reacts. The 2024 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) acne guideline lists burning, dryness, redness, peeling and pain as the side effects of topical retinoids. The AAD says some ingredients, "such as retinol and glycolic acid, can irritate your skin, particularly if your skin is sensitive," and calls this normal and temporary. The over-the-counter Differin Gel 0.1 percent label says irritation "usually lessens with continued use."

Some people also see more pimples early on. The adapalene label says "your acne may appear to worsen before it improves (this is normal)." Skinli's guide to whether retinol makes acne worse at first sets out what the sources say, including two analyses that found no flare. For dryness and peeling, see Skinli's guide to retinoid dryness and peeling.

A change in texture can come early. A 2020 study of 45 women aged 35 to 65 compared retinol serums with tretinoin cream, both raised in strength step by step and used with a moisturizer. The retinol group had smoother-looking skin than the tretinoin group at week 4. A 2016 study found that 4 weeks of retinol thickened the outer layer of the skin and raised collagen genes, with smaller changes than retinoic acid.

Weeks 6 to 12: acne

If you use a retinoid for acne, the acne timeline applies. NICE, the health guidance body for England, says "positive effects can take 6 to 8 weeks to become noticeable," and it says to review a first treatment at 12 weeks. The adapalene 0.1 percent gel label says "it may take up to 3 months of once daily use to see results," and to stop and ask a doctor if there is no improvement after 3 months. Skinli's own plan asks people to give it 8 to 12 weeks before judging it.

Retinol has no acne timeline of its own in the sources read, because the acne guidelines do not name it. Skinli's guide to whether retinol works for acne covers the evidence, and its guide to how long an acne routine takes to work covers acne timelines in general.

Months 3 to 12: wrinkles and tone

Wrinkles take longer than acne. MedlinePlus says tretinoin "may reduce fine wrinkles but does not remove them or repair sun-damaged skin," and that it may take 3 to 4 months or up to 6 months before you notice improvement. Retinol, which a 2022 review estimates is ten times less potent than tretinoin, has been studied over similar and longer periods.

• 12 weeks. A 2016 study measured fewer facial wrinkles in photos after 12 weeks of retinol. The authors worked for a skin care company and a university.
• 24 weeks. A 2007 University of Michigan trial applied 0.4 percent retinol lotion to one arm of 36 adults with an average age of 87, up to 3 times a week. After 24 weeks, fine wrinkling was lower on the retinol arm than on the arm that got the same lotion without retinol. Skin samples showed more collagen production.
• 52 weeks. A 2015 trial had 62 people use 0.1 percent retinol or the same product without retinol on the whole face for a year. After 52 weeks, the authors reported that retinol had improved fine lines at the corners of the eyes by 44 percent and blotchy pigmentation by 84 percent, and they wrote that "improvements in photodamage continue with prolonged use."

The 2022 review in Advances in Therapy tempers these results. It says there is "a lack of evidence from properly designed clinical trials" for the retinoids used in cosmetics, and that because of study limits, the wide range of strengths and conflicts of interest in sponsored studies, "it is questionable whether the positive study results truly reflect the efficacy of the active ingredient in the product."

Pores and stretch marks

Two other before and after searches come up often. For pores, the AAD says pores can look larger with oily skin, mild acne, or skin that is less firm than it once was, and that "using a skin care product with retinol or retinyl palmitate may help." For stretch marks, the AAD says treatment works best on early marks, which are red, purple, pink or brown, and "seems to have little effect on mature stretch marks." A 1996 trial found that 8 of 10 people using 0.1 percent tretinoin cream daily for 6 months had definite or marked improvement in early stretch marks, compared with 1 of 12 using the plain cream. The AAD says retinol may also help fade early stretch marks. It also says to check with a doctor before treating stretch marks in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, because some products contain retinol, which can harm a baby.

Why results differ between people

Several things make one person's results differ from another's:

• Strength is often unknown. The AAD says there is no standard requirement to print the percentage of retinol on the label.
• Retinol breaks down. The 2022 review says retinol is sensitive to light, oxygen and heat. An old or badly stored product may hold less.
• Irritation makes people stop. The AAD says people with skin allergies or dryness are probably not good candidates for a retinoid product.
• Studies report groups. In the 2015 trial, over 50 percent of people improved by 2 grades in many measures, which also means some did not.

How to judge your own before and after

A fair comparison keeps everything the same except the skin. Use the same room, the same light, the same distance, the same angle and the same camera, with no makeup and no filters. Take a photo before the first night, then every 2 to 4 weeks. Skinli's guide to taking acne progress photos gives the full setup.

Change one product at a time. If you start retinol and a new moisturizer in the same week, you cannot tell which one caused a change, good or bad. Write down the start date, the product and how many nights a week you use it.

Keeping the results

The sources say the results of a retinoid can fade when it is stopped. MedlinePlus says of tretinoin, "If you stop using tretinoin, the improvement may gradually disappear." For acne, the AAD says dermatologists may recommend a topical retinoid as a maintenance treatment that "can keep your skin clear once acne is under control," and NICE says maintenance is not always necessary and can be considered for people whose acne often comes back.

When to see a doctor

See a dermatologist if irritation becomes severe, if acne is deep, painful or scarring, or if acne has not improved after 12 weeks of steady care. Skinli's guide to starting retinol without irritation covers the first weeks step by step.