March 14, 2026

The Role and Benefits of Vitamin A for the Skin

by Skinstep

Vitamin A is not just another skincare ingredient — it is essential for healthy, resilient skin. Like oxygen and water, Vitamin A supports the skin’s normal function, structure, and long-term wellbeing. Over time, environmental factors like UV exposure, pollution, and lifestyle habits reduce Vitamin A levels, making topical supplementation crucial.

Why Vitamin A Is Essential

Vitamin A plays a key role in:

Skin renewal — promotes shedding of old cells and generation of new ones
Barrier function — strengthens the skin’s protective layer
Cell communication — ensures proper cellular processes for healthy skin

Without enough Vitamin A, skin may show fine lines, dullness, rough texture, uneven pigmentation, reduced elasticity, and breakouts.

What to Expect When Using Vitamin A

Some users experience a retinoid reaction at first, including redness, flaking, tingling, or small bumps. This is normal and signals that skin receptors are adjusting. To minimize irritation:

Reduce application frequency
Pair with gentle moisturizers
Introduce the ingredient gradually

Proven Benefits of Vitamin A

Accelerates Cell Renewal — smoother, fresher skin
Strengthens Skin Barrier — improved moisture retention and resilience
Enhances Texture and Radiance — evens tone and softens fine lines
Supports Collagen and Elasticity — firmer, youthful skin
Boosts Immune Defence — protects against environmental stress
Balances Oil and Cell Turnover — reduces breakouts and congestion

June 4, 2026

Good Skincare Under the Sun

Treatment of sun-damaged skin begins with avoiding the sun or at least minimizing sun exposure. Sunscreens help prevent the skin from burning, but it is important to remember that even the strongest sunscreens cannot completely prevent the damage caused by the sun. The Vitamin A deficiency caused by solar radiation can be compensated with vitamin A creams. Retinoic acid (tretinoin) helps to restore and improve the skin. The challenge is that tretinoin can irritate the skin, causing redness and tingling. Retinyl palmitate is a derivative of vitamin A that irritates less and is converted in the skin into tretinoin, producing the same cellular effects as retinoic acid itself. Sensitivity to vitamin A follows a Gaussian curve: some people are very sensitive to vitamin A creams, while others tolerate even very strong formulations, with most people falling between these two extremes. Therefore, treatment is started with very mild vitamin A creams and, depending on the skin’s reaction, stronger creams can gradually be introduced step by step. Redness and mild irritation indicate that the maximum strength has been reached and it is time to step back one level. In general, significant sun exposure requires slightly stronger creams. As sun-damaged, thinned skin, begins to recover, the absorption of creams may decrease, and additional treatments can help improve absorption. Different microneedling devices can create tiny channels in the skin through which active ingredients are absorbed. It is sufficient that the needles penetrate the thin outer layer of the skin, which means that even very short and painless needles are enough. It is important that only scientifically tested products are applied to the skin, not random ingredients with unclear or potentially harmful effects. The microchannels close within 24 hours and are so small that they do not leave scars. To improve absorption, professional cosmetic treatments such as heat, iontophoresis, or ultrasound treatments may be helpful. Heat expands the skin’s pores and improves absorption. Iontophoresis uses electric current to deliver electrically charged substances into the skin, while ultrasound improves absorption through cavitation. Surgery does not replace good skin care, but good skin care helps maintain the results of surgical procedures for as long as possible. I have successfully used Environ skin care products for my patients for over 25 years. And finally: the skin also needs sufficient moisturizing creams to remain elastic and healthy. — Asko SalmiMD, PhD, plastic surgeon. Sairaala KL / Christinas Clinic.

June 1, 2026

Sensitive Skin: Focus Care Comfort+

ENVIRON® Focus Care Comfort+ is designed for sensitive, easily irritated, and stressed skin, providing gentle yet effective care and helping to strengthen the skin’s natural resilience. When used together with the Vitamin STEP-UP SYSTEM™, it helps the skin look healthier, more balanced, and better protected against daily environmental stressors. Main Benefits Soothes sensitive and irritated skin Helps protect against environmental stressors and pollution Reduces redness and discomfort Supports the skin’s natural barrier Products in the Range Vita-Enriched Antioxidant GelA cooling antioxidant-rich gel containing plant-based vitamins A, C, and E. Vita-Enriched Colostrum GelA soothing serum with colostrum, vitamins, and green tea extract that helps support sensitive skin. Purifying Anti-Pollution MasqueA mask that helps remove pollution particles accumulated on the skin while also hydrating and soothing the skin. Complete Anti-Pollution SpritzA protective facial spray for daily use that helps reduce the impact of environmental stressors on the skin. How To Use Suitable for use together with the Vitamin STEP-UP SYSTEM™ Suitable for both beginners and experienced users Can be used on top of a moisturising cream or added into an anti-ageing routine for extra protection and comfort Who It Is For For sensitive and easily irritated skin For skin exposed to pollution, stress, and other environmental stressors For anyone seeking gentle, nourishing, and protective skincare In summary: ENVIRON® Focus Care Comfort+ helps sensitive skin feel calmer, stronger, and healthier, offering science-based care and protection against daily external stressors.

May 25, 2026

Skin Aging

Plastic surgeon, Dr Des Fernandes, has dedicated his life to researching and treating skin aging. Over time, the skin becomes thinner and more wrinkled — for some people earlier, for others later. Time is relentless. In addition to genetic factors, skin aging is also influenced by many external factors that we ourselves can affect. Healthy nutrition is one important factor. The Mediterranean diet is generally considered the standard of healthy eating, so on the Costa del Sol the situation should be quite good in this respect. It is known that smoking has no positive health effects, and this also applies here: in people who smoke continuously, the skin may appear up to 10 years older than their actual age. Other forms of air pollution also accelerate skin aging. As pleasant as tanning may be, the sun is undeniably the main cause of premature skin aging and wrinkles. Ultraviolet radiation penetrates the skin and causes cellular changes, thinning of the skin, and the formation of wrinkles. Aged skin is thin, its outermost layer (the horny layer, or stratum corneum) is thickened, and the renewal of collagen and elastin slows down. According to Dr Des, sunlight destroys the vitamin A that is essential for the skin. Constant exposure to the sun creates a chronic vitamin A deficiency in the skin, which manifests itself as skin aging. Naturally, vitamin A obtained from food also reaches the skin, but rather slowly, too late, and in insufficient quantities. All this can be corrected with an active daily vitamin A cream. Studies show that vitamin A thins the dead outer layer of the skin, increases cell division and the production of collagen and elastin, and may thicken the skin by 30–50% within a few months. Vitamin A has several chemically different forms, some of which may irritate the skin, while others are better tolerated. Another challenge is absorption: as the skin becomes healthier, the absorption of creams may actually become more difficult, which is why different methods are needed to help active ingredients penetrate into the skin. A third issue is individual sensitivity to vitamin A. Some people are highly sensitive even to small amounts and develop redness and irritation (a vitamin A reaction), while others tolerate much larger doses. The most important things when being in the sun are: Good physical protection. Whether it is a hat, a terrace, or shade. A good sunscreen, while keeping in mind that even the strongest sunscreen cannot completely prevent sun damage. A daily vitamin A cream combined with a moisturizing cream. — Asko SalmiMD, PhD, plastic surgeon. Sairaala KL / Christinas Clinic.