Retinol or Retin A? Where can I get it (age spots).

[pockledigg]

Got age spots, heard Retinol or similar gets rid. Has anyone used it ? Where do I get it? What precautions do I need to take? Cheers x

[Fabulassie]

Retina A is prescription-strength, but it can be ordered online (I just got a tube on Amazon.) There are lots of web sites that talk about how to do it (start off with lowest concentration, use very sparingly, and accept that you'll have a brief period of looking worse before you look better.) I've just started my second tube (so about three or four months?) and I'm really thrilled with it. My skin is luminous and flawless.

[pockledigg]

Thanks Fabulssie. I was a bit wary of buying online because of all the fake stuff that's in the news recently. Would you be able to tell me who you buy from, as that's obviously the real deal? Cheers x

[Back2Two]

Or you can start with a retinol product and build up tolerance gradually.

[AgathaHannigan]

Fabulassie, you say it will look worse before it looks better, can I ask in what way? I've just started using some different products and am having the mother of all break outs and trying to work out why, my new serum has retinol. Would this be it?

[Back2Two]

Retinol/retin a can cause breakouts when you first start using it.
If you're using a lot of new products it could be any of them though or just too much change

[JetJungle]

I have used a seller on eBay called healthnbeautyexpress, for years. They are based in Thailand and sell Retin-A which is made by Janssen (part of the Johnson&Johnson group).

The products take a while to arrive as shipping is slow, but I have never had any problems and they are definitely not fake. Retin-A is suprisingly well priced too.

Start on the 0.025% stuff twice a week and build up. I find it works brilliantly on age spots.

[pockledigg]

Perfect JetJungle-thank you.

[AutumnLeafMyArse]

Can I jump in and ask a question too? I was thinking of starting off with LA Roche Posay Redermic which has Retinol before moving onto the actual Retin A, would that help me acclimatise to it better?

[JetJungle]

I guess so. I didn't do any acclimatising. I just started slowly.....

For the first couple of weeks try using it just twice a week. If you have no reaction you can build up to every other night.

At night, gently wash your face with a mild cleanser. Moisturise as normal and wait for 20 - 30 minutes before applying Retin-A.
A pea-size amount is enough for your entire face. Dot it on your cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin, then spread the cream over your face, avoiding the corners of your mouth, eyes and the crease under each nostril. I also found that the area between my nose and my top lip is very sensitive so I do not apply any there either.

In the morning, wash your face and apply a moisturizer with sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher).

I would order the Retin A via healthnbeautyexpress and use the LA Roche Posay Redermic while awaiting delivery. Delivery can take up to 4 weeks.

[Itsalldramarama]

Hi I used the redermic R for a couple of weeks then moved up to the Retin a 0.05 without any problems , initially every other night now every night on forehead / crows feet ( think they are rhino hide ! ) and cheeks / skin every other other night as they got a little sensitive every night ! As others have said wait 20 mins after cleansing then apply , I wait another 10 mins and apply Cetaphil cream or blue pot Nivea as it is quite drying , bit flakey in the am but sloughs of with flannel / acid tone pads to reveal lovely smooth skin ! I am really pleased with it so far ! ( think about 6 weeks in now )

[AutumnLeafMyArse]

Thanks very much Jet

[AgathaHannigan]

Thanks back2two, it was all going so well until the retinol, I'll hang in there a little longer.

[Destinysdaughter]

Please what does retinol do?

[Destinysdaughter]

Also if your skin becomes more easily damaged by the sun if you use retinol, doesn't that negate its anti ageing effect??

[getbusyliving]

Interested also

[Fabulassie]

What I meant by "worse before better" was that my skin looked rather dry and flakey for a little bit. I didn't get much obvious flaking but it was a sort of dryness. Makeup didn't look too great on it for a little while. But now my face absolutely glows.

I don't worry about it being fake - the sellers have good feedback and plenty of people buy it. It's not hard to source in some countries (I think mine originates in Thailand?)

I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between Retin A and "retinol" and "retinoids." I just know that Retin A is a brand name of the prescription strength stuff. I believe it is the ONLY topical agent found to remove/lessen wrinkles in controlled studies.

[pockledigg]

Just ordered some-will keep you updated.

[thesmallestpotato]

Does the retin A work on crepey necks too?

[pockledigg]

Ordered the 0.25% from Heathnbeautyexpress (thanks JetJungle) for about £5.50p-arrived after about a week & so far so good. No flaking or redness. Skin looks a bit smoother although I have developed a few spots-(they clear up noticeably quicker though). I think that this is to be expected (the dreaded 'purging'). I'm using about 2-3 times a week & leaving 30 mins after washing before applying a pea-sized dollop of the retin A. May order the 0.5% next time.

[pockledigg]

Quick update-been using this 2-3 times a week for 2 weeks now and I have several boil-type spots with more seeming to pop up each day. Not happy but this seems to be what happens to some people so I'll stick with it (the dreaded 'purge'). No peeling or redness though, so that's something.

[Stropperella]

If you are prone to thread veins, don't use Retin A, as it is highly likely to make them worse. Just a warning from someone who has been there, done that.

[Kennington]

Really strop? That's a worry - thanks for warning
Shame I have thread veins and wrinkles !

[pockledigg]

Wow -I'd never heard that before Stropperella. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Stropperella]

I think that - as with everything - YMMV. I am prone to acne rosacea and have very reactive skin. I simply don't tolerate Retin A and related products very well and I have heard of other people who have the same issue - but we could just be a tiny minority, I have no idea.