If you use Retin A come over here please

[Sallystyle]

Would you mind sharing your experiences?

What happened to your skin? if you have an initial breakout and how long that IB lasted? Did you skin look like shit for a while then suddenly look amazing etc

I moved onto retin a 0.5 from retin a mixed with an antibiotic gel and my skin is currently purging. Small little spots with the odd white head. No peeling but a few red spot looking things under the skin.

I was prescribed the retin with the antibiotic for acne but my gp won't give it to me for long so I decided to try the retin a. The one with the antibiotic did work better for me in the sense that it didn't cause an IB but it is not so good for anti ageing and like I said, it was only going to be a short term thing and I want something long term.

My skin doesn't feel dry to touch, it feels lovely, but when I put foundation on it does ball up. No soreness just these little spots and some red things under my skin.

Thanks in advance. I am now off shopping to find a better foundation.

[NormHonal]

Wow, how did you get that prescribed? Thought you couldn't get it in the UK any more?

I used it a number of years ago and yes, I had a few weeks of my skin looking awful (mostly the dryness rather than a breakout) and then, lo, all was amazing and my skin looked great.

Then I had to stop using it to ttc, so that was that.

But yes, initially crap skin then great.

[RaspberryBeret34]

I've been using retin A for 18 months now. My skin did get worse at the start although was hard to tell as my spots tended to come in waves so it was hard to say if they'd got worse or if it was a natural "more spot" time! It was flakey for a while too but never looked totally awful. It probably took 3-4 months for it to settle down.

I use 0.1% cream and use it maybe 4 evenings out of 7. Every now and then my skin gets a bit dry and I have a couple of days without retin-A and plaster it with moisturizer.

I will say I do still get spots, it hasn't reduced them to zero. I use an acid toner as well now which seems to help and my skin generally looks pretty good. Certainly the bits between spots look good! I probably could use it every night (or maybe 6 out of 7) and moisturize less (I usually pile some moisturizer on top which I assume must dilute it a bit) but I'm happyish with where it is just now.

I'm currently eating paleo (for the most part) and taking some multi-vits and high strength anchovy oil and things to try and address things from the inside as well as the outside.

Hope it works for you!

[Itsalldramarama]

Hi U2
I started with 0.05 about 3 weeks ago after using redermic R
Used every other night , no spots , I use Nivea after as skin does feel dry , no peeling up until this week when I have used every night ( more a bit flakey really by am but sloughs of with flannel so not noticeable ! ) my cheeks are a bit stingy so I am only using it every night on forehead , crows feet and between eyes , my skin is looking well and is smoother than before , I have stopped the glyclolic acid tone for now as i think it may be too much
But so far so good

[daftyburd]

I did initially have flakiness and spots. I think for me the spots were due to the dryness too.I now hydrate my skin rather than greasy moisturers and results not diluted. Use serum before and water based moisture after. I wait approx 15 mins between layers. I now use retin a 6 nights out of 7. Still mild flakiness occasionally but flannel wash then acid tone when flaky sort me out in the morning.

[Sallystyle]

Thanks everyone.

I just bought the Estee Lauder double wear foundation and their facial sunscreen. I didn't go for sunscreen as I have two already but I tried it on and it was a lot less oily than my other two and the foundation sat nicely on top.

I easily got it prescribed but my GP doesn't like me putting antibiotics on my face for long, so he takes me off anything antibiotics after a few months for a break so I thought I would buy retin a from eBay so I don't have to keep taking breaks and starting again. I don't know if you can get normal retin a on prescription but you definitely can get it with the antibiotic.

I have stopped the acids for now as well. I have a white head on my cheek where I never get white heads but I haven't had any cystic spots since I started. The retin a is much harsher without the antibiotic in it.

I am lucky that I have no peeling or soreness but I am just a bit blotchy.

[Kundry]

I'm using 0.025 but was on 0.5 last year - gave up over the winter as my bathroom is freezing and getting back in the zone now.

It's been much easier this time round than last time as I knew what I was doing

I had an initial peeling and redness stage but v mild - start out alt days only, and a bit slower when I noticed flaking. Cerave is brilliant, really seems to replace what's missing at this point. On really bad days I used Avene Cicalfate and the redness would disappear.

Yes there is definitely a purging stage but it wasn't long - and I was already using salicylic in the morning so the spots were fewer anyway.

Once I got halfway through the tube I upped to everyday - there have been no problems and for me once I'm running with it everyday there are no spots at all - bliss!

When I'm up to 0.05% my skin is noticeably drier than without but I still stick to oil free products and find the Cerave moisturising enough in the evening. Plus then I really get the fabulous glow

[emzii206]

I used it (along with every other prescribed acne treatment on this planet) for a few months 2 years ago, and it did nothing for me except make my skin extremely sensitive to the sun (I got sunburned in October), and dried it out to the point where it was flaking off like face-dandruff!!

Now, when I tell you this, you will think I am crazy, but I promise, it has worked for me after years of trying and failing to clear up my skin.

Raw, organic, unrefined, virgin coconut oil (buy it in health food shops). I massage it into my face, on top of my make up, leave it for a couple of minutes, then wipe it of in circular motions with damp cotton wool pads. My skin has never felt cleaner (weird because I'm rubbing oil into my face). My skin produces way less oil than before! Before, I would do my make up at 8ish in the morning, and by 10am, I would look like I had dunked my face in a deep fat fryer. But now, no shininess whatsoever! Its something to do with the coconut oil tricking your skin into thinking its already producing enough of its own natural oils. Old acne scars and hyperpigmentation are less noticeable, and there is no need for moisturizer anymore, as the coconut oil takes care of that job as well! I have not had a single breakout since I started using it. And considering beforehand, I would wake up with at least one new spot every morning, it's like a miracle for me!!

It's naturally anti-microbial, so it works with the good bacteria on your skin to wipe out the bad, spot-causing bacteria. It's naturally anti-fungal as well. You can cleanse with it, moisturize with it (face, body, feet, hands), shave your legs (and other places) with it, use it as a lip balm, deep conditioning treatment for your hair, cuticle oil, eat it, cook with it...the list is endless!! Plus, it smells lush!!

My skin had never ever looked better, and I have completely given up on prescribed medications

[Kundry]

You are v lucky - for many people coconut oil is a major acne trigger.

[emzii206]

Kundry, that's what I thought, and I was so scared to try it! But the. I just thought "fuck it, my skin can't get much worse than it already is" so tried it and it worked! I also cut dairy out of my diet, as I had heard that all the cow hormones in it can mess with human hormone balances - and that has made a definite difference too

[Sallystyle]

Sundry, do you put moisturiser on after the retin? I only moisturise in the morning now.

I am using it for two night on and one night off right now as I was on the other retin a with antibiotic for a good while before. No peeling or soreness so I am lucky in that sense.


That is interesting emzii I have been staying away from oil incase it triggers me.

Since I started my new regime my skin is massively better. Until I moved on to the retin a I only had two spots in two months by cleansing with a cloth and using acids and the spots I am getting now aren't my normal cystic ones but just little white heads and small red spots. With make up on they aren't very noticeable really, but my skin has took a step backwards.

I think a lot of it might be my sunscreen so the oil free one I got today may help.

I am just a bit worried about it all.

[AmelieinOz]

I never had the initial purging, but I have never had problem skin to begin with. If I did have the purging though I still would have continued using it.

I use it for the anti-aging property.

It's important to use a sunblock when using Tret because it'll make your skin photosensitive.

[Kundry]

I don't moisturise in the morning, just use SPF but I always moisturise after the Retin A in the evening. And everything is oil-free

[Sallystyle]

Does it not dilute the retin Kundry ?

[daftyburd]

I don't find it dilutes it at all. It also means I can use it every night. I just don't use an oily, heavy moisturiser. I stopped today and looked in the mirror and my skin looked great. I had very fine lines under my eye that have gone. I'm standing looking in my bedroom mirror in morning light too.

[Kundry]

No, just goes over the top. Various dermatologists recommend mixing the Retin A with moisturiser to start with anyway and lots recommend Cerave so that's what I went for.

[Sallystyle]

Thank you. I just ordered some cerave PM.

[proteins]

I started retin-a (0.025%) a month ago, been moving gradually from every five nights to every three nights. Hope to get to using it alternate nights soon.

I used Redermic R and Triacneal without any problems before starting retin-a. Like the posters above, I also layer a moisturiser. I apply it after waiting a minimum of 30 mins after washing my face.

I'm currently using salicylic OR glycolic about 3 times a week, and vitamin C every night. Taking retin-a as slow as possible in the presence of these other products seems the best option for me.

Am trying to reapply sunscreen at work, but it balls up terribly.

[Sallystyle]

Ack. I have a lot of baby white heads on my top lip.

I just need to carry on with it don't I and just persevere? I have came too far to stop now I guess.

I had my eyebrows threaded and came out with white heads around when she threaded as well.

All easily covered but like I said, I get scared it will just get worse and will never get better.

[MrsDesperado]

proteins do you apply the vit C before or after the retin a or glycolic/salicylic? I have some 0.025% retin a in a drawer waiting to be used but an unsure how to fit it in.

[AmelieinOz]

I use Redermic R in the morning, Tret at night.

[Sallystyle]

The little white heads went as quick as the arrived!

[proteins]

MrsDesperado When I use retin-a, Vit C goes on before. When I use acids, the Vit C goes on after.

I think Vit C (the formulation I have anyway) is ph dependent and works better in low ph environments. Could be wrong though!

[CheesyDibbles]

I use Differin which is prescribed by my GP. It works on the same premise as Retin A but is synthetic (I think). It is milder than Retin A and has less side effects. I love it and have been using it for a few years.


These products work for me
Avene Soapless Gel Cleanser
Paula's Choice 2% Clear BHA (salicylic acid)
Avene Hydrance Serum
Estee Lauder Clear Difference BB Cream (SPF 35)
Differin

[Sallystyle]

Cheesy, the one the GP prescribed me is similar to differin but contains clindamycin. Does Differin has an antibiotic in it and does it help for anti ageing?

I have read how long term topical antibiotics can be bad for you but I have decided that I am going back to that now and when the gp does take me off it I will cross that bridge then. I was also using acids with it with no problem.

It took me a while to make my decision but it has finally be made

It is more gentle for me and did work instantly. So I have a 20g bottle of retin a 0.5 if anyone wants it?

[Sallystyle]

have*