What should I know before using Retinol?

[LunanMoon]

I'm about to start. I know I need spf in the day. What I'm unclear about is what will happen to my skin. Is it going to go through a bad flaky phase? Would love to hear others experiences!

[TheFlis12345]

Been using a 0.5% one for a couple of weeks, no noticeable issues for me. No flaking or sensitivity.

[LunanMoon]

Mine is 0.5 too!

[LunanMoon]

So that bodes we'll

[LunanMoon]

Well!

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

Your skin will probably be a bit sensitive at first, so if you use any exfoliating acids etc maybe scale back a bit while you get used to it, and just generally make sure the rest of your skincare is really gentle. And yes, definitely make sure you’re using a decent SPF (at least factor 30, broad spectrum).

You don’t always get peeling/redness though, I didn’t. What I did get though was spots, so that’s something to be aware of. I’m not really acne prone, but I used to get spots when I’m my period was due. The retinol brought that all to a head, so for a few weeks my skin looked worse, but then it passed and my skin has been clear ever since. So if that happens to you keep the faith! Spots can also be a reaction to the product itself though, the way I told the difference was that the spots were on my jaw/chin, where I would tend to break out anyway. If it’s a reaction to the product they would have been in places I didn’t normally get spots in.

As well as the concentration of the product, the base it’s in can make a difference to how well you tolerate it, so an oil is generally better tolerated than a cream. But I didn’t know that and I started with a cream and it was fine! Just go really slowly at first, just a couple of times a week, and only step it up and use it more often if you’re tolerating it well.

[Lelivre]

Is this prescription strength tretinoin because it took me many months before I could use 0.5 daily and my skin isn’t particularly sensitive

[Lelivre]

I learned the hard way to be careful with any acid toners even now I wouldn’t use on the same day.

[olivehater]

Personally I wouldn’t use in the summer. To really use spf effectively you have to put loads on and reapply meticulously every few hours throughout the day. I could nt honestly say I do that and I doubt most people do so save retinol for the winter.

[Lelivre]

Yes that’s what I have done over the years although I’m using it a bit now as I don’t want to lose my tolerance but I am not so happy about it

[LunanMoon]

Maybe I'll wait until winter then! It's just a retinol serum I've bought so no idea re prescription strength. I thought I understood but it sounds a bit scary! Useful info on the acids, I'll steer clear

[Cordial11]

Don't use every day , gradually 2 or 3 times a week!

I am at the end of flaking now. I used a really gentle avene moisturiser the nights inbetween that calmed sensitivity.

[Lelivre]

I only know about the pharmaceutical ones. These can’t be used when ttc for example, or that was the case when I had it on prescription. I have to buy it now. I would imagine the commercial ones are quite different. Is the insert helpful?

[Ginfordinner]

I agree with olive that summer is probably not the best time of year to start using it.

[SailingAwayIntoSunrise]

I use The Ordinary 5% granactive retinoid and my skin has never peeled.

I've been using it every second day for about 8 months and have just stepped it up to every day.

[Parkandride]

Following, I just got the ordinary one, 0.2 to start low. I know nothing about skin care so don't think I need to worry about mixing with other products? I don't tone, serum etc.

My plan was to use that up then onto 0.5? No reactions so far after a week, had 1 day off

Will have to look up about ttc as I'll be having an embryo transfer at some point

[Parkandride]

Oh and I'm fanatical about suncream, shade, huge hat so not too worried there...

[Lelivre]

As I recall...The ordinary fb group has a thread on pharmaceutical retin a. All posts are supposed to go on the one thread for tretinon questions. That may help more.

Also you would get info on their serums from other consumers, whether their 0.5 is the same as the ‘drug’ I don’t know, I don’t think so. If it is it would be easier to get so I would like to know if you find out!

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

I actually think the summer can be a good time to try retinol, as long as you are diligent about SPF and aren’t sunbathing etc. A lot of people will find that their skin is less prone to sensitivity in the summer, compared to the winter when they’re dealing with the cold/wind/central heating etc. It’s a personal choice though, if you can’t keep up with the SPF it’s probably an idea to wait.

Caroline Hirons did a cheat sheet about different types of vitamin A and their relative strengths, which might be useful: www.carolinehirons.com/2019/03/cheat-sheet-vitamin-a-stages-of-conversion.html

As for TTC, I know a lot of women do use retinol whilst pregnant without issues, but I personally wouldn’t. Vitamin A in high quantities is associated with birth defects, which is why if you use an oral retinoid (eg roaccutane) you must be on contraception. Obviously if you’re using a topical vitamin A like retinol the amount you actually absorb through your skin into your bloodstream is tiny, but because we don’t know how much is ok and how much is a risk the general advice is not to use it during pregnancy. But obviously you can speak to your doctor/midwife and do a bit of reading and make up your own mind.

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

That last bit was aimed at Parkandride btw, good luck with the embryo transfer!

[Parkandride]

Thank you @SpuriouserAndSpuriouser

[Russellbrandshair]

Most important thing is to wear sunscreen! Retinol can make your skin very sensitive to the sun so always wear high spf even on cloudy days