How long does it take this miracle cream to work?

[Whatisthisshitimwatching]

Started on Tretinoin a few weeks ago, I’m moving up to putting it on 3 nights per week next week. So far, no bad reactions, thank goodness, but….when will I have better skin and see good results?
I’m 45 and am using it in the hopes of having smoother skin/less wrinkles, will if/does it really do this?

Can you only get this through Skin & Me?

3 months.

Do not be tempted to use more regularly

Same. I need to know more please!!

@Gingergirl70 It costs me less than €2 for a 30g tube and judging by the amount you use, it will be a long time before I have to buy another

I think flaking ( cell turnover is a better image!) will only occur if you're using the right prescription strength. Sure, any retinol is better than none, and in fact many beauty creams will say they contain retinol/ retinoids but to get the deep work done you need a stronger version which is o l'y available in script

Tret is amazing but will be around 3 months or longer until you see results. I've been using for less than two years and recently stumble across and old photo and can't believe how improved my skin is.

I started using dermatica.co.uk but I went on holiday to turkey last year and got some tubes over there for 7euros. My sister picked me up some in Spain last month too 29euros a tube.

Crikey. Please all research it before buying and using. It’s a prescription only version of retinol. Start with retinol. 2-3 times a week. Not around the eyes. But you can buy specific eye creams with retinol which are suitable for the eye area.

retinol and tretinoin creams are a long game. But they can cause issues if not used correctly.

there are lots of over the counter retinols. They are a good starting point. Or if you want the prescription version which is tretinoin there are two subscription versions - Skin & Me and Dermatica.

Personally I’d start with an over the counter retinol - Medik8 is a good range and it comes in various strengths. Start with 3 then use 6 and then 10.

@Gingergirl70 it's proven anti-aging but prescription only in the uk. You have to go slow and steady with usage and build up how regular you use and dosage but it's incredible! Lots of support groups on Facebook it's worth joining for advice.

If you're in the uk you can get a prescription from online pharmacy, I used dermatica.co.uk where there is a monthly fee and bottle sent but if you're going on holiday to turkey or Spain you can get it from the pharmacy.

Just as an indicator, I was v sceptical and started taking weekly photos from when I started using the tret to 3 months in. It was amazing and loads of comments from girlfriends who could t believe the difference, esp with loss of brown spots and pigmentation as well as general glow and surface texture of skin- and I smoke and drink 😱

It disrupts the growth of skin cells, it is a cancer treatment and also used for severe acne

And finally, just a caveat- please don't go ordering online- you need to talk to derma clinic or similar- the dosage starts low and you build up tolerance over time. It can be a massive irritant if used unregulated or in too high frequency/quantity/strength

Tret comes in 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1% strengths, which shows you how potent it is.

Watch Nadine Baggott's videos on vitamin A and you'll get some ideas.
Skin and Me and Dermatica are two subscription services, otherwise lots of people buy from European pharmacies online as you can buy Tret OTC in some countries.
I buy from Tretinoin world.

I never peeled or flaked, but as I said, I worked up to it by using entry grade retinol for a year or so, then a higher strength retinol.

@deltablue Mine is from the pharmacy, prescription but I can get without where I am. Its brand name is Ketrel and mine is 0,5 mg. I haven’t had flaking, just my chin got a bit tight and v shiny, does your skin need to flake in order for it to be working?

Yes agree the only skincare that will work is one that can penetrate the skin barrier.
Yes retinol ( Tret ) works , but you need the one that is by prescription for it to really work.
try Dermatica. You get sent it monthly (and can skip or cancel at any time.)
I've set mine to receive every 6 weeks as I find it's enough for that time.
it will cost less than £3 for the first month then 25% off for the 2nd. Using my code will give me £5 my next month.

www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/V3WPNY

No it doesn't.
If your skin does flake or peel with it, then you just need to use a "buffer" in the form of a generic moisturizer beforehand.

I'm not saying it 'has to' flake, just that it's quite a common side effect as your skin gets used to it. If you're binding up very gradually you may not see that

@PoshCoffee I have just looked at this on the back of this thread, I’d like to sign up! Could I have a code please? I’m a bit wary of signing up to a subscription, how have you found it?

Sorry to derail your thread @Whatisthisshitimwatching

I think you are all bonkers, why on earth would you want to deliberately disrupt normal healthy cell division? This is a cancer treatment, also used for the most severe acne, but putting it on healthy skin out of vanity? why would you?

@Nimbostratus100 - it’s perfectly safe when used in the right formulations. It’s approved for use in skincare. I do worry when people buy prescription strength and don’t research how to use it correctly though.

There are many normal skincare brands with good retinol products.

The benefits of applying tretinoin topically in skincare (including acne and ageing) had been known for years before research logically (a skincare product helps turnover of cells) started into its potential benefits as an adjunct to some cancer treatments. As you'll know, as a cancer medication adjunct, it's taken orally and at much different levels than the cream.

Having used isotretionin oral and gel versions I personally can't bring myself to use the drug in its tretinoin form for normal cosmetic use but if people using it help fund more medical research into skin I don't care.

I have been using skin and me for over a year and hardly any difference. I'd say I don't look as grey as usual, that's about it. Skin and me kept me on a very low dose and I have had to ask twice to increase dosage. I'm now on 0.03, going up to 0.05 in coming months. Hope to see a difference. The 0.03 definitely has my skin feeling tight and dry which is unpleasant so do take it slowly with introducing.

(hello! It's me, Buch)

I think a lot of the problem when people move from Retinols to Tret is that because they've gone from entry grade retinols (0.3 say) and moved upwards to a full 1%, when they see tret is 0.025/0.05 and 0.1, they immediately go for the 0.1. And their face falls off.
I won't go beyond 0.5. as I'm happy with the results.

Again, to anyone interested in retinol>retinoid>vitamin A, Nadine Baggott, Labmuffin, Sam Bunting, all explain scientifically, but for the layman, what it does and how to use it. (worth reading Labmuffin for any skincare product tbh)

The UK is one of few European countries not to yet have released tret for topical use OTC but I imagine it will come over the next few years. It was later than other countries to sell retinol products as well. It's less to do with research and danger and far more to do with strangleholds pharma companies have on prescription costs.

I used Retinol for 2 years from Medik8 then moved to Tret at 0.025, then after two months 0.05, then 0.1 but over the winter I went back to 0.05 as I was getting dry.

I think it's a good 4 months before you start to think wow my skin looks great. But it's also about the hydration around it. And I think eating a good diet is very important too.

I used Tret pretty much every night