Anyone using retinoid cream for acne??

[Mombojombo]

I know there are folk here using RetinA cream & gel for (achem) off-prescription anti-aging reasons, but I wondered if anyone else is using it as intended for acne?

I think I'm going through the purging worse-before-its-better phase - my skin is just AWFUL. Horrible. Want to stay indoors horrible. Luckily I've not had any burning/itching/flaking but this breakout business is so terrible I've been in tears this morning. I'm an UGMO.

Is this standard? Does it go away? Will it go away in time for my brother's wedding in a month? I can't bear the thought of being his spotty sister doing my reading...

no but i'm using benzoyl peroxide (panoxyl), started last sunday and am now through the red flaky puffly face bit and so far im down to one spot thats completely dry but i do feel your pain with the awful skin, i still look very dry !

I'm glad you've worked through that bit! I've used peroxide creams on and off for years, but they weren't making any headway with my post-baby hormonal freak-out skin. I just feel like sticking a bag over my head...

it's so bad DS has started grabbing for my chin to scratch them off :(

oh dear, i have always had good skin but for just over a year its been pants, from just a couple to 5 or 6 and i just cant stand them

i'm so fair skinned too so they really stand out, DS is 19 months and i think it was when the breastfeeding slowed down at 6-7 months my hormones kicked me in the face

Well bingo! Maybe that's it! They've certainly been worse the past couple of months (DS is 9mo this week)...

I had it on prescription but I have to say the only thing that worked for me was Roaccutane (which needs to be prescribed from a hospital dermatologist)

No good if you're planning on getting pregnant any time soon (it causes birth deformities, I had to POAS every month before they would give me a prescription) but it truly was a wonder drug for me. It took about 3 weeks for my skin to go from hideous, can't wear strappy tops don't want to leave the house to completely clear.

It dries your skin out massively, you can't wear make up, but
I couldn't give a damn because for the first time since puberty I was completely spot free! Was able to start using foundation again once the treatment was over, and now 6 years on I don't often get spots

i am just about to get a prescription forit tomorrow. I have triedeverythginfor my spots including 3 seperate course of Roaccutane which i wouldn't use again. it worked shortterm but the acne alwayscame back.
I have aslo used panoxcyl recently success but has been less good lately. so tomorrowi pick up myrRetinA cream. willlet you knowhow it goes.may even do a wee before and after pics.

post-DC hormones made my skin freak out too :( I am using Differin cream for it. I get continuous spots on the my forehead, left cheek and neck which don't actually come to a head (although the occasional one does, and oh boy they are awful). I look so bumpy, it's horrid!

Differin stops my forehead breakouts and helps a little with my cheek and neck. Considering asking for something stronger. I also use a topical antibiotic which helps a bit too.

I just wish my skin would go back to behaving itself :(

an you get this on prescription from a normal GP? I have just been taking a course of antibiotics which were working but were giving me side effects and wondered if this is worth a shot.

I got Differin on prescription from my GP. It's a form of reinoid. Was really surprised when he said it was acne and told me to try it!

Differin is what I was prescribed by my GP. I said no to oral antibiotics as I'm still BF-ing and while they're safe for DS, they do give him a bit of a runny behind, and I can do without us getting thrush, even if I'm careful with probiotics etc.

Apparently topical antibiotics don't work well on the type of spots I have.

I'm pretty terrified of Roaccutane to be honest!

Have been using the proactiv range for the last 3 weeks. Amazing!!! Have had acne for 25 years, tried everything. Was recommended to try proactive. For the first time in 25 years I don't have a single spot!
Yippie
( can buy from boots online)

What is that chickydoo?
Mombojombo I had a course of roaccutane several years ago. I had side effects of very dry lips and skin while I was on it. It did work but the acne came back eventually.

As far as I know, Proactive is another benzoyl peroxide preparation. You can use in combo with a retinoid, but only after face washing and several hours (so retinol at night, peroxide in the morning usually) - and dryness, soreness etc are side effects of both so in combo I imagine it's worse... (making it up as I go along though so do tell me otherwise!)

Can I ask the name of the retinoid cream you got prescribed? I've got an appointment with my dermatologist this week as I denied the roaccutane but would like to try a retinoid cream so would be good if I could know the name of one so I could look It up a bit before I walk in there.

Also I found the body shops tea tree range quite good on my acne, they have really helped to dry my skin out so it's not constantly oily.

It's Differin or Adapalene (don't know which name is the generic and which the brand)...

Thank you will look it up

Just wondering how everyone is getting on with the differin?