Tell me abut your experiences using Retin-A please

[wickedfairy]

As above please! I have just received my retin-A (0.025%) and used it last night. So far, no adverse reaction. I think I will go for every three nights for a while and use my vitC, BHA on the other nights.

What do you do?

How have you found it?

If you use other actives, what is your routine?

I don't have acne, I am using it to hopefully reverse sun damage and get rid of fine lines.... Looking forward to hearing from you all! Thanks

I used a pea sized amount of the 0.025% over my face each night. No reaction for a couple of weeks and then I started experiencing peeling, especially around nose, mouth and chin. Was only particularly obvious when I put makeup on.

Peeling soon stopped and I'm just about to switch to 0.05%.

I'm about to move on to 0.05%.

I peeled a bit at first, and sometimes have dry/watery eyes in the morning, but I think it is great stuff.

Thank you! How long did you use the 0.025% for? I have a small 10g tube and I think I will start off with twice a week. Not sure how long the tube will last.

If I am ok with that, should I increase the strength to 0.05% or use the same stuff but more frequently? Thanks for the advice!

Can it really reverse sun damage? Like those horrible little brown marks? I'm in if so!

I'm also interested to know if it reverses sun damage!!?

Doesn't it make you even more sensitive to sun damage? I wouldn't go near it anyway as it would probably take my face off but I know you're supposed to always use it with an spf which makes me suspicious.

You probably don't really want my experience but for balance...

I used it over a period of about a year, 7 years ago. Lowest %, applied at least 30 mins after cleansing. The peeling started quickly and just did not stop. I assumed user error as everyone else had such amazing experiences and tried using it every other day, twice a week, once a week, buffering, diluting, following up with moisturiser, leaving an hour after cleansing, nothing made a difference. The peeling was obvious and my skin was red and irritated, couldn't wear makeup, also developed seb derm and had to get that treated...

Eventually I gave up on it and my skin is still pretty sensitive now. There are lots of ingredients I just cannot tolerate and I had good skin before using tretinoin. It is only available in the UK with a prescription but I think that gets forgotten - it is not just another face cream from Boots and it isn't suitable for everyone.

Just started on 0.05 after using 0.025 a couple of years ago. When I keep it up I really do notice a difference. Have had the occasional twinge of soreness in corner of mouth but nothing dramatic. Use every other night.

Yes, it absolutely can reverse sun damage and has been clinically proven to do so. It is the gold standard of wrinkle treatments. But it can make you more sensitive to the sun . So you have to use spf 30-50 everday (which I do anyway).

It is hard to tolerate tho. Despite my best efforts over the last few years I can still only tolerate using it 3-4 times a week.

Oh and yes it's good for pigmentation. Someone here at work started using it and used to rub the tiny bit extra left (from what she used for her face) on her left hand. After a few months there was quite an improvement in the pigmentation and texture of her left hand in comparison to her right. Good to see that proof irl.

But it can make you more sensitive to the sun .

Well exactly. I totally get that it's effective in the short term (if you can tolerate it). I'm just surprised there's so little concern about long term sun damage when that's surely the most ageing thing of all? Spf is never totally effective.

Flo overall it does work. Yes, you have to be very careful in the sun, but if you live in North-western Europe that's not too difficult. Bit of a nuisance in sunnier climes.

Can I ask where's the best place to get it from? I'm running low.

I have been using 0.5% for just over a year and my fine lines around my eyes have improved. And my skin seems less red and sensitive. I bought a few tubes last year and can't remember where from. I'm looking on line today but finding it all a bit confusing.

If I lived in a Mediterranean country I'd be more reticent about using it but as I live in Scotland and wear a daily SPF anyway I have few concerns.

I already use SPF 50 every day and that doesn't give me complete protection - and I live in the north of England.

I'm not disputing the short term effectiveness but you never really know the extent of sun damage until years later. I'm just suprised there's so little discussion about it.