Help me buy retin A in Spain.

[ilovecherries]

Normally get private prescription but thought I could buy otc in Spain. None of the pharmacies seem to recognise 'retin A' though, although I don't think it's a language problem as they have all guided me to anti-aging skincare brands on the shelves. Is it called something else here? Should have brought a tube from home but didn't plan to use it in sun. Any idea what I should ask for?

Hi Jaymo10 just wanted to say a big thank you for your recommendation - I got my order no problem a while ago and hope to do so again when this supply runs out. #lifesaver

I was about to comment on this thread saying I've been meaning to buy some... I commented last year I must not forget this year

Hello, iv just purchased 0.1% online from a pharmacy in Spain but this may sound silly but do you have to stop using it a few months before you start trying to conceive as iv searched and can’t find anything about trying, it just states not to use it when you are pregnant which I obviously understand :-) thanks

Dr Michal Mosely whose blood sugar level and 5:2 diets I like has recommended this - he bought Retirides online from Spain.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6002303/The-proven-ways-youthful-skin-treatments-ignore.html

You cannot get it in France. You can get some high strength retinols.
They are absolutely forbidden for use during pregnancy because of serious harm to the baby. The French are really particular about it and they have lots of symbols on their pharmacy products for this type of thing.

I bought Retin A in Malaga this June when we were on holiday.
The box says and I quote "Retirides 0,1% crema". It was the first chemist I went into and the assistant went out the back and just produced it, which surprised me! Farmacia el Sagrario is the chemist but there is no more info on the receipt. I paid 15.81 Euros. Hope this helps.

I was refused in Ronda pharmacies and one in a big shopping mall, but got it no questions asked in Cádiz pharmacies today. It’s all quite random it seems, so worth persisting!

I will add for the sake of others that I’ve now realised that the 0.1 strength is meant for ‘accustomed’ skin and I should have asked for 0.025, moving up to 0.05. Back to the drawing board!

I'm sure I ordered mine from Pharmacy Geoff before but it definitely seems fishy now that they request you wire the money having taken your bank details...

I've also bought from an eBay seller but she's now disappeared so I just placed an order with the Spanish phamarcy mentioned upthread. Thank you for the link, I'd just about run out of options!

You can buy direct here with worldwide shipping but it is at twice the price of the creams over the counter.

I usually bring a load back for friends. I've just come back from Portugal and am providing it to 3 internet friends and 1 colleague.

You can also get Ketrel in Portugal which is 0.05%
Airol in Greece
Retrides in Spain.

There is no real need for anyone to use 0.1 for AA - recent research has shown it has no real increased anti aging benefits to 0.05 but more irritation.

We should set up an email list to pick it up for people on city breaks

Ketrel is sold in bigger tubes than Airol and is the same price, around 3.18

Retrides is around 9-15 euros

Sorry * you can also get Skinoren OTC in Greece which is Azelaic acid - also useful.

Woozi, I saw you were successful obtaining the retirides cream from the online pharmacy that Jaymo 10 recommended. I went to the site but wasn’t able to locate the product or figure out what steps were necessary to place an order to have shipped to the US. Would you be so helpful as to let me know the steps you took, did you have to fill out a profile or register on the site? Would appreciate any help. Thanks so much.

You can mix the 0.1% with a base cream to make a lower strength. Thanks so much for the information on the Spanish pharmacy. Just ordered a few tubes to keep me going for a year or so. I used to get on eBay but not selling anymore

Reviving this old thread as I'm off to Spain soon and am hoping to pick up some Retin A. Anybody got some up to date tips?

I just go in and show them a googled pic of Retirides 0.025%. If they don't have it they're usually either able to order it in or you can try another pharmacia.

Thanks - unfortunately my Spanish is basic at best so I'll have to rely on photos. As I understand it, strictly speaking it is prescription only but if you ask nicely - in your bad Spanish lol - they might let you have a tube?

I normally go in, ask if they speak English ("habla usted Ingles?" but where I visit in Spain is popular with Brits so never usually an issue!) and then whether it's a yes or no just show the photo and they either go and get it or they don't have it in stock and I go somewhere else... I've never been told they can't sell it to me, so don't worry about that

I'll be a bit off the beaten track so language may be an issue, but I'm sure I'll get by! Thanks for your advice - I'll report back when I've given it a try!

Is this better than retinol 1%? Currently using Paula’s Choice.

I get it prescribed via www.dermatica.co.uk its run by dermatologists you pay a monthly subscription, no consultation fee. I started about three months ago and my skin is looking so much better.

@summer

Yes, Retin A/tretinoin is much more powerful and acts much more quickly than retinol and can be quite irritating to skin. That's why in Britain and most other European countries it's available on prescription only.