Anyone using Dermatica?

[Tiredmum21]

On my second month and not sure whether to keep going?!

My skin is SO dry! I rubbed my face in the shower today and could feel the skin rubbing off.. and it doesn't really seem to be making any improvement to be honest.. I've also had some bad spots which is really usual for me ... did anyone have any improvement further along - should I keep going?

Also any tips on dealing with the dryness?!?

Are you using Tretinoin? If so it’s normal to have some redness and peeling when you first start - you can reduce how often you’re using it (eg drop down to every other day) and/or try putting moisturiser in first as that will create a bit of a barrier.

@TuftyRusty yes! Mine is 0.015% tretinoin - I've just this week switched down to every other day, but will try putting over moisturiser too.. just hoping it's worth it!

It's worth getting a decent night cream too. I recommend Cetaphil rich night cream, it's the only one that doesn't sting after using my Dermatica blend.

Your skin will settle down.

And definitely try moisturiser-tretinoin-moisturiser for a while if your skin is sore.

Don't exfoliate!

Yes I'm month 2.

My skin is dryer than normal but I keep moisturising. I also use Cosrx essence.

What do you use after if at night?

I've been using it for 12 months, keep going. I saw a difference after about 3 months.

I use it every evening, wait 30 mins then put rosehip oil on, wait another 30 mins then moisturise.

Has anyone hard any success with Dermatica and combination skin. I have only been using for a month but I wake up with such greasy skin and then I'm flaking by day. Euugh!

I had awful dryness and flaking for the first couple of months, especially around my mouth and nose. But now it has almost completely cleared up my acne and a lot of my redness. Keep going with it! You can alternate days to give your skin a rest and it will still work.

Thanks everyone - I'll keep going in that case and see how I get on for another month.. I've just woken up to two more spots urgh

I didn't realise I could/should use moisturiser afterwards so will give that a go.. I've been using Cerave facial moisturiser during the day which has helped with the dryness but will give the Cetaphile one a try - thanks @CimCardashian.

I've just looked at the Cerave moisturiser but it's for dry skin, so prob good for nights, but mine is oily/combination. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I love Cerave but even that stings after Treitnoin.

For daytime I just use a really good sunscreen. The one I've found the best and least greasy is a Nivea factor 50 for oily skin (can't remember the exact name!). It's also cheap compared to many other brands.

At the moment I'm using Altruist but it's pretty greasy.

Dermatica is great but you do need to build up tolerance to tretinoin carefully. It's a powerful ingredient and that's why it's so effective in the end. I don't particularly recommend alternating nights as imo it's good to force your skin to get used to it.

I recommend a thick occlusive moisturiser afterwards, and before as well if you want, especially with the cold weather incoming. Avene Tolerance Emulsion is good but really any simple and importantly non fragranced thing will do (currently using a v cheap dry skin moisturiser from Superdrug - I have oily skin so a bit weird). An eye cream (non fragranced) before too. And adequate moisturiser in the day as well, a hyaluronic acid is good, applied to damp skin, then moisturiser and of course SPF 50.

Only apply your Dermatica to completely dry skin and wait 20 before applying the moisturiser. I'm surprised Dermatica didn't make this clear.

Dr Sam Bunting has some great videos on this. In time it should be possible to reduce the layers of moisturiser and increase the strength. I use 0.1 now, but it's taken a while and I've gone through all sorts of issues, peeling skin, spots and a weird waxy, greasy skin. There are some people who will never tolerate tret but if you can get to that point it's definitely worth it.

Some people on here have had more luck with Skin and Me but I've tried both and much prefer Dermatica.

I'm using .1% Tret - just got a prescription from private GP here in Asia - and I find putting it over moisturizer has stopped my skin from peeling. After I've been doing this for a month, I'll try again with applying without buffering.

I've been using it for 15 months and it's transformed my skin (melasma) I put it on then apply Nivea in the blue pot which doesn't sting at all. The peeling looks terrible at first but it does fo away and using the Nivea has helped mine

It's meant to take up to 6 months before you see a difference. Redness / dry / flaky skin is all normal.

Look up Sincerely Miss Ash on YouTube - she uses Tretinoin and has some videos (you may need to trawl).

Thanks all