3 years of skin and me

[bonfirebash]

Logged in today to find it's 3 years since I started using it. Know a lot of people ask so thought I would post! It's a treatment, not a moisturiser and it takes time so you have to be prepared for the long haul
I've paid for every month myself so not sponsored but I don't see many people posting who have used it for a while
Here's my start pics, in 2020

Your skin looks great!

I'm just into my 2nd year of skin&me, same dose formulation as OP. VERY happy with my lovely smooth skin, even though at age 64 I know I can't expect much with the deeper lines. I'm a bit disappointed that it hasn't touched a brown age splodge on my cheek bone though, but at least I haven't developed any new ones.

One question though, does anyone know if I should stop it for a period of time before going on a sunny holiday? I do feel my face burns too fast if the sun is strong on a normal day in this country.

Might be worth dropping them a message and asking but I can't see an issue if you're using factor 50

Definitely using factor 50.

What a difference! I'm about to give dermatica a go. There doesn't seem to be much in it between the two brands.

If anyone wants a referral code for dermatica you can use this. Your first month is £2.90 and the link gives you £10 off the subsequent month.

https://www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/454JGV

I’m ten months into it, my prescription started off as metronidazole, niacinamide and azelaic acid, with the first one being reduced gradually. They stopped it and I said I’d noticed some redness creep back in so they added it back in, but again will reduce it over time.

when they take it off again, I’ll only be having niacinamide and azelaic acid, both of which you can buy in various forms online so I may cancel it and try the ‘actives’ separately. As much as I like it (and it’s BRILLIANT for travelling), 25 quid a month seems a lot for the prescription I need.

How much does it cost op?

I’ve been with Dermatica for a similar amount of time but my issue was pigmentation (caused by hormonal contraception).

Life changing for me and the only thing that has worked and actually made it go away!

I think it's about £24.99 a month but I stretch mine out as I don't use it nightly so it lasts me longer - I'm on an old price of £19.99 as I've been with them so long

What other products do people use with this?
What cleaners, toners, moisturisers etc should be used.
I'm a complete skin care novice but want to start something like this as I am definitely looking my age now

Is the metronidazole topical? This is an anti biotic which I've had orally in the past. Just wondering as I think I do have rosacea so if I subscribe to this I'd probably get that at first too.

Just basic stuff is fine, depending in your skin type (for example if you have dry skin you might need a heavier moisturiser). I don't think a toner is necessary personally.
Just make sure you are using a good SPF everyday if you start using actives.

Yes it is, it did make a big difference to my skin!

@GentlyGentlyOhDear what I enjoy about it is that it can be incredibly simple. They say to avoid acids and retinols initially but other than that; you can use what you like, so it fits in with existing routines really well!

they can send you a trial size of their cleansers and moisturisers - they will suggest one (out of a choice of two) when they see your pictures but you can try all of them if you like. if you like them, you can add them to your subscription or use it as a starting point to try others.

my routine is a cream cleanser in the morning, gentle toner and then a lightweight hydrating moisturiser and/or sunscreen - and evenings, a clay cleanser, the same toner, I’ve just introduced an acid in the last month or so, then the skin and me lotion. Then depending on if I feel I need it, moisturiser!

I use a basic cleanser and moisturiser plus SPF

On the days I don't use it, I am using up hydrating serums etc as I'm a bit of a skincare junkie!

I’ve been using tret for about 35 years with time off for pregnancy. It was recommended to me by a dermatologist from Hammersmith hospital as the best thing going for anti aging and hormonal acne. I don’t think any other product comes close to it for results.

That's so interesting - I've never heard of anyone on it for that long (even though the studies that were done on it were over many years).

Have you had any issues with it over the years? Was it really hard to get hold of in the beginning? How does your skin look compared to your same aged contemporaries, do you notice a big difference?

Sorry for all the questions...I feel like tretinoin is the secret thing that celebrities had access to years ago that the rest of us were unaware of, but thankfully now is more accessible.

I was living in Hong Kong at the time. Tretinoin was sold as Retin A and available over the counter. When I moved back to the UK I got it on private prescription then switched to Dermatica as it was so much cheaper.
My skin looks a lot smoother than my contemporaries, even the ones who Botox regularly. I use a high factor sunscreen every day and avoid sitting in the sun for longer than half an hour. I’d say tret and factor 50 sunscreen are the best things you can do for skin to keep the wrinkles at bay.

Your skin looks lovely! Unfortunately for me, Skin&Me wouldn’t take me, so I’ve just started Dermatica. Hoping for similarly glowing skin! 😍

I didn’t get on with Tret but I do really like Soolantra for my rosacea and Finacea for my spots.

Your chin looks fantastic in your new pics. Your forehead does look more pigmented than it did so I wonder about whether you need to use a better quality sunscreen.

I've found exactly the same thing. Two of us, 30 year age difference, entirely different skin types and concerns, exactly the same 'prescription'. I buy trey online instead, so much cheaper and no subscription.

@Robbiethedog would you mind saying where you get it from online, and the strength to buy, please?

Here, as recommended by someone else on MN:

http://www.farmaciaenandorra.com/shop/retirides-crema-tretinoina-30g

I buy the middle one in the picture (0.5mg/g) several tubes at a time to mitigate against the cost of P&P. Each tube lasts for ages.

I also buy mine from Farmacia Andorra, it's a good service - although it can sometimes take a few weeks to arrive. I usually buy 3 or 4 tubes at a time. They will send you a tracking link in your confirmation email.

If you are just starting off, I would recommend the lowest strength 0.025%, and building up over a few months or a year to the higher strength. It's pretty heavy duty stuff. I peeled a lot and had redness and irritation for a long time when I first started using it.

@Ohgooodgodwhathashappened I used dermatica for three years for hormonal/peri type acne, and it worked but did very little. I'm on month four of skin and me and have no acne at all. It's also cleared the area of excema that I've had for a hundred years that dermatica just told me not to put cream on.

Much appreciated @Robbiethedog and @Farmageddon