Eyebrow waxing when on Tretinoin...Pic

[ThankGoditsChristmas]

So, completely my own fault!
Been using Tretinoin via "Skin and Me" for a few months. The dose has been increasing monthly.

Been getting my brows waxed and tinted at the same salon for around a year now...no issues. The last 2/3 times I've been for a wax, I've had additional redness and a minor burn or two. I immediately clicked and realised it'll be the Tretinoin. It wasn't a huge issue at the time, as although a little sore; it healed quickly.

Went to get my eyebrows waxed today and I did mean to mention the Tret but got talking and forgot. Anyway...(results in the pic below).
It's very sore, even to lightly press a cold flannel against or to apply cream. However I have smothered in Germaline.

I do realise it'll heal in time. My question...how do those of you on Tretinoin maintain your brows? Not sure I can get them waxed again!

I found this out the hard way too. Tweezers only moving forwards.

You use tret under your brows too?

I used to get them threaded

Now I get DD 16 to pluck them with tweezers she's brilliant at it. I could do it myself but she loves it despite my crazy bushy eyebrows which she takes the puss out of every time as well the random eyebrows that grow crazy long

Take some antihistamine to get the redness down

@Beentheredonethat123 not intentionally, I do haphazardly apply though and need to make a conscious effort to avoid this area.

I wonder if I avoid Tretinoin around my brows before a wax, if it'll make a difference (and I should be avoiding my upper eyelids completely).

Less red today but pink and shiny. My eyelids are swollen and I look awful!
I've had an antihistamine and will continue with the Germaline.

I also use Skin and Me and have learnt this about waxing the hard way too!
I now stop using it a week before the wax and have had no problem since.

@tinydancer88 thank you, that's good to know. I'll try this and also be more mindful about applying and avoid my eyelids! Meant to be going out tomorrow and I'm a mess 😂

I'm on tret and get my brows threaded. They were red the last couple of times I got them waxed and I am now realising it was probably because of tret (didn't occur to me before I read this post).

I make a note in my diary and stop a week before my brow appointment. My brow lady always checks with me that I've not applied tret any more recently. Hope it soon heals x

Even if you actively avoid using the tret around your eyebrows, it migrates anyway so you're best avoiding waxing completely. I find threading much better and gives a better finish anyway personally but can be painful until you're used to it.

Sorry to derail the thread but your skin looks great! I’d love to try tretinoin. Where can you get it and can you use it on your neck?

I hope the soreness goes away; I think tweezers are the way forward as others have said.

Threading is your best bet going forward. Or at least for 6 months or so.

Once your skin has lifted this badly from waxing, it’s going to be even more prone to lifting for a good few months.

I use skin and me. I told my eyebrow waxer beforehand, and she has never ever burnt me. I was worried
and she said it would be fine as long as she knew. I don't know what she does differently though. Maybe pops an oil on first, I think? And a lower temp wax. I also never apply the s&m around my eye area.

I've been using the ordinary multi peptide eye serum, which I've found great.

I'd initially used her for lash lift and tint before my wedding, and she suggested my brows wax and tint too ( they obviously looked a bit shit). I said no due to using ingredients of skin and me (and wedding in a few days, bit risky). She convinced me as was confident in herself. Looked amazing. I've been using her ever since every few weeks (2 years).

I normally get my brows threaded but my new lady used wax and I had the same issue as the OP with burns despite me never applying tret near my eye area.

So I've moved elsewhere so I can get threading instead and I haven't had any further issues. Threading is the answer!

I don’t use tret but had this (but scabbed over) when I got my eyebrows waxed before Covid (I think that was timeline). The beauty therapist is apparently supposed to check if you use retinol or tret, I use retinol. I used a LRP balm but was annoyed because if it had scarred after scabbing I wouldn’t have been happy.

DD had this happen to her once when she was using an acne medication that we forgot to tell our brow lady about. If you can get some aloe gel it really helps to heal the burns quickly! As another poster has said though those areas will now be susceptible to this for a bit now as you will have taken a fair few layers of skin away. Best to steer clear of wax for a bit.

This happened to me too. It went down and didn't leave any marks so try not to worry. Although is was so sore.
Next time stop using it for a week before the wax and it should be fine. Really the therapist should be checking your not using anything like retinol or tret before doing the wax.

BTW your skin looks great. Is it just tret in your prescription or anything else? I've just cancelled mine with dermatica, as it's almost been a year of using tret, niacinamide 10% and azelaic acid and my skin still looks red and purgy. Especially around the lower face. I've just had enough of it flaring up roscasea and being all red without make up.

I took roaccutane and was told by my dermatologist that I absolutely shouldn't have any waxing done while having treatment or in the first few months afterwards.

I use tret from Skin and Me and have my brows dyed and threaded with no issues. I would recommend that instead of the waxing.

Your skin looks brill though, on the up side

You can't wax on topical or oral isotretinoin. You need to be careful about sun exposure too. I'm on Epiduo and have given up on waxing my moustache... Plucking it is. But I tell myself I'd rather be hairy than spotty....

@Feliciacat I am no expert but it's prescription only cream so available via companies like Skin&Me. Think it is a stronger Retinol type product? Anyways I was using for 6months it was amazing my skin had never looked better, had to stop as now pregnant and it is not advisable for use during - looking forward to getting back to it after baby arrival though

Thank you @Alwaystired2023. Congratulations on your pregnancy! I’m ttc so I won’t pursue tretinoin in that case. Good luck with this exciting new chapter of your life.

Hi @Feliciacat I'm using Dermatica. I was using Skin and Me but Dermatica was cheaper and prescribed a higher dose of Tretinoin...prob why I've burned so bad!

It also contains, Niacinamide and Azelaic Acid. My son has definitely improved although I do get the occasional dry/flaky patches. I'm just trying to persevere with it!

Thank you @ThankGoditsChristmas. I hope your skin calms down! Apart from the redness, it does look brilliant.