Tretinoin - for fine lines and wrinkles at 58?

[Darkmudder]

I dont have acne or pigmentation - is it worth trying Tretinoin?

Does it reverse or prevent fine lines?

Where can I find genuine before and after pics?

I dont really have a skin care routine - cleanse - except factor 50 - moisturise.

Do I need to be doing Botox as well or something else?

Should I also be using one for those light masks as well?

I bought some of this when i was in Egypt as it was only 70p a tube!! I was recommended it for fine lines. Not been using it long enough to give an opinion though yet.

With tret you have to be in for the long haul and have to be committed to spf every day .
it works by encouraging cell turnover I think.
led masks encourage collagen production.
so much of aging is genetic but I do think spf, tret and a good diet, not smoking is the way to go.

Yes tret is the way to go.

Botox is a personal choice. I have a light touch and metabolise it fast. i was also a late starter at 54. It doesn’t give me a frozen face but just stops heavier wrinkles for a few months.
microneedling gets good results for some, particularly with acne scarring.
I spend ages trying to work out what’s made a difference and I just don’t know, what would I look like if I’d smoked, sunbathed or not taken any tweakments?

I used it for 9 months with really good results. I’ll try and post a before and after pic. I used it for the lines under my eyes. Started on a low dose and gradually increased to the maximum. I got it from Dermatica.
unfortunately I didn’t heed the warning signs and broke my skin barrier so, at the moment I’ve stopped. I will go back to it again, on a lower dose, once my skin has repaired itself. Motto of the story: go slow and low, it’s potent stuff. Hopefully you can see a difference in the photos. First one is before I started using it

I’m 56 and Botox works for me, I started for my 50th and have it every 6 months. For the last six weeks before my Botox my crows feet start to come back. The lines on my forehead only come back really faintly.

Just to add, if you start on Tret steer well clear of Botox and AHA’s. Tret alone is enough

Tretinion is great but has to be carefully managed in strength, increasing slowly over time. I had quite a bad reaction to over the counter stuff that was too strong and had to stop using it until my skin recovered.

I've been using Dermatica for prescriptions, after reading threads on here, including this one, which reports overtime. The discount code was handy too!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5160597-has-anyone-tried-dermatica?latest=1

Wow what a difference.

@twiddlingthumbs Wow! What a result! Did you apply it under your eyes? I've just received my first tube from Dermatica - I want it mostly for undereye crepiness but the directions say not to put it near your eyes 🤔 Does it still somehow have an effect under the eyes if you don't put it directly there?

@NorthernLoonyes I did put it directly under. It was a bit risky as they say not too but I did start off on a very low dose.
the only thing I would say is, listen to your skin.
i was waiting until the Tret sunk in then I applied a very basic but thick moisturiser (Epaderm). My skin started stinging which is a red flag.
so, if that happens, decrease the frequency of the Tret. A broken skin barrier is not a pretty sight! 😵‍💫

@NorthernLoonsorry, meant to say, tret does migrate so I was actually applying it on my lower orbital bone, rather than directly onto skin round eyes x

Wow thats impressive - how much does it cost per month?

So its one or the other - why is that?

How much does each treatment cost you?

I think I will need to consider what I can afford year after year.

If you go to skin & me and create an account, do the questionnaire and add the items to your basket but don't buy they'll send you an email offering them to you for £5ish.

To get tret added you do need to do the photos though.

The prescription is £25 a month iirc, with the tube lasting the month. I liked it but now buy tret online from India, a years supply is about £30. I'd recommend one of the subscription services first though.

Botox and Tret can be used simultaneously; it's not one or the other.

I've been using Tret for a year now, and the transformation of my skin is astounding. I look younger at 40 than I did at 30.

Yes it’s amazing! My mum started using after seeing my results and she’s almost 70, her skin looks incredible and she’s definitely got the tret glow! It will help with fine lines a little but it’s so good for overall skin condition

I've been using tretinoin for several years. Am early 60s and my skin is much better now than it was previously - one grandchild asked the other day why haven't I got any wrinkles!

I buy from a Spanish pharmacy online, am not a fan of skin+me and their so called personalised prescription. They sent DC and me exactly the same 'prescription' despite different skin types and concerns.

About £550 per year, I see my dermatologist who also does Aesthetics.

I I think it depends on the depth of the lines and your attitude towards Botox.

I use both although I got the Tret primarily for hyperpigmentation. Any lines n my face are very fine and forehead lines aren't deep and Tret alone would suffice but my 11 lines are strong and unless I superglued the Tret tube to my head there is no way that it would have the same affect as botox.. I see the Tret as supporting the botox not replacing it.

Do you have a link for your Spanish pharmacy and are you allowed to post it or PM it to me if you're not allowed to post it? I currently buy mine from Dermatica

I've been really happy with the effects of tretinoin. It's literally the only skin cream that's made any noticeable difference! I get mine from skin and me. The tret is combined with niacinamide and azelaic acid. They started me on a really low dose of tret (0.006%) but I actually saw results within a couple of months. The collage is of progress from September to October to December.

If you're interested here's a referral link:
https://www.skinandme.com/?promocode=MARYL5V9N

It gives you the first and fifth month of "daily doser" for £3.50 (and I would get £10 credit).

Just to emphasise what another poster said, is really important to start on a low percentage (my skin is tough as old boots, but even on 0.006% it was tingly to start with!). I'm now on 0.03% and so going well. It's not just the improvement to wrinkles, it's also the smoothness and clarity of my previously dull skin. I've had numerous comments about my "glow" 😊

@NorthernLoonsorry, I stand corrected re Botox. I signed up to Dermatica and after the first month I did their subscription model (pay for 3 or 6 months upfront). That brings the price down a bit and you can cancel at any time. So, think I was paying £21 pm. As I was only using round my eyes, one tube lasted far longer than that so I just used to push back my next delivery on their website