Dermatica/Retinol not working

[AccidentallyWesAnderson]

Has anyone given up Dermatica or prescription retinol and accepted that it’s not for them? I’m onto my second tube, nearly at my third and it’s just drying my skin out. Mine has Zella’s acid in too which I really wanted to try.

I’m 43, my skin is ok, don’t get spots, a bit dull and dehydrated, pores could be a bit clearer. I don’t use it every day, have tried the layering with moisturiser first but I’m still at the flaking dry stage. I have a bit of Botox to keep the main wrinkles at bay but I’m wondering if going back to just double cleansing, serum, moisturiser and spf will suffice. I suppose I could get them to lower the strength but I didn’t see any improvement using Medik8 retinol which is usually raved about.

Anyone else find retinol is not the magic potion for them?

What strength treat are you on? Have you asked Dermatica with photos?

I personally think it's more about what you doing during the day to keep your skin moisturised, what is your regime?

I use LRP cicaplast at night, then two serums and Cerave PM during the day.

Tretinoin 0.05%
Azelaic acid 15%
Transonic acid 5% Lotion

I don't cleanse in the morning, hydrating toner, hydrating serum, caffeine eye treatment, cetaphil moisturiser, spf 50.

Evening I double cleanse, same serum, Dermatica, LRP cicaplast.

I haven’t checked in with them as I wanted to give the prescription a good bash but I should before I throw in the towel.

The Dermatica formula didn’t agree with my skin at all. I had a lengthy break then tried Skin + Me and it has been great. I think Dermatica start too strong if you’re at all sensitive and the formula is very ‘draggy’.

It’s a long haul, if you’re flaking then use it every other day or every third but it’s something you use for years and then realise your skin looks way better than people who haven’t been using it

Agree that it’s a long haul but 0.05% would be way too strong for me. I still get good results from a much lower strength.

I’ve emailed them to say I think it’s too strong. I know it’s a long haul thing and I am using it every other day but there’s long haul and there’s long haul. At this stage I’d rather take quite good skin over great amazing skin if it’s going to be months and months/years of flaking.

I use Dermatica and have for ages and I love it but it is drying. I find this works:

Gentle cleanse in the evening followed by Weleda Skin Food, then Dermatica

Rinse in the shower in the morning (sometimes gentle cleanse, others just water) followed by Skin Food. I mix my foundation with a factor 50 spf (I like cerave).

Hi, for some reason dermatica don’t tell you but you really need to build up tolerance to tretinoin. It should be 0.025 to start and use every third night for a few weeks, then move to every second night for a few weeks until using nightly with no irritation. Then move to 0.05 and drop down to every third night again.

Tret really is fantastic but tolerance is built up slowly over time.

Thanks all. I’ll persevere but lower the dose I think and build it back up.

Looking back at my Skin + Me history they started me on 0.006% (I stressed I had sensitive skin in the initial consult) and the most I’ve ever worked up to is 0.027%.

Did Dermatica start you on 0.05%? If so, that seems very high. This would definitely have made me think that tret just wasn’t for me.

I think consistent use is supposed to be more important than strength.