Prescription Skincare (tretinoin etc) - my findings - Uncouth for the win?

[AntiqueMaps]

Hello

I was using Dermatica but they are having "warehouse issues" and my next delivery is going to be at least a month late so I decided to switch provider.

Skin & Me - didn't like their service (or lack thereof). I'm on 0.1% tret and they wanted to start me off on 0.0009%! They eventually agreed otherwise by email and said they'd give me a discount for the first 3 months. None of this was showing on my online account. Customer Service emails were rubbish - v slow to respond and just cut & paste rather than addressing the problem. I cancelled in irritation and they unilaterally reinstigated my subscription. I had to cancel it again!

Klira - very odd. Asked about 100 bizarre "woo" questions which I got hacked off with long before they revealed what prescription I'd be getting and the price.

Uncouth - pleasantly surprised by these guys. Just a few easy questions, they tell you right away what they will prescribe and it's not homeopathic like Skin & Me! Convenient messaging portal. Planning to go ahead with these guys. Works out £25/m.

Medik8 - one to try if any issues again. I suspect expensive tho.

Probably because there are health/safety regulations in the UK. If you are happy buying directly from India that's up to you.

I have recently started with Uncouth, and I defo have no connection with them.

I used trifarotene from Boots Online Doctor for a couple of years and like it a lot. It is a more modern Rx retinoid, with fewer side effects than tret and it is not photosensitive. Also it works out about half the unit price of the subscription services.

I like the trifarotene a lot for texture and antiaging but it did not address my redness at all. I am continuing it for the chest and hands. Using Uncouth with 0.05 tret, 0.05 tranexamic acid and 0.04 azelaic acid on my face and neck, one bottle of Uncouth lasts for almost 3 months and addresses redness as well as the other issues. It is a slight faff but seems the best compromise.

I have found Uncouth customer service outstanding, but yes, you must develop the habit of communicating through your dashboard.

On a same, same but different subject - why on earth did they call the company UNCOUTH ?? Bizarre and offputting IMO.

Same complexion and ancestry here too.

Thank you

@BaskervilleOldFace I have bought before direct from Turkey and India but I found the formulations very drying. These online companies we're talking about on this thread tend to provide products which are in a base which is much kinder to skin. It's usually a moisturising lotion as opposed to an alcohol-containing gel which these foreign places often sell. Additionally I'm not just getting tret - I'm getting a product with 4 actives in it.

Update - I have an email from Royal Mail saying they will deliver my Uncouth parcel tomorrow, it doesn't need a signature. I wonder if they will send any freebies!!

My Uncouth packet fits through the mail slot, OP.

Thanks @poetryandwine Yes so did Dermatica & Skin&Me's stuff fit thru the letterbox and neither of them required a signature either.

I’ve just stumbled across this thread and I need to ask questions. How do I find out about all these preparations? I’m mid fifties and have a problem with my nose. It’s really red with bumps/tiny pimples at the tip. I’ve never had acne before but some of the spots have been quite deep, almost boil like. I also have age spots and lines, but I’m not so bothered by these. Where do I start in finding the best products for this?

@NigellaAwesome that sounds like it might be the type of rosacea caused by the demodex mite. You can get ivermectin (brand name Soolantra) from your GP. Azelaic acid (Finacea) is also available from GP and may also help.

@NigellaAwesome the best place to learn about prescription skincare imho are the youtube channels by Dr Sam Bunting and Dr Dray.

I use Dermatica and haven’t had any issues either. Just got my latest delivery yesterday with no problem.

My package has arrived! Of course the vial is much bigger as it contains 2 months worth rather than 1 month.

Will take me about 2 weeks I think to finish up the last of my Dermatica stuff first.

@AntiqueMaps - do you have any thoughts on adapalene/differin in comparison to tret?

@WithIcePlease I've never used it myself. I largely cured my acne by a couple of courses of Roaccutane in my 30s. I use tret for antiageing.

But my hero Dr Dray talks a lot about it:

BTW Dermatica & Skin & Me have both told me they are refusing to delete my accounts as they need to hold onto "medical records" for 8 years.

Given their untrustworthiness when it comes to payments, however, I have insisted they confirm my card details are deleted. Let's see if they do so.

Op, I just wanted to let you know you were absolutely right about my skin issue. I eventually got to the GP and got Soolantra. He wouldn’t give me azelaic acid as he wanted to try one thing at a time. I’ve been using it daily for about 7 weeks and it has made such a difference! So thanks for your advice - you know your stuff!

And because 0.1% would be WAY too strong for me