|
|
Author |
Message |
|
|
Mon Feb 23, 2015 8:56 pm |
So I just got prescribed and am using tretinoin.025 gel for anti-aging. I used it 3 nights in a row and noticed a little bit of irritation and flaky red skin. I didn't think anything of it until I came across some really awful reviews/stories of people that had terrible reactions to it (Orange peel face, rocasea, broken capillaries).
I'm stuck on whether I should continue use or not. If I continue, I will def use it only 3 or 4 nights per week. However, I don't know if I want to risk it, given all the things I read.
How often do these bad reactions occur?
If this is the most scientifically studied topical medication for anti-aging, then is there any studies that actually prove these bad reactions are for real, and only occur because of the substance itself, not because of negligence of using the substance?
It seems there was a lot of people on different forums and also that realself website claiming all these bad things. However, I did notice a trend that all of the usernames of all of these complaints were the same usernames between each of those websites. So maybe it isn't so frequent as I thought, and it's just a few people jumping from website to website to shout it out loud.
About the 'normal' side effects, is it normal for my pores to be more pronounced, wrinkles more prominent, itchy face, right now after 5 days of use? |
|
|
|
|
Mon Feb 23, 2015 10:22 pm |
Yours is a VERY common issue. It's the main reason people give up on it and like to smear it as the evil product it is not. You started out using it the wrong way. Did a Derm give this to you? They gave you no instructions?
It's good you started out at .025%. Imagine the horror many have starting at 0.1% and using it the wrong way. You should have used it once every few days or twice a week or less to start. Only using it for 3-4 nights per week is great in the long run. I use it every other night. I've seen no real evidence this is less effective than every day. Been using it for decades.
http://www.skinacea.com/retinoids/use-retinoids-right-part-one.html#.VOwKriz9kdV |
|
|
|
|
Tue Feb 24, 2015 1:56 am |
Pandax12 is right about frequency of application being key.
Look at the videos by HotandFlashy on YouTube, such as: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1zKXvpx1D4 - she has several videos on Retin A going into detail about strength, frequency and where she applies. |
_________________ Dry skin but not many wrinkles; 50s and Asian; Topicals: Vit C, tretinoin, hydroquinone & azaleic acid for melasma; Likes: SK-II, Shiseido, Shu Uemura, Skinceuticals, Obagi, P50, Sunday Riley, Hada Labo, facial oils |
|
|
|
Tue Feb 24, 2015 2:27 am |
Okay Retin A is a prescription medicine and I’ve used it for over 30 years and many of my friends are the same. It gets such a bad rap from people, but often times if you examine the majority of those cases you will find that its from people self medicating and/or not following the guidelines. Not all cases but the majority. I’ve read about people doing crazy things like starting out with 0.1% and applying several times a day and it scares the hell out of me because of course the body and face is going to react to that kind of thing badly.
Bad reactions – if you want to call them that – occur at different times for different people. I used it 5 months before I got the peelies in the beginning at the same strength you are using and then didn’t get them for a few years after (when my derm prescribed me a gel form instead of the cream). I have had some friends not have them for years, and others who got them in a week so there isn’t a timeline with when these things show up.
Now there are many many studies showing the benefits of it, but you are asking if there are studies proving the bad reactions and I doubt you will find any.
Realself isn’t the most reliable source of knowledge, sure there is a lot of opinions and experiences on there but I have also found that many times things are portrayed one way, and then you can see the same poster contradicts themselves in other threads etc. |
|
|
|
|
Tue Feb 24, 2015 8:39 am |
Thanks everyone. I think I may keep at it and reduce frequency to 2-3/week and see how it goes. What I should have done is take a very close look at my face before I started using this. Maybe some of the issues I think I am having now, were always there, and not caused by the Tretinoin. I see some unsightly pores on my inner cheeks right next to my nose. But maybe they were always there.
That is the main issue i'm worried about, the so called Orange Peel Face, very open/noticeable pores. Is that a normal side effect that goes away? Did you all experience this? |
|
|
|
Fri Mar 29, 2024 3:33 am |
If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.
Click Here to join our community.
If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site. |
|
|
|
|