Retin-A, and lightning in skin color
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Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:45 am

Hi!

I've read that Retin-A, can make your skin color more lighter, and decrease the formulation of melanin in the skin. Is this true?

Have any of you experienced a change in your face color after using it?

I'm also a bit concerned about its thinning effect to the skin. Will this happen only when you're using it, or is this permanent (even after stopping the treatment)?

Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:18 pm

Marw

Retin A doesn't really lighten my skin, at MAC I'm a NC30. I would say that it makes a slight difference, but not SO great that I would call it a lightening cream. It just gets rid of acne scars, and kind of balances your own natural skin tone, and makes you glow a bit. So I suppose it could SEEM lighter, but doesn't lighten...for me at least.

Remember, your skin gets worse before it gets better (or so I've been told), so peeling, etc, is expected, and then 6 months later, wala! beautiful skin. I'm on month 2 right now... and excited/scared.

I had dark discoloration, lightly, around my lips and it has faded somewhat. I suppose I should wait the 6 months and then I'll know for sure... hmm

...

I used to use Retin A years ago, and I stopped because I couldn't handle the peeling. I just put on a lot of moisturizer and my skin got back to normal. As for the thinning, I don't know if it got back to normal, because I don't remember my skin really thinning for that matter....not so much that I would notice at least.

free skin care · Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:45 pm

This is from dermadoctor:

Tretinoin and Retinol

The active agent found in such medications as Retin A, Avita and Renova, tretinoin increases cellular turnover, expediting the exfoliation process, thus eliminating pigment already pooled in the epidermis. By increasing the rate of cellular turnover, melanocytes have less time to be able to pass melanosomes on to keratinocytes

And Beta carotene, which is also a form of Vitamin A:

Beta Carotene

This photoprotection constituent of carrot oil reduces pigment formation by blocking tyrosinase receptors on the melanocyte. In doing so, the enzyme tyrosinase can't "turn on" the melanocyte to produce melanin.

http://www.dermadoctor.com/article_Skin-Bleaching_79.html

free skin care · Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:30 pm

Yes, it's true. By my own personal experience, my skin is lightening. The spots are there still but getting a bit lighter. Hope that they'll all be gone one day.

free skin care · Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:32 pm

I haven't noticed any lightening, but mixed with Obagi Blender now, that was a different story.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 7:54 pm

Hi Marw

I've found that my skin is lighter than it used to be. Not necessarily because the Retin-A is lightening it, but because of all the cell renewal/turnover that Retin-A stimulates. I can't seem to hold a tan on my face,let alone get tanned and love being tanned:O( I also started using a strong sunscreen daily since using Retin-A (20% zinc oxide), and this has definitely contributed to my paleness. Naturally, using fake tanner on my face doesn't work since Retin-A just gets in the way of it so I now just fake a tan with a tinted moisturiser or bronzer.

If you're really concerned about becoming lighter, just make sure you don't use your Retin-A in combo with hydroquinone and you should be OK.

Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:41 am

Thanks for all the informative inputs!!

gb00, interesting read! Btw, I originally got prescribed Retin-A with Obagi Blender (hydroquinone). Glad I checked up about that.

DuckDuck, good luck on your treatment! Excellent to hear that it can get rid of acne scars as well. And as you mentioned, I've seen some pics of people using Retin A - and their face definitely glow more (even look a bit oily to me). Could the balancing in skin tone cause such tanning "problems"?

Still a bit concerned.. as I'm pretty satisfied with my skin color as it is, and I'm getting a nice tan easily. (Not something I want to sacrifice) - But I guess I'm worrying way too much here.. Razz

free skin care · Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:51 am

I'm not sure it would make the skin lighter, but it will increase its sensitivity to sunlight, UVA and UVB's which is why its often recommended that a good sunscreen be used in conjunction with it.

Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:59 am

SeanySeanUK wrote:

I'm not sure it would make the skin lighter, but it will increase its sensitivity to sunlight, UVA and UVB's which is why its often recommended that a good sunscreen be used in conjunction with it.

But this is only DURING treatment, right? Should be back to normal after finishing?

free skin care · Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:13 am

I guess so, but I would think sun protection (UVA and UVB) is something that people should be doing to protect their skin even if they don't use Retin A or retinoids. Sundamage doesn't always show up right away, because the rays can penerate deep into the derma and sometimes takes many years to make its presence known.

I'm not sure that once Retin A is stopped that it immediately returns to its previous state, I think it takes a little while to readjust, however the long term benefits of Retin A really only come from its long term usage - the original studies were all done over a year and more of nightly applications. I think nightly applications can be a waste of product, but using it every other night allows you to supply the resources to the skin and tissue.

Sean

marw wrote:

SeanySeanUK wrote:

I'm not sure it would make the skin lighter, but it will increase its sensitivity to sunlight, UVA and UVB's which is why its often recommended that a good sunscreen be used in conjunction with it.

But this is only DURING treatment, right? Should be back to normal after finishing?

free skin care · Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:34 am

Hi Marw,

My experience has been the same as DuckDucks, Retin-A didn't lighten my skin but evened out my skin tone after some time and gave me more of a glow. I would say it improved my color.

I found Vit. C serums lighten my skin much more than Retin-A. I also agree with SeanySean that Retin-a's benefits come from longer term use and you really need to use a sunscreen at all times when outdoors.

I don't think I would want to be trying to get a tan while on Retin-A but maybe use some bronzer instead to get some color. That's what I do anyways. Hope this helps.

free skin care · Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:39 am

I have had some overall lightening effects from using retin A, but it is subtle. I used to be more olive skin toned back in the days when I would indulge myself in getting a tan. Now that I avoid the sun, my skin tone is less olive, and probably lighter (less yellow) than my natural, untanned state. Retin A's definitely eliminated the terrible sun damage hyperpigmentation I had when I first started using it, altho' it took a year or more. I think if you stop using it, your skin WILL NOT continue to "thin."

free skin care · Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:38 am

SeanySeanUK wrote:

the original studies were all done over a year and more of nightly applications. I think nightly applications can be a waste of product, but using it every other night allows you to supply the resources to the skin and tissue.

This is interesting, Sean. Why do you feel that nightly applications of RA are a waste of the product (especially considering the studies were done utilizing nightly application)? (This was a reply I received from Dr. Fernandes of Environ regarding Retin A. "please remember that retinoic acid (Retin-A) cannot be stored so whatever you put on your skin and is absorbed, if it cannot be absorbed into the cells becomes an irritant and so on the nights when you not using it your levels are dropping. "

I am very interested in your thoughts on this.

free skin care · Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:48 am

I partly think this because of other studies I have read. I remember another study (although not done for the same length of time as the others was for 8 months in total) indicated that using it every other night compromised the body’s ability to utilize it and ultimately used more product than was actually required by the participants in the study. They also came to the conclusion that using it every other night provided the body with adequate supply of the topical, but the days rest allowed signs of iritation to settle, and that the same benefits were derived compared with people using it nightly, in fact it showed that the every other night had less signs of iritation than those using it every night. I think there have been a couple of studies suggesting similar.

I do like Dr Fernandes, and suppose if someone was using the Environ products (which don’t require a prescription and thus are much weaker than prescription Retin A), then nightly use is fine. But I still doubt that applying it nightly benefits the skin, as I think that most topical penetrate throughout the night. Take for instance the Retin A Microgel. Its time released, so you don’t get the immediate hit of the 0.1% all at once, it releases from the gel based throughout the night delivering 0.1% in parts rather than all at once.

Sean

rileygirl wrote:

SeanySeanUK wrote:

the original studies were all done over a year and more of nightly applications. I think nightly applications can be a waste of product, but using it every other night allows you to supply the resources to the skin and tissue.

This is interesting, Sean. Why do you feel that nightly applications of RA are a waste of the product (especially considering the studies were done utilizing nightly application)? (This was a reply I received from Dr. Fernandes of Environ regarding Retin A. "please remember that retinoic acid (Retin-A) cannot be stored so whatever you put on your skin and is absorbed, if it cannot be absorbed into the cells becomes an irritant and so on the nights when you not using it your levels are dropping. "

I am very interested in your thoughts on this.

free skin care · Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:35 am

SeanySeanUK wrote:

I partly think this because of other studies I have read. I remember another study (although not done for the same length of time as the others was for 8 months in total) indicated that using it every other night compromised the body’s ability to utilize it and ultimately used more product than was actually required by the participants in the study. They also came to the conclusion that using it every other night provided the body with adequate supply of the topical, but the days rest allowed signs of iritation to settle, and that the same benefits were derived compared with people using it nightly, in fact it showed that the every other night had less signs of iritation than those using it every night. I think there have been a couple of studies suggesting similar.

Thanks so much, Sean. This has been a question in my mind for a long time, if daily use of RA is truly needed or not. If you happen to have any of those studies that you have read, could you provide links?

free skin care · Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:18 am

Although I don't have any studies to hand, the best place for studies re Retin A is Pubmed, they have hundreds and the search facility there is really good!

rileygirl wrote:

SeanySeanUK wrote:

I partly think this because of other studies I have read. I remember another study (although not done for the same length of time as the others was for 8 months in total) indicated that using it every other night compromised the body’s ability to utilize it and ultimately used more product than was actually required by the participants in the study. They also came to the conclusion that using it every other night provided the body with adequate supply of the topical, but the days rest allowed signs of iritation to settle, and that the same benefits were derived compared with people using it nightly, in fact it showed that the every other night had less signs of iritation than those using it every night. I think there have been a couple of studies suggesting similar.

Thanks so much, Sean. This has been a question in my mind for a long time, if daily use of RA is truly needed or not. If you happen to have any of those studies that you have read, could you provide links?

free skin care · Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:21 pm

While I was on accutane, I noticed a great deal of lightening. It completely evened out my skin tone to the point where I needed zero makeup...and it was permanent...until I thoroughly messed up my skin with other products.

free skin care · Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:06 pm

Coconut wrote:

While I was on accutane, I noticed a great deal of lightening. It completely evened out my skin tone to the point where I needed zero makeup...and it was permanent...until I thoroughly messed up my skin with other products.

Coconut, what other products do you feel messed up your skin?

free skin care · Wed Nov 11, 2009 7:36 pm

rileygirl wrote:

Coconut wrote:

While I was on accutane, I noticed a great deal of lightening. It completely evened out my skin tone to the point where I needed zero makeup...and it was permanent...until I thoroughly messed up my skin with other products.

Coconut, what other products do you feel messed up your skin?

Hydroquinone was the main culprit (glytone cream I believe it was). My skin was nearly perfect, save for a small patch of pigmentation around my mouth that you couldn't really see unless I tilted my head at certain angles, but I thought that my results could only get better if I used hydroquinone...nope, I was dead wrong! It lead to an extraordinary amount of rebound pigmentation that I haven't been able to get rid of to this day (which I think is in part because I drove it into the dermis by using so many irritating products to try and reverse the damage)

free skin care · Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:29 pm

Thank you, Coconut. I am very sorry to hear what happened to your skin after using HQ. I love HQ and it worked really well for my skin, but I cannot stay on it long, so no sense in using it at all!

free skin care · Thu Nov 12, 2009 1:03 am

Coconut wrote:

While I was on accutane, I noticed a great deal of lightening. It completely evened out my skin tone to the point where I needed zero makeup...and it was permanent...until I thoroughly messed up my skin with other products.

how long were you with accutane, coconut,and was there any irritation or things like with obagi? it seems to be very interesting...

Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:55 pm

Thanks a lot for all the replies! Very Happy

- I guess I can conclude with, that Retin-A, shouldn't decrease my pigmentation to the point that it would look more lighten.

- Its thinning effect would be permanent.

- And in some cases the skin can become a bit more sensitive, also after finishing the treatment.

free skin care · Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:34 pm

janegd wrote:

Coconut wrote:

While I was on accutane, I noticed a great deal of lightening. It completely evened out my skin tone to the point where I needed zero makeup...and it was permanent...until I thoroughly messed up my skin with other products.

how long were you with accutane, coconut,and was there any irritation or things like with obagi? it seems to be very interesting...

Hello,
I was on accutane for 3 months. My skin was quite dry, and it was constantly sloughing off (which is likely where the lightening effect comes from), but there was no irritation, it was just like dead on skin coming off.

Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:53 am

Retin A causes light peeling, which may be the reason why you see skin lightening effect. Sunscreen is advised to protect the skin from damages from the UV rays.

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