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Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:42 pm  |
Hello all:
I've searched for a topic on this and didn't find anything regarding Retin A CAUSING hyperpigmentation/dark spots. I've started using Retin A micro every day and initially it got really red and tight and now it is leaving behind dark marks/spots? Can Retin A cause hyperpigmentation? It this temporary or have I caused some real damage? I was using the Retin A on my laugh lines in hopes that the lines would diminish a bit.
I have been diligent about sunscreen. Please help. |
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Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:18 pm |
| i have been using retin-a 0.1% for more than 2 years, i do not think it causes any hyperpigmentation/dark spots. |
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Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:25 pm |
| I never thought Retin A CAUSED hyperpigmention, but...it can make a person more PRONE to it if they don't use sunscreen outdoors. |
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Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:01 pm |
| As with any skin lightening or exfoliation product, your dark spots could appear darker when you are initially using it because the skin around it gets relatively more lightened in tone before the dark spots. Therefore the contrast between normal and pigmented skin appears to be more obvious. However, do make sure that you are using adequate sun protection (high SPF and PPD sunscreen and using 1.25mls or quarter teaspoonful amount for your face. If you are not sure of the amount, please get a measuring spoon to check on this. A lot of people underestimate the amount of sunblock they must apply to get the full protection of the sunscreen. |
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Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:17 am |
thanks. so its the darker parts appearing dark in contrast to the lighter skin? But I dont think the Retin A has lightened my skin at all. Its just certain parts have now become dark when they werent dark before. at first my face was red, then certain parts have turned dark. Is this inflammation too? Will it subside?
Thank you for the sunscreen amount. I need to remember to overdue it and not underdue it. |
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Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:29 pm |
| Peggotty wrote: |
thanks. so its the darker parts appearing dark in contrast to the lighter skin? But I dont think the Retin A has lightened my skin at all. Its just certain parts have now become dark when they werent dark before. at first my face was red, then certain parts have turned dark. Is this inflammation too? Will it subside?
Thank you for the sunscreen amount. I need to remember to overdue it and not underdue it. |
It's best to consult your dermatologist who prescribed you the product. Let him/her take a look at your skin. That would be an objective assessment. If you stare at your dark spots every day and they don't fade as quickly as you expect, you would have a tendency to think that they are darker than they actually are. Why don't you take some photos so that you can compare the spots as the treatment progresses?
But generally, with a product that causes exfoliation, the dark spots would appear darker in the early stages of treatment due to the uppermost layers of the skin being exfoliated off, thus the pigment underneath would seem to be darker because there's less layers of skin cells over it. |
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Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:56 am |
| thanks! |
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ana deandrade
New Member
 
Joined: 09 Oct 2011
Posts: 1
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Sun Oct 09, 2011 6:09 am |
Hi Peggy,
Please let me know how you made out on this..with your discoloration. I just started using retin a and think I may be finding that i'm getting more pigmentation. I've been on it for a month now. Am really curious to hear how you made out.
THanks!
Ana |
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amd |
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Sun Oct 09, 2011 8:55 am |
| If you go on acne.org forums, a lot of their members have experienced hyperpigmentation and discoloration with Retin-A |
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Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:58 am |
| Ana and Peggy, what happened with the pigmentation? I too started using Retin A about 5 weeks ago on my hands and chest to get rid of brown spots. the hands are fine, maybe see a bit of fading of the spots, but the chest has gotten worse. there seems to be more pigmentation than before. not exactly the typical "age spots" but more like small areas of brown pigmentation. did you continue with the retin a? pls let me know what happened. I have read a few places that the under layers of pigmentation can first be exposed so it looks worse but that eventually that will exfoliate and the skin will be clear. but i have also read numerous posts that more brown spots appeared. much appreciate your feedback!!! |
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India27
New Member
Joined: 07 Mar 2012
Posts: 2
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Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:43 am |
I am glad that I found this because I have also been searching the web for people who have noticed that retinol products cause more spots on their skin. The dermatologist says I have melasma, but I don't agree. My skin was fine up until last year when I started using AHA and retinol products on my face. I suddenly developed a big brown spot on one cheek and a smaller one on the other. I was put on hydroquinone and tretinoin and they started getting MUCH darker so I discontnued both. I have gotten a few light lactic acid peels and they helped a bit and I've been very diligent about sunscreen application, but then I noticed that I was getting MORE spots, quite rapidly. I looked into all the new products I was using and realized that my foundation had retinyl palmitate and my sunscreen had sodium lactate, AHA and Retinol!!!!! Arrrgh! I just ordered very basic products to see if these spots will finally start fading. I definitely believe what has ruined my skin is the fact that these products cause extreme sun sensitivity in my skin and have made more spots appear.
PS - Although the light peels I get have lactic acid, I only do it on the spots and not frequently and always use extra sunscreen for a while afterwards. But the products I was using on a daily basis had AHA and Retinol. |
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Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:24 pm |
India, I believe the Retin A caused me to have 2 times as much brown spots on my chest as before. Odd thing is, it did not do this on my hands. the spots seem to be fading on my hands. but on the chest it got much worse. I stopped a while ago and now am trying liquid nitrogen (freezing) by my dermatologist to get rid of the spots on the chest. still waiting to see the results. people should really be warned about Retin A. and the notion that it brings out out more spots from under layers before it clears the spots.....is b.s.!!!
please post as to how the peels are working! |
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India27
New Member
Joined: 07 Mar 2012
Posts: 2
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Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:52 pm |
| Cheysuli, I totally agree with you. I think it depends on how your skin reacts to it; apparently for some people it works, for me it's created a mess on my face. I used to have zero hyperpigmentation issues, and after using retinol products (and also some AHA products) I'm having this problem. I couldn't understand why I was getting new spots "overnight" because I'm being so good about sunscreen and avoiding the sun and that's when I decided to take a closer look at the ingredients in the new makeup I was using (Cargo Onebase, which I was using to cover up the spots!) and that's when I noticed it has retinyl palmitate, a form of retinol which, by the way, is possibly linked to skin cancer according to some experts. Then I decided to take a closer look at my sunscreen (Dermaquest ZinClear)and it has sodium lactate and AHA's also make your skin more sun sensitive! Why they would put ingredients that can cause sun sensitivity in a sunscreen is beyond me. So I just ordered new sunscreen/makeup, made sure to take a close look at the ingredients and I'm hoping my new spots will begin to fade. I am going for another light peel next week, I will let you know if they're improving. |
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Thu Mar 08, 2012 4:36 am |
| Make sure to use sunscreen daily, otherwise you do risk your pigmentation issues getting worse. |
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