Wrinkles, topicals don't work?
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Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:13 pm

Ever since I first started getting the dreaded nasolabial folds I desperately tried everything to prevent and even reverse the effects; to no avail. Recently, I bought into the hype of retin a and applied it with the hope that I would see some advantageous result and who knows possibly even improve and thicken the skin below my naso grooves. However, after seeing no results and being slightly despondent I have come to the conclusion that no topical will work and wanted to ask others' opinion on this sad conclusion. Has anyone had anything that has significantly improved their wrinkles and/ or nasolabial folds and is my quest to find a decent topical in vain? The only thing I can say definetly improved and even removed my nasolabial grooves was dermal fillers however I felt slightly like I was cheating and so embarked on the quest of finding a topical that would increase collagen formation however I now feel like no such topical exists. Has anyone tried anything that they firmly believe was effective?

free skin care · Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:17 pm

Karmi09 wrote:

Ever since I first started getting the dreaded nasolabial folds I desperately tried everything to prevent and even reverse the effects; to no avail. Recently, I bought into the hype of retin a and applied it with the hope that I would see some advantageous result and who knows possibly even improve and thicken the skin below my naso grooves. However, after seeing no results and being slightly despondent I have come to the conclusion that no topical will work and wanted to ask others' opinion on this sad conclusion. Has anyone had anything that has significantly improved their wrinkles and/ or nasolabial folds and is my quest to find a decent topical in vain? The only
thing I can say definetly improved and even removed my nasolabial grooves was dermal fillers however I felt slightly like I was cheating and so embarked on the quest of finding a topical that would increase collagen formation however I now feel like no such topical exists. Has anyone tried anything that they firmly believe was effective?

Can I ask how long you used Retin A for?

Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:37 pm

I've not used it for long at all (this is the 3rd month) but after seeing no results at all apart from peeling and redness I feel myself slowly coming to the conclusion that topicals just don't work. I desperately want to be proven wrong which is why I asked if anyone has experienced anything significant with this or any other cream.

free skin care · Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:16 pm

hhm maybe try facial exercise? It'll firm the underlying muscles and lift the face... I'm too lazy to try it myself but others seen improvement

free skin care · Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:18 pm

I think no topical works as much as retinA. if you still get redness then your skin didn't adjust to it yet. This is the only topical u should never stop if you're serious about anti-aging.

free skin care · Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:25 pm

Unless I am sadly mistaken it is a year of use before you expect to see results.

free skin care · Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:28 pm

btw, wat's the difference between retin a and trenotin? Does it just thin out the skin by peeling?

free skin care · Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:44 pm

DarkMoon wrote:

Unless I am sadly mistaken it is a year of use before you expect to see results.

Yes, I agree here! In three months you are not going to see dramatic results with any topical. I would give retin-a a good year at least.

For example, I started CPs in December. I did not see any real result until the 4 month mark. Things are getting better each month - but very slowly.

It takes years to do the damage to our skin.. and it will take years to reverse it.

free skin care · Sat Apr 09, 2011 8:49 pm

Karmi09 wrote:

I've not used it for long at all (this is the 3rd month) but after seeing no results at all apart from peeling and redness I feel myself slowly coming to the conclusion that topicals just don't work. I desperately want to be proven wrong which is why I asked if anyone has experienced anything significant with this or any other cream.

I agree with all the others. Studies show that Retin A can indeed improve fine lines/wrinkles, but it takes 1 year of nightly use for those results. It will take even longer if one can't use Retin A nightly. Retin A is still the only proven topical anti-aging ingredient we have. If you are red and peeling, use it less frequently and build up slowly to nightly use.

free skin care · Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:47 pm

I agree too. I have/had fine NL ("smile") lines, and the right one is gone after about 6 months of tretinoin (the active ingredient in Retin A). The left one is deeper, and I don't expect it to go away for several more months, but it is much softer than before.

There are many long-term peer-reviewed studies on tretinoin saying it very, very slowly reverses lines and wrinkles. And I'm in it for the long haul.

free skin care · Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:43 pm

Karmi09 wrote:

I've not used it for long at all (this is the 3rd month) but after seeing no results at all apart from peeling and redness I feel myself slowly coming to the conclusion that topicals just don't work. I desperately want to be proven wrong which is why I asked if anyone has experienced anything significant with this or any other cream.

It takes a LOT longer than 3 months to see a result. Even treating acne with it takes longer than 3 months, so expecting to see a result when using it for anti-aging purposes is unrealistic. Retin-A is a long-term commitment.

The only instant fix is to see a derm and get fillers injected.

free skin care · Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:45 pm

Stardustdy wrote:

btw, wat's the difference between retin a and trenotin? Does it just thin out the skin by peeling?

Tretinoin is the active ingredient (drug) that's found in Retin-A (brand name product) and generics. Many generics just call themselves "tretinoin cream/gel" and the differences between those products and brand-name Retin-A is the base (inactive) ingredients.

It thins the epidermis and thickens the dermis. Regulates cell production and helps to build collagen.

Sun Apr 10, 2011 1:30 pm

[/quote]I agree with all the others. Studies show that Retin A can indeed improve fine lines/wrinkles, but it takes 1 year of nightly use for those results. It will take even longer if one can't use Retin A nightly. Retin A is still the only proven topical anti-aging ingredient we have. If you are red and peeling, use it less frequently and build up slowly to nightly use.[/quote]

Thanks for all the replies! Your positive feedback is more than encouraging! Although 3 months isn't a long time at all, when you're using it by the book each night and seeing little results, it is a little dispiriting Sad

Nonetheless, I'm going to continue using retin a and hopefully I will see some positive results after the full year! How have other people found vitamin C and copper peptides? I'm slightly wary of copper peptides due to some of the negative feedback they've received but would love to hear what has worked for other people!

Sun Apr 10, 2011 1:31 pm

rileygirl wrote:

I agree with all the others. Studies show that Retin A can indeed improve fine lines/wrinkles, but it takes 1 year of nightly use for those results. It will take even longer if one can't use Retin A nightly. Retin A is still the only proven topical anti-aging ingredient we have. If you are red and peeling, use it less frequently and build up slowly to nightly use.

Thanks for all the replies! Your positive feedback is more than encouraging! Although 3 months isn't a long time at all, when you're using it by the book each night and seeing little results, it is a little dispiriting Sad

Nonetheless, I'm going to continue using retin a and hopefully I will see some positive results after the full year! How have other people found vitamin C and copper peptides? I'm slightly wary of copper peptides due to some of the negative feedback they've received but would love to hear what has worked for other people!

free skin care · Sun Apr 10, 2011 2:14 pm

Karmi09 wrote:

Thanks for all the replies! Your positive feedback is more than encouraging! Although 3 months isn't a long time at all, when you're using it by the book each night and seeing little results, it is a little dispiriting Sad

Nonetheless, I'm going to continue using retin a and hopefully I will see some positive results after the full year! How have other people found vitamin C and copper peptides? I'm slightly wary of copper peptides due to some of the negative feedback they've received but would love to hear what has worked for other people!

I understand, Karmi09, it is discouraging not seeing results, especially after consistent use, but it just takes time and persistence with Retin A. I am very guilty of giving up on a product quickly, especially those products that claim instant results, or results in a few weeks as nothing has ever worked like that for me!

free skin care · Sun Apr 10, 2011 3:41 pm

I've had pretty good results using copper peptides but not much from vitamin C. My dermatologist said that since both were anti inflammatories I didn't need to use both so I'm dropping the vitamin C. She recommended Renova or any of its clones, to use at night, which is what I plan to add to my regimen of CPs and LacSal from SkinBiology. It's been about two years for the CPs.

free skin care · Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:40 pm

Retinoids (Retin-a, Renova,tretinoin etc) are good for treating and preventing the formation of fine lines, not deep wrinkles. Nasolabial folds are deep wrinkles. There are many sources backing up the efficacy of retinoids as effective in both fading and preventing fine lines. Nasolabial folds, crows feet, and other deep lines are not treatable topically.

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