How long does it take till tretinoin works?
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Thu Jul 05, 2012 11:40 pm

Hello,

I am new in this forum. I found it on my search about tretinoin, tretinoins creams and their impact on anti aging.

I am female, 46 - and from Germany, so please do excuse my english. I hope you can understand me.

I saw that there are tons of postings to tretinoin, but I still am not sure, when I can expect results from it.

To my situation: My scin is rather oily, I am tending to acne tarda too. So I started using tretinoin cream in February with 0,025 %, three times a week. Then I slowly went up to 0,05 % and to 0,1 %. I am using the creams about five times a week, always alternating between the three strenghts - according to the skin "texture", so that the skin won't get too red and peel to much.

Though of this rather long period of use (I find!) I still can't really see that much of a difference. My skin is still not smooth, the pores are still rather big, I still get pimples, I still have lines. Wink

)

So I wonder:

- Am I not patient enough?
- Do I use the creams not correctly?
- If that: What can I do better?

Thanks for your interest and reading - I hope I did describe the problem well enough. I am eager to read your answers. Very Happy

D

Greetings from Germany!

free skin care · Fri Jul 06, 2012 1:21 am

Hello,
Welcome to EDS Smile

From my understanding of Tretinoin its something you need to use for the longterm. I wouldn't say its a quick fix skincare product. I've read many people us it over the course of 1-2 years before they start to see its full benefits, maybe longer. I've been using it since January and its only now that I notice my skin is looking a little better. But I do also attribute that to other products I use and also to my clarisonic which has made a big difference.

I suppose people have likened retinoids like a product which say in 10 years time you may look younger than perhaps if you had never used it. I would suggest to use it every second day on the 0.5% if you tolerate it and on alternate days use other products which may help with your pores and pimples. I actually stopped Tretinoin and used Isotretinoin for a few weeks (better for acne), once the breakouts lessened I went back to Tretinoin.

But to answer your questions Yes preserver with it a little more and as for what you can do better and if you use creams correctly it really depends what else you use and how you use them. Just make sure you use tretinoin at nights only as your last skincare step before bed and wear sunscreen during the day.
GL

free skin care · Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:22 am

Welcome!

Three months is not long enough to experience an anti-ageing effect from Retin-A. Research shows there is no need to go to the highest strength, you are better using a strength your skin has no redness or peeling with on a daily basis. Redness and peeling are a sign of irritation/ inflammation and that the skin barrier is being damaged, all of which you want to avoid. Your entire skincare routine and lifestyle are of relevance: if you are using harsh cleansers and exfoliators, or not eating a hydrating/ low glycaemic index/ anti-inflammatory diet you will not experience the full benefits of Retin-A.

Another product you might consider is the KinNiaNag serum. This contains a combination of actives which are proven in anti-ageing, can help increase the amount of ceramides in the skin so increasing hydration, help normalise sebum production and reduce acne.
http://www.skincaretalk.com/a/kinnianag-kinetin-b3-nag-antiaging-anti-acne-serum
Do also be sure to use a gentle zinc oxide sunscreen of SPF30+ daily. Retin-A causes photosensitivity so increased UV protection is required, and zinc oxide is bacteriostatic so helps stop acne bacteria taking hold.

free skin care · Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:44 pm

I agree with everything said. There's no need to go up in strength with tretinoin. People think more is better, but it isn't the case.
You want to AVOID peeling and redness. Don't use tretinoin as often and like dionie said, alternate with gentler products.

For the record, I responded well right away to tretinoin, so it might be that you're not cut out for it. There are a lot of people who just don't find it effective.

free skin care · Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:26 pm

You can try:

1) Tazaroc cream or gel. It is considered to be the strongest retinoid. Yet, I find it less irritating than tretinoin.

2) Lactic Acid Peel if you skin does not get irritated while using tretinoin 5 times a day. Lucky you!

3) Add a powerful anti-oxidant serum full of beneficial actives ( for example, KNN serum or Vitamin C Serum or any other serum with high % of actives).

4) Dry brushing or dermaroller can also be helpful.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:22 pm

First of all: Thank you all for the warm welcome! Smile

Firefox7275 wrote:

Research shows there is no need to go to the highest strength, you are better using a strength your skin has no redness or peeling with on a daily basis.

Okay, it is good to know that!

Quote:

exfoliators, or not eating a hydrating/ low glycaemic index/ anti-inflammatory diet you will not experience the full benefits of Retin-A.

Okay, I confess I never heard about that! Can I find more information here in this forum?

Quote:

Do also be sure to use a gentle zinc oxide sunscreen of SPF30+ daily.

Okay, I am using SPF 20. And I am not so much in the sun ...?

Thank you very much!

Susi.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:26 pm

Hi, and thanks for your answer!

RussianSunshine wrote:

You can try:

1) Tazaroc cream or gel. It is considered to be the strongest retinoid. Yet, I find it less irritating than tretinoin.

okay. I have to find out more about this.

Quote:

2) Lactic Acid Peel if you skin does not get irritated while using tretinoin 5 times a day. Lucky you!

Well, I guess it is because I went up so slowly!

Quote:

4) Dry brushing or dermaroller can also be helpful.

I will check this, thanks!

Susi.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:31 pm

LoriA wrote:

I agree with everything said. There's no need to go up in strength with tretinoin. People think more is better, but it isn't the case.

Okay, it is good to hear that. Because actually that is what I thought!

Quote:

For the record, I responded well right away to tretinoin, so it might be that you're not cut out for it. There are a lot of people who just don't find it effective.

well, I don't want to say, that it did not do anything at all! My skin got lighter, I find, and also a bit smoother in some parts. But in other areas it didn't help so much yet.

Thanks, Susi!

Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:36 pm

dionie wrote:

From my understanding of Tretinoin its something you need to use for the longterm. I wouldn't say its a quick fix skincare product. I've read many people us it over the course of 1-2 years before they start to see its full benefits, maybe longer. I've been using it since January and its only now that I notice my skin is looking a little better. But I do also attribute that to other products I use and also to my clarisonic which has made a big difference.

Okay, that is good to know.

What is clarisonic? I hope this is not a dump question. Smile

We don't have all your products in Germany. Very Happy

When I visit the States (a good friend of mine lives in NYC), I always feel a bit like in an developing country here in Germany, when I visit a US-drugstore. You have got soooo many products! Smile

Thank you for your answer!

Susi.

free skin care · Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:51 pm

textelle wrote:

dionie wrote:

From my understanding of Tretinoin its something you need to use for the longterm. I wouldn't say its a quick fix skincare product. I've read many people us it over the course of 1-2 years before they start to see its full benefits, maybe longer. I've been using it since January and its only now that I notice my skin is looking a little better. But I do also attribute that to other products I use and also to my clarisonic which has made a big difference.

Okay, that is good to know.

What is clarisonic? I hope this is not a dump question. Smile

We don't have all your products in Germany. Very Happy

When I visit the States (a good friend of mine lives in NYC), I always feel a bit like in an developing country here in Germany, when I visit a US-drugstore. You have got soooo many products! Smile

Thank you for your answer!

Susi.

http://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/clarisonic/
Not sure if you can buy products from UK? Clarisonic is a cleansing system and I find it really cleans my skin and also serves as a type of manual exfoliation. But I would recommend using it with gentle cleansers. I use it every night only. But I agree with RussianSunshine invest in a good antioxidant serum, or maybe even in some topical Vit C too.
GL

Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:09 am

To avoid further irritation, be sure your skin is completely dry before applying tretinoin. A doctor told me this twenty years ago and I rarely hear this mentioned. Wait 5 minutes after washing your face. Using less product is better than using more (a small pea sized amount).

free skin care · Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:25 am

textelle wrote:

Quote:

exfoliators, or not eating a hydrating/ low glycaemic index/ anti-inflammatory diet you will not experience the full benefits of Retin-A.

Okay, I confess I never heard about that! Can I find more information here in this forum?

Quote:

Do also be sure to use a gentle zinc oxide sunscreen of SPF30+ daily.

Okay, I am using SPF 20. And I am not so much in the sun ...?

Thank you very much!

Susi.

I've posted about anti-inflammatory low glycaemic index diets before, you should be able to find stuff if you run a search. If you don't understand anything feel free to bump the thread and I will try to clarify.

IMO you really do need a higher SPF physical sunscreen: UV rays can penetrate glass, cloud and the shade, bounce off concrete, snow, sand and water. Furthermore many women don't apply sufficient product, don't reapply frequently enough to get the full SPF, or don't apply their chemical sunscreen to bare skin. SPF15 only confers 92% protection but SPF30 confers 97%, and you are using a product (Retin-A) that is photosensitising so that 5% or so could really matter. I don't know what is available in Germany, but Devita Rx Ultrasolar 50 is suitable for oily skin.

free skin care · Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:53 am

For me it "works" within a week I notice I shed skin and it looks more clear, but for wrinkles it took over a year

Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:50 am

If you are still breaking out and using tretinoin, maybe you should have your doctor or dermatologist write a prescription for an antibiotic (tetracycline). The retin a works great for me but I'm in my 50's and don't often get breakouts, but it has done wonders for smoothing out my skin, making it look brighter, clearer - I've been using for about 2 years but not every night. When I was in my teens/20's I took a tetracycline and it cleared my skin up very well but I never had a bad complexion.

Sat Sep 01, 2018 5:33 am

Took me 2 weeks to see some changes and 4 weeks to see an improvement. Started with 0.05% and currently Im using 0.1%. My worst week was the second (very dry skin). Remember, everyone's skin is different!
The best price I have found online for Tretinoin was at http://www.verifiedwebs.net/go/Tretinoin Very Happy

(I use 10% coupon code "10SALE10")

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