I started Retin-A last night!
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free skin care · Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:33 am

So I decided I would start using a dermapen, but I wanted to prep my skin. Sara Vaughter says to use a retinoid, and I was going to buy a retinol lotion from the drugstore, but decided instead to try Retin-A.

I used a pea-sized amount last night but to my dismay, pea-sized didn't appear to be enough. It absorbs so quickly in my skin that I wasn't able to apply it over my entire face before it was gone. So I wet my hands and smoothed them over my face and could feel the product under my fingers, so that worked out okay. Smile

My skin appears to have tolerated the first dose well. So on Tuesday I will repeat. After a month, if all goes well, I'll go up to three times a week, the following month four times, then five, then six, then seven days a week on successive months. If at any time my skin reacts badly, I'll back until it adjusts.

Does this sound like a plan to you?

I'm psyched! I am looking forward to when it really starts working - I'm thinking in about three months?

Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:25 pm

Yes, is better to leave your skin to adjust to retinoid products gradually. It looks like a good plan, but you need to watch your skin for irritations and other side effects.

Sometimes it looks like the product is not working and after few days of using it the skin starts to itch like hell and becomes red. I know because it happened to me and it was an over the counter retinol no a retinoid product which are stronger.

You shouldn't use more than a pea size, just try to apply it quick over the areas that most worry you. Also the skin expert Audrey Kunin, M.D. from Dermadoctor states that you should avoid layering moisturizers after applying retinols to avoid irritation.

free skin care · Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:16 am

Update - 4th application last night. I am using twice a week, as my skin is tolerating it very well so far. I might be a little drier than normal today, but that also might be due to running the heater (cold and rainy here!)

I don't know if my skin looks different or not. It feels smooth under my fingers and the sun spots on my forehead might be a bit lighter. I'm not expecting much after 2 weeks.

free skin care · Sun Apr 27, 2014 6:32 pm

I just got .025% gel and used it twice in the past week but then stopped because my eczema is flaring up. I'm assuming it's not good to use on eczema or am I wrong? People use it on active acne, correct? I may just apply around the eczema patches.

free skin care · Mon Apr 28, 2014 10:42 am

SoftSkin wrote:

I just got .025% gel and used it twice in the past week but then stopped because my eczema is flaring up. I'm assuming it's not good to use on eczema or am I wrong? People use it on active acne, correct? I may just apply around the eczema patches.

I am prone to eczema on my throat and use either Refissa or the .025% or .05% cream version of RetinA. Neither of these products cause my eczema to flare. Of course, if I have an active eczema flare on my throat I will wait until it clears before using RetinA. Now this could just be my experience. It would be interesting to see how others prone to eczema react to RetinA. You might want to consider the RetinA cream or maybe even Refissa since the gel contains alcohol which is something I would think those of us prone to eczema should avoid. Refissa is my personal favorite and the one I use most. I have worked up to using it every night.

free skin care · Mon Apr 28, 2014 12:00 pm

I skipped Friday; I forgot! Anyway, since my skin has tolerated it so well, I'm going to go to 3 times a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I hope I see some good results from this! My facial muscles are in pretty good shape and getting better because of exercise, but my skin could use some help.

free skin care · Wed Apr 30, 2014 10:20 am

I'd hate to spend more money for cream Retin A when I've got a full tube of the gel. I am going to use it only Sunday and Thursday nights for a while. I usually use my Clarisonic the following morning to get rid of the flakes, followed by copper peptides while the skin is "open," then estriol cream, then sunscreen.

My eczema is clearing but I think it's due to these Chinese herbs which my acupuncturist recommended: Quell the Surface.http://getherbs.net/products/311-quell-the-surface-teapills-dan-shen-huo-xue-wan-chinese-herbal-formula-plum-flower-mayway.aspx If you are eczema prone you might try them. I take 8 tiny pills between meals three times a day. Sometimes if it's a stubborn case I take 12. I don't want to have to take any and I try to avoid using my steroid ointment since steroids thin the skin. Sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and knock that rash out fast. Just need to cut back on the sugar. Sad

free skin care · Tue May 06, 2014 6:30 pm

My skin is getting a bit sensitive. When I put moisturizer and sunblock on this morning, it stung a little bit. I think I'm going to get a bottle of squalane and a hat until my skin gets more used to this.

free skin care · Sun May 18, 2014 8:35 am

Cutting back to twice a week, my skin is so tender and objects to everything except cold water. C serum? Forget that. Even Deb's cucumber serum stings.

I'm using sunblock. I put it on right before I go out. It stings but I don't want these spots to darken so I use it religiously unless it's overcast then I use an umbrella. I ordered a big sun hat that I will wear everywhere when I get it, so I can stop the sunblock on my face. I hate sunblock, it feels like paste. Sad

On the positive side, I can definitely feel a difference in texture. My skin feels "fresher" to the touch, if that makes any sense. No difference yet in skin tone except that it's quite pink. I got three or four zits at first but no more and I don't anticipate any more (please Lord).

free skin care · Mon May 19, 2014 2:00 pm

I'm having the same problem gauging the dose. Was going to do every other night but my face got too red, so I will try every third night. How do we know when to increase the applications? When we stop peeling?

Tue May 20, 2014 3:16 pm

Immacolata, thanks so much for posting your results. I too want to go back to using a retinA product. I know I will get red and flaky for about 6 months so I've been putting it off. Plus, I want to go back to using Obagi or try the Zo products which I need to save for. Please keep posting! Also, can anyone offer advice on when you start a retinA product when should you incorporate a vitamin C product? Should you wait until the flaky red stage is over? TIA!!

free skin care · Mon May 26, 2014 1:04 am

I use Retin-A 3 nights (switched back to 3, doing great!) and on the other 4 nights vitamin C. It stings a little bit at first but goes away quickly.

I think if you're having too much redness, just cut back to 2 times for a week or two, then back to 3. Just keep doing that until your skin gets used to it.

My skin texture is so smooth! I still have the spots but the texture feels like a baby's bum. One thing I don't like is the odd pimple popping up here and there. They seem to be very shallow and go away very quickly though.

free skin care · Wed May 28, 2014 10:44 am

I was tired of the thick sunblock I was using, so on Monday I bought some CeraVe facial moisturizer with an SPF of 30. I haven't been wearing makeup so I put it on every time I go outdoors. It's working so far and it's a REALLY nice moisturizer. My skin is thanking me by being even more smooth.

free skin care · Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:48 am

Six weeks later! My skin is definitely firmer. I'm using it every night now, except when I forget. My skin tolerates it very well. I've been very, very careful to avoid the sun on my face, using sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.

My skin tone is very much improved, much more even. Skin looks "fresher."

Forehead lines considerably diminished. Unfortunately, the five smokers lines that I have around my lips are still there, but I am hoping to improve those when I start dermarolling. I'm torn on whether to get a knockoff My-M on ebay or go low tech with a dermastamp.

I was getting the odd pimple or two but that has stopped.

I am so glad I started with this. I'm only on my second tube - I can't wait for the 6 month mark!

free skin care · Wed Jul 09, 2014 10:15 am

Hi Immacolata

I am glad that is going so well Smile

but please take care that is tricky sometimes . I can go using it every night for months and suddenly to get a very bad peeling... what I am doing now is alternating retin a gel .5 with retinol -Olay deep wrinkle filler that I really like .. My skin looks much better in this way
Also for the smoker lines I use City lip plumper just before going to bed - the new version is not as good as the original but I am still pretty happy - no lines around my lips and I was a smoker too ..
Keep us posted please regarding the dermapen ....I

free skin care · Thu Dec 04, 2014 8:03 am

Going on 9 months now. My skin is so much better now than it was back in April. It really doesn't look like the same skin. I still have the three main patches of hyperpigmentation, on on each cheek and one on my forehead, but my skin feels like velvet and looks much, much smoother, thicker and it's definitely firmer. Fine lines? Mostly vanished. However, the much improved texture and tone, to me, also serves to highlight the 4 smoker's lines that are the bane of my existence. Well, maybe not the bane but I sure would like them gone!

On to micro needling. I don't know if I should shell out the bucks for the Derminator or start with an ebay My-M. I'm waiting until January to decide.

free skin care · Thu Dec 04, 2014 9:33 am

Glad it's working so well for you! Are you still using it nightly? And what strength?

free skin care · Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:15 pm

I'm using the .05 cream, Johnson & Johnson is the brand. And yes, I use it nightly. Sometimes I forget but I'd say I use it at least 5-6 times a week.

I'm not using it for this week because I walked into an apple tree branch early in the morning (it was still dark) and got a big red scratch across the top of my cheekbone. It looks awful, and it cut the skin so I'm just doing Neosporin for now...

free skin care · Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:08 pm

If anything I think I have more brown spots on my face. Is that because the retin A is bringing them to the surface or would they have appeared regardless?

free skin care · Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:07 am

Are you using sunblock?

free skin care · Fri Dec 05, 2014 6:35 am

Retin A would not bring brown spot to the surface. If they occur after using Retin A, they are caused by sun exposure without adequate protection with a strong sunscreen. Retin A can make your skin photosensitive, and thus a strong sunscreen at the daytime is a must.

If Retin A is used properly, it should help to lighten brown spots instead.

free skin care · Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:52 pm

I always use sunscreen. Perhaps my sunscreens aren't as strong as the labels says. Who checks this stuff? I thought I read a while back that one sunscreen had fraudulent SPF.

free skin care · Sat Dec 06, 2014 2:14 am

yes, you need a strong sunscreen if you are using Retin A. Th sunscreen must be able to block both UVA and UVB. For me, I normally use at least SPF30 PA+++ during day time. If I'll have any outdoor activities, I'll use SPF50 PA+++ and reply if I've lots of sweating during the day.

free skin care · Sun Dec 07, 2014 5:17 am

I use sunscreen, plus wear sunglasses and a hat. You get used to it...

free skin care · Sun Dec 07, 2014 2:16 pm

My sunscreens block UVA and UVB and are 30-50 SPF. I generally wear sunglasses and occasionally a hat but the angle of the sun can get below the hat brim depending on time of day.

I've noticed that both my hands have brown spots but I only use Retin A on one as an experiment to see which hand will look better over time. I always put sunscreen on my hands. I think the spots are just starting to appear more with time. Plus the sun seems to be getting stronger or something as my arms easily tan and I seldom put sunscreen on them. I recall being much younger and wanting tan arms and it seemed to take my being outside for longer periods than now.

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