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LittleRumor

LittleRumor

Joined
Apr 19, 2006
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Hi all,

I wondered if there were any Retinoid users there specifically for acne. I went to the derma the other day for persistent acne :scream3:. She gave me retin a micro (0.04%) and warned me that it will get worse before it gets better. I also read the website and other books about it. Sounds like a rocky journey!

Soooo....I'm curious about other people's experience with the stuff. Also, what product did you guys use in junction with retinoids. Right now, I'm in the flaking stage but I'm afraid to use any exfoliants, peels, or creams in case it would worsen the condition or negate the drug.

 
I used retin a when I was a teenager and I went through what you are going through now. You want to avoid using scrubs, I learned the hard way. You should use gentle cleansers. I used dove soap when I used retin a. You could also ask your dermatologist for recs on what to use while you are on retin a. I hope this helps.

 
Ooh No Scrubs! :D /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> I try to avoid scrubs as much as possible. I used to use St Ives but it hadn't helped for anything in a while. Right now, my skin is pretty PEEVED! It's far more oily than it was before :( /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> AND there are still the dry patches on the blemishes (prob due to the retin a)

Argh, I'm hanging in there. The derm did give me suggestions, but I'm SO tempted to use a AHA/BHA exfoliant and toner :( /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 
keep in mind that retin a is a chemical exfoliant, and while it may not seem to be exfoliating like a scrub would, i swear to you retin a will do a better job than any scrub! i use the .5 cream and have used it for years and i like it better than the retin a micro. i guess the micro is a gel rather than a cream, and i find the cream, well, it doesn't moisturize, but it doesnt dry out my skin like the micros does. and it is a stronger concentration. i've used it since high school and am 25 now. if you want to use a cream over it...you can use cetaphil or neurtrogena creams...i think those work well with dryness. hang in there! it's worth it!

 
Hi,

If you remove your facial hair by means of waxing, stay away from this as well as any type of exfoliating.

 
I'm also going through the hard phase of adjusting to Retin A and can't wait for it to be over.My skin is in really bad shape! That's why I don't post and FOTDs lol,don't wanna scare you. I use exfoliant only to remove dry patches(with very little success though),so I can sometime wear foundation. I've been using jojoba oil extensively and seems to help rub off the dry skin.

Hang in there!

 
I'm breaking out again! I know you're suppose to according to their website (and the derma) but argh! It's hard to tell if they're from the retina doing its 'cleansing' or if your body is not affected :( /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

Well I have the week marked in my calendar for when I'm SUPPOSED to be clear! *cross fingers*

Thanks or the support :) /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> I'll keep u posted. :D /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 
I use Tazorac Cream (which is a retinoid). I agree, no scrubs. I learned the hard way too, and ouch....takes your skin days to recover.

Eventually it will work. Hang in there.

 
I agree with Jessica. I, too, have used this since highschool and use it now once in awhile and I am 25. It did dry my skin out though somewhat.

Please, give it a chance to work. You have to remember nothing is an overnight cure. Yes, it does get worse before it gets better but be patient. Eventually, if you wait, your skin will be much better. I've been there too.

 
I just wanted to post a few progress pictures....I hate this picture, but I'm gonna do it for SCIENCE...he he.

ALL pictures with BARE FACED.

Here is me with gross cystic acne (a month earlier...it was worse than this):

View attachment 18733 9-28-05

Here is me a couple months into antibiotic (oral) and Tazorac Cream:

View attachment 18734 1-05-06

Here is me today now only using Tazorac Cream:

View attachment 18735 4-24-06

Now that I look at the pictures and the progress.....it's obvioulsy working.







 
Yes, it looks much better. Sometimes it is so hard to see a difference when it is our own face since we see it everyday.

When I was about 16 or so I used this junk called AcneStatin and it made my face much worse and NEVER got better. I was horrified. I did get minor scars from it. Oh, I was so ticked off. It was suppose to make it worse first then better so it got worse and I kept waiting and waiting for it to get better...never happened. That junk went in the garbage.

I also used the oral antibiotic Tetracycline for awhile at one time. It has been so long since I have been on acne meds that I can't remember if I used it while using Retin-A or not. Either way my face finally cleared.

 
Glad I could help. I had another picture that was much worse and you could DEF. tell it was cystic....but I opted against posting that one.

It will come in time....but it does take time. I myself had to use an antibiotic also at first to help get rid of the cystic (cuz it's bacterial).

 
Dont' do it....you'll be sorry. Every time I'm tempted....man my face becomes raw within a day or 2 and takes 4-5 days or so to recover and is sooooooo sensitive!

Oh and since it's cystic too.....did your derm suggest an oral antibiotic to help the internal bacterial side of it? Of course trust your derm, but if you were on an oral as well.....you would see improvements faster and with me.....I didn't go through the BAD phase first.

 
She did suggest it too, but I was skeptical to be on antibiotics since it kills the birth control pill. I'll see how this goes for a few more weeks, and if cysts keep forming then I'll get oral antibiotics too :( /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 
Yep that's definitely a factor. It can make it less effective (bc that is). I think one of my children were conceived while on an antibiotic....can't remember though.

 
Don't use a peel!!! I used a peel a few weeks ago & everywhere that I use Retin-A burned! I didn't think my face would ever quit peeling & flaking.

 
I used retin-a for acne, and it got much worse before it got better, but after a month of looking like a friggin lizzard, my skin began to clear up alot. Thank goodness it was during the summer months when I was not in school. anyway, it was worth the month of looking horrid. Oh and just a side note, never ever ever but it anywhere around your mouth or the corners of your nose. ugh i learned that the very hard and very painful way!

 
Hi There!

I was suffering from adult acne for about a year before I finally went to the derm. I tried Benzoyl Peroxide, Retin A and salicylic Acid...nothing worked. Until I tried Differin Cream. It changed my skin and well...my life. Now I rarely get breakouts. Only once a month at that "special" time. The only downside of using a retinoid daily is that you can't wax and your skin is much thinner and more sensitive. SPF is a must!! Good Luck!

With the use of the other anti-acne products I experienced the flaking and peeling. With Differin I had NO side effects at all. No redness, flaking, breakouts...zero.

 

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