retin a dryness...
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free skin care · Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:23 am

To get the maximum effect out of Retin-A, I would definitely use it on its own. Layering products is equivalent to diluting products. In my opinion, there is no good reason for diluting Retin-A, which is the most studied and most effective anti-aging product.

free skin care · Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:40 am

I am using RAM (Retin-A Micro) and still in the "getting to know you" stage myself. I use it only 4 times a week to avoid a crisis and like to use a hyaluronic acid serum in the am over the Vitamin C serum (waiting 30 min between each layer here) and then my sunscreen (Avene SPF 50+ cream). I use a microfiber cloth to exfoliate gently any flakes, but so far *touch wood* it hasn't been too bad, and no redness either. I am going verrrrrrrry slowly here, I know, but I hate that dry/tight/red/flakey stuff. That just made me quit RA altogether before!

A lot of ppl here love emu oil, but I can't take the "chickeny" smell, so I use argan oil (in Cleopatra's Secret Serum) occasionally when I think I feel too dry. I put this on OVER the RAM at night after a 30 min wait. This works pretty well.

As far as layering RA *OVER* other products, I think Keliu uses "Let's Make Collagen" by SAS under her RA with really good results. Maybe she will chime in here....

I use LMC over my C serum in the am, depending on how my skin feels that day. It smells kinda funny, since it contains frankincense, but I got used to it, and it isn't noticeable under the SS after a while. HTH

free skin care · Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:31 pm

Here are a few tips that might help when using a Retin-A product.

- For new users, it's best to start at the lowest strength and build from there. It's only my opinion, but I would think one skin cycle (6 weeks), would be a good time frame for each strength, and work up from there.

- A little dryness/flaking is normal during the first skin cycle of use, (up to 6 weeks) If continued dryness, redness, itching, irritation continues, perhaps this product isn't for those folks..

- With continued use your skin will be increasingly more susceptible to UV damage.. In other words, if you aren't going to be very diligent with sunscreen and sun avoidance, don't waste your time... (You will be worse off a year from now, if you are a sun bunny.. Crying or Very sad

)

- Use the minimum amount necessary to cover your treatment areas, and only use once per day at bedtime...(More is not better.)

- Apply to a clean dry face 20 to 30 minutes after cleansing with a mild, non alcohol cleanser... (This is to cut down on irritation, period.) Do not apply any other topicals prior to Retin-A. (See next tip Antonia!!!)

- Avoid the use of other skin products on the treated area for at least 1 hour following application of tretinoin topical. If you can do without anything added on top of Retin-A, that is most definitely best.

And now, DRUG INTERACTION precautions. (Drugs.com has great info on all drugs, and has been a savior to me over my years in practice, as well as life.. Very Happy

)

- ***Do not use skin products that contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid unless otherwise directed by your doctor. These products can cause severe skin irritation if used with tretinoin topical.***

- a diuretic (water pill), tetracycline (Sumycin, Panmycin, Robitet), minocycline (Minocin), doxycycline (Doryx, Vibramycin), demeclocycline (Declomycin), and others;

an antibiotic such as lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), ofloxacin (Floxin), and others;

a sulfa drug such as Bactrim, Septra, Cotrim, and others; or

chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), promethazine (Phenergan, Promethegan), perphenazine (Trilafon), and others.

I have been trying to find out if there is any interaction between the MSM supplement (contains sulfur), and the topical use of vitamin A products in general, and haven't recieved a straight answer thus far.. My PDR (which is a few years old) didn't address it either... Crying or Very sad

Hope that helps!

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