Retino-a from adc
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Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:58 pm

Hello,

I purchased some retino-a 0.025 from alldaychemist. This is the first time using a retinoid. I was surprised by the strong odor of the product. The scent was very mediciny, with perhaps fumes. Did anyone else notice this with their product?, The product hasn't expired. Do you think this is the real deal?

Thanks.

free skin care · Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:27 pm

coolioyo wrote:

Hello,

I purchased some retino-a 0.025 from alldaychemist. This is the first time using a retinoid. I was surprised by the strong odor of the product. The scent was very mediciny, with perhaps fumes. Did anyone else notice this with their product?, The product hasn't expired. Do you think this is the real deal?

Thanks.

Is it the cream made by Johnson and Johnson or the gel made by Shalaks? In my opinion, the cream is not real and the gel is definately the real deal.

Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:30 am

The cream is made by johnson and johnson, so far I haven't had any peeling or redness and I have placed more than a pea size amount. Can anyone else comment? thanks

free skin care · Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:38 am

coolioyo wrote:

The cream is made by johnson and johnson, so far I haven't had any peeling or redness and I have placed more than a pea size amount. Can anyone else comment? thanks

Do not ever use more than the recommended amount of a prescription medication. Are you adhering to the recommended wait times and considering the pH of your other skincare products? Redness and peeling are unwanted side effects, a sign that the stratus corneum (dead horny barrier) is being disrupted. If you had this your dermatologist should advise you to reduce the frequency. The beneficial effects are down at the dermis level, where you cannot see and take many months to build up. IMO do a good deal more research so you understand what you are applying to your skin.

Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:55 pm

I did my research. I was just wondering if what I am using is the real deal or not. I didn't start putting more of the cream on my face until after I tried the pea size and I had no effects. I know retin-a should cause some peeling and redness because that is one of it's side effects and the higher the strength is the greater this effect should be. One of the effects of retin-a is taht if normalizes the stratum corneum. The only way I know this is working is with side effects. Right now, I don't see any which makes me question this product. I am going to try gel I also ordered and then possibly open the 0.5 cream to see if there is any difference.

free skin care · Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:45 pm

I am currently using the retin a cream and gel from ADC in various strengths. There is no odor at all in either the cream or gel and both are making me peel. Hope that helps! If you need specifics I can check my retin a and get back to ya!

free skin care · Wed Feb 15, 2012 3:35 am

coolioyo wrote:

I did my research. I was just wondering if what I am using is the real deal or not. I didn't start putting more of the cream on my face until after I tried the pea size and I had no effects. I know retin-a should cause some peeling and redness because that is one of it's side effects and the higher the strength is the greater this effect should be. One of the effects of retin-a is taht if normalizes the stratum corneum. The only way I know this is working is with side effects. Right now, I don't see any which makes me question this product. I am going to try gel I also ordered and then possibly open the 0.5 cream to see if there is any difference.

I thru away the creams from J&J. It did nothing for me and i had used retin a for many years. Use the gel and you will soon see the difference. It is a really good product.

free skin care · Wed Feb 15, 2012 4:35 am

I've never used the .025% but have and still use the .5% cream from ADC. It's definitely the real deal as I wouldn't have gotten the results I have from using it. Just because you haven't gotten any redness or peeling yet doesn't mean it's not working. I didn't get redness or peeling until about 2 or 3 weeks out from using it. Also, the only places I did get redness and peeling was around my mouth area.

Just because you do not see any of this, doesn't mean it's not working therefore you shouldn't up your percentage, especially seeing it's your first time with retin-a. Patience is a virtue with this stuff, rushing in to a higher strength will only bring you trouble down the road or using more than what they suggest. Take it slow, you cannot rush results from retin-a use.

But to answer your question, yes, the retin-a purchased from ADC is legit and authentic, cream, gel or otherwise. There are MANY on this forum that purchase from there and have for many years.
I am not discounting what grhawk said about the cream, but just because it didn't work for them, doesn't mean it's not authentic and it won't work for you. I use the ADC cream and have for a few years now and it has done wonders for my skin and many others. I wouldn't go without it!

free skin care · Wed Feb 15, 2012 6:30 am

The gel from ADC is strong, greenish-yellow, medicinal with an oily quality and produces results. I have not tried the cream.

I would recommend experimenting with different strengths/intervals until you find a regimin that works for you...it is not a "dangerous" product as far as I can tell, lol..I do understand there are issues for pregnant users.

Over time, I have developed an amazing level of skin tolerance.

best wishes, bfg

free skin care · Wed Feb 15, 2012 8:20 am

coolioyo wrote:

I did my research. I was just wondering if what I am using is the real deal or not. I didn't start putting more of the cream on my face until after I tried the pea size and I had no effects. I know retin-a should cause some peeling and redness because that is one of it's side effects and the higher the strength is the greater this effect should be. One of the effects of retin-a is taht if normalizes the stratum corneum. The only way I know this is working is with side effects. Right now, I don't see any which makes me question this product. I am going to try gel I also ordered and then possibly open the 0.5 cream to see if there is any difference.

Sorry but you have either completely misunderstood what you have read, or used poor sources such as personal opinion instead of published literature.

Basic pharmaceutical science: drugs have a 'therapeutic window', a level in the body below which they have no measurable effect and a level above which they can be toxic or produce significant side effects in most users, generally with no additional therapeutic benefit. Not every patient experiences side effects from every drug, in fact a major area of drug research and prescribing aims to to avoid side effects completely. Side effects are an undesirable effect and NOT related to the efficacy of the product, that is why they side effects are treated as distinct from secondary effects. In some cases patients experience side effects WITHOUT any therapeutic benefit. The peeling and redness is a sign the product is affecting the top layers of the epidermis when the main therapeutic effect is in the dermis. Of course Retin-A can make the stratus corneum thinner, any keratolytic can do that. The only way you know this product is working for ageing is to use it for six months to a year.

NEVER use more of a prescription topical without your dermatologist advising you to, you don't randomly double and triple doses of a painkiller or antibiotic, nor should you with a topical. Doubling the amount is NOT the same as using a higher potency product, the extra vehicle will mean the skin is 'wetted' for longer, the active is in contact with the surface for longer, which is more likely to lead to irritation than increased absorption. The research actually does NOT show that the higher percentages equate to more benefit for every patient. This is due to different absorption rates and individual variation in the composition of skin (age being a major determinant).

The gel may well give a different visible effect to the cream because the delivery method is different, comparing the two does not prove the cream is fake. Please do some real research, read some of the many studies listed on PubMed. Doctors spend years at school and pharmaceutical companies spend billions on formulation research so that you don't have to think for yourself, just use the product exactly as prescribed.

free skin care · Thu Feb 16, 2012 4:51 am

Barefootgirl wrote:

The gel from ADC is strong, greenish-yellow, medicinal with an oily quality and produces results. I have not tried the cream.

I would recommend experimenting with different strengths/intervals until you find a regimin that works for you...it is not a "dangerous" product as far as I can tell, lol..I do understand there are issues for pregnant users.

Over time, I have developed an amazing level of skin tolerance.

best wishes, bfg

I think the gel made by Shalaks is based in olive oil. It dries real quick which is nice and doesn't have a nasty feel like some creams. It is a real quality Retin A. Like i said the cream from Johnson and Johnson did absolutely nothing for my skin plus i didn't like the cream base it uses.

free skin care · Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:08 am

<<Doctors spend years at school and pharmaceutical companies spend billions on formulation research so that you don't have to think for yourself, just use the product exactly as prescribed.

I see your point, but at the same time, I always want to think for myself.

bfg

free skin care · Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:13 am

Barefootgirl wrote:

<<Doctors spend years at school and pharmaceutical companies spend billions on formulation research so that you don't have to think for yourself, just use the product exactly as prescribed.

I see your point, but at the same time, I always want to think for myself.

bfg

I agree totally with Barefoot girl. That is misguided advice by Firefox. Doctors learn about new drugs from Pharmaceutical companies who are in business to make money. Doctors don't have time to keep up on anything especially as they get farther and farther away from medical school. Doctors in the US at least have incentive to prescribe drugs and tests that benefit them. The FDA approves drugs even though they know they are harmful and many of the long term effects are unknown. Research your own problems and the drugs, vitamins and other products you use before you put them in your mouth or on your body. This is not the 1950's where people trust their doctors like gods.

free skin care · Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:59 am

coolioyo wrote:

Hello,

I purchased some retino-a 0.025 from alldaychemist. This is the first time using a retinoid. I was surprised by the strong odor of the product. The scent was very mediciny, with perhaps fumes. Did anyone else notice this with their product?, The product hasn't expired. Do you think this is the real deal?

Thanks.

I've used the .025 and .05 cream from adc and can vouch that they are the "real deal". Mine did not have an odour of any kind though. They were all scent-less. I would suggest getting in touch with adc. From others' posts on this forum, it seems like they have pretty good cs and would do replacements readily. Hths!

free skin care · Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:55 pm

I used the Johnson & Johnson .025 cream from ADC for a whole year before switching to .04 micro gel. The .025 worked well and the .04 was even better. The redness and peeling lasted about two weeks (no smell) with the .025. I had almost no side effects with .04. My recommendation would be to use one tube of .025 and then graduate to the micro gel .04.

free skin care · Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:21 pm

grhawk wrote:

I agree totally with Barefoot girl. That is misguided advice by Firefox. Doctors learn about new drugs from Pharmaceutical companies who are in business to make money. Doctors don't have time to keep up on anything especially as they get farther and farther away from medical school. Doctors in the US at least have incentive to prescribe drugs and tests that benefit them. The FDA approves drugs even though they know they are harmful and many of the long term effects are unknown. Research your own problems and the drugs, vitamins and other products you use before you put them in your mouth or on your body. This is not the 1950's where people trust their doctors like gods.

FFS who said anything about treating a doctor like a God? To use a prescription medication as it is formulated to be used, rather than randomly doubling or tripling the dose should not be that controversial! This is the advice that any decent pharmacist would give you, I know because I trained in pharmacy myself. The therapeutic window is well researched as are the dosages. Retin-A has been around for decades; if it had been new on the market been my advice not to overdose would be even more pertinent! If you know anything about pharmacology and therapeutics or about how Retin-A works (which I know many of you do) you would know the OPs understanding is erroneous. Thinking for yourself is fine IF you have more knowledge on a given drug that your doctor and pharmacist.

free skin care · Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:18 pm

Firefox7275 wrote:

grhawk wrote:

I agree totally with Barefoot girl. That is misguided advice by Firefox. Doctors learn about new drugs from Pharmaceutical companies who are in business to make money. Doctors don't have time to keep up on anything especially as they get farther and farther away from medical school. Doctors in the US at least have incentive to prescribe drugs and tests that benefit them. The FDA approves drugs even though they know they are harmful and many of the long term effects are unknown. Research your own problems and the drugs, vitamins and other products you use before you put them in your mouth or on your body. This is not the 1950's where people trust their doctors like gods.

FFS who said anything about treating a doctor like a God? To use a prescription medication as it is formulated to be used, rather than randomly doubling or tripling the dose should not be that controversial! This is the advice that any decent pharmacist would give you, I know because I trained in pharmacy myself. The therapeutic window is well researched as are the dosages. Retin-A has been around for decades; if it had been new on the market been my advice not to overdose would be even more pertinent! If you know anything about pharmacology and therapeutics or about how Retin-A works (which I know many of you do) you would know the OPs understanding is erroneous. Thinking for yourself is fine IF you have more knowledge on a given drug that your doctor and pharmacist.

Your right retin a has been around for 40 years. Spreading more than the recommended amount of a pea size is not harmful. I cannot even cover my whole face with a pea size amount. A little common sense is necessary sometimes.

free skin care · Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:37 am

I just ordered ( and got in) the cream myself. I am trying a pea size of it every other night after waiting an hour and a half and following a light lotion. Since I have sensitive skin, I will update on whether I start peeling as I always have in the past. I am starting slowly and working up! I can't do it w/o a bas lotion first, my skin is pretty dry.
We will see if it is the real deal, but I don't have that strong odor from it.

free skin care · Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:29 am

grhawk wrote:

Your right retin a has been around for 40 years. Spreading more than the recommended amount of a pea size is not harmful. I cannot even cover my whole face with a pea size amount. A little common sense is necessary sometimes.

You are right a little common sense is required. In one breath you speak of the FDA clearing drugs that are harmful, the next suggesting it is totally safe to over-apply a prescription drug. You don't think that would be slightly confusing for the OP and lurkers?

Actual common sense when it comes to medical matters depends on knowledge; not necessarily professional knowledge but knowledge of how the body and/ or a particular substance works. The OP's approach was based on the belief that side effects = proof the product is effective and that higher strength = more effective. Is that really common sense or is it poor research? Other people's 'common sense' approaches to self-medicating are actually far more frightening, and unfortunately they DO apply advice given when using one topical to use of a completely different topical. I wish the general public were as knowledgeable, thorough and sensible as some of the EDSers but they are not. Sad

Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:33 am

Well, I gave up on the 0.025 retino-a cream because I could not stand the scent. I tried the 0.05 and the scent is alot less worse. After doing some more surfing I've discovered I was not the only one skeptical about the effects of this retino-a. Alot of people from the MUA forum have stated they do not experience any flaking or redness with cream. Some do say there is some a visible improvement after months. I think I'll stick with the 0.05 for a couple of months and see if I see any improvement.

Firefox how else besides seeing if there are any side effects of flakiness, redness will I know if this retino-a is legit. I could wait 6 months, but don't you think it would be more practical to see if the immediate side effects are occurring to judge it's effectiveness and possibly save myself six months of applying a potentially useless topical.

free skin care · Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:05 am

coolioyo wrote:

Well, I gave up on the 0.025 retino-a cream because I could not stand the scent. I tried the 0.05 and the scent is alot less worse. After doing some more surfing I've discovered I was not the only one skeptical about the effects of this retino-a. Alot of people from the MUA forum have stated they do not experience any flaking or redness with cream. Some do say there is some a visible improvement after months. I think I'll stick with the 0.05 for a couple of months and see if I see any improvement.

Firefox how else besides seeing if there are any side effects of flakiness, redness will I know if this retino-a is legit. I could wait 6 months, but don't you think it would be more practical to see if the immediate side effects are occurring to judge it's effectiveness and possibly save myself six months of applying a potentially useless topical.

Not everyone has flaking and redness but you should just start to see smoother and tighter skin. Do you have any of the gel made by Shalaks? You will like that a lot better and it will work. The Renova that i used to buy from medsmex and made by Galderma is a great product. If i didn't have so much of the gel from ADC i would purchase that because it is so much more moisturizing. Either one will give you great results though.

free skin care · Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:42 am

coolioyo wrote:

Firefox how else besides seeing if there are any side effects of flakiness, redness will I know if this retino-a is legit. I could wait 6 months, but don't you think it would be more practical to see if the immediate side effects are occurring to judge it's effectiveness and possibly save myself six months of applying a potentially useless topical.

The only way is to purchase a reputable brand from a reputable overseas supplier then wait as you would need to with any anti-ageing topical, OR get a prescription from your dermatologist.

You are assuming that either the product is a placebo (cream base, no active) or the real deal. If you look at the illicit/ recreational drug market that is not what happens, you might get a reduced potency but frequently they will cut with a related chemical that gives *some* of the same side effects. Caffeine for the jitters, lidocaine for numb teeth etc. ANY acid or irritant could be added to a fake Retin-A to cause the side effect of redness or flaking and fool customers.

If it turns out to be a genuine product and you have deliberately over-applied there may be no negative consequences or you may trigger chronic dermatitis. If the product is a bad fake you could be triple dosing yourself with whatever rubbish they decided to chuck in to mimic the side effects of retinoic acid. The risks may be relatively small, but they are risks you should take with your eyes open.

Sat Feb 18, 2012 5:20 pm

Thanks.

Yes grhawk I do have the retin-a gel from adc. I've heard the 0.025 and 0.05 have a olive ester base and the 0.1 has a glycol base. Are you using a specific one, I've heard the 0.01 is very potent. I'm not sure about the 0.025 and 0.05. Have you tried the weaker ones? Do all work?

Thanks

free skin care · Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:45 am

coolioyo wrote:

Thanks.

Yes grhawk I do have the retin-a gel from adc. I've heard the 0.025 and 0.05 have a olive ester base and the 0.1 has a glycol base. Are you using a specific one, I've heard the 0.01 is very potent. I'm not sure about the 0.025 and 0.05. Have you tried the weaker ones? Do all work?

Thanks

I have used both the .025 and .05. I haven't opened a tube of the .1 but i will need to check the base as i thought they were all the same. I mostly use the .05 but i honestly couldn't tell the difference between the two on my skin.

free skin care · Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:37 am

grhawk wrote:

coolioyo wrote:

Thanks.

Yes grhawk I do have the retin-a gel from adc. I've heard the 0.025 and 0.05 have a olive ester base and the 0.1 has a glycol base. Are you using a specific one, I've heard the 0.01 is very potent. I'm not sure about the 0.025 and 0.05. Have you tried the weaker ones? Do all work?

Thanks

I have used both the .025 and .05. I haven't opened a tube of the .1 but i will need to check the base as i thought they were all the same. I mostly use the .05 but i honestly couldn't tell the difference between the two on my skin.

The Shalaks gel .1 is olive oil based. There is another .1 gel on their website made by Sun Pharma that must be what you art talking about.

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