Retin A gel
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Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:45 pm

Hi everyone

I'm new here and really hoping you guys can help

I've decided to start using retin A for anti aging, I,m 33 and not fairing too well ; (

This is a bit long winded... sorry and thanks if you read it lol

The problem in this country (UK) it's not easy to get hold of this stuff.
I intially saw a private doc at a clinic that does peels, laser etc.. I guess the equivalent to a Derm in the US

He suggested Retin A at a cost of £75 to £95 per tube. He said I could mix say 0.05% with moisturizer to dilute to 0.025% making it go further thus costing less.

You cannot get insurance for this in the UK, Anything private/cosmetic you have to pay for.

We do have the NHS which is free healthcare. Prescription drugs cost just £8 each time but nothing cosmetic understandably.

The private doc above (a very nice caring man who doesn't have $ in his eye's) suggested I try to get Retin A on the NHS for my acne.

My acne really isn't bad and is controlled with my pill. I stopped taking it, waited until my acne got worse then tried for the Retin A on the NHS.
Initially the NHS doc suggested a different pill better for acne, I said I was happy with the pill I had and he prescribed the Retin A.

I know it seems bad getting this cream on the NHS but I work hard, I pay tax. I don't smoke or drink and eat a reasonable diet.
A lot of people don't work, claim benefits and get everything for free. I'm not going to loose any sleep over some cream.

Anyhoo... my problem is I only seem to be able to get hold of 0.1% GEL or 0.025% CREAM from pharmacies here
The doc prescibed 0.1% GEL and I didn't argue.

I thought I will just dilute it like the other doc said, then I can gradually increase the % but the GEL DOESN'T MIX WELL with moisturizer??!

It kind of goes stringy and weird. It goes on but I end up with white bits.

I've used this for the past few nights. Roughly 1 part gel to three parts moisturizer. Nothing has happended, no dryness peeling etc

Does anyone have experience of mixing gel with moisturizer?
Should I just get the 0.025% cream instead and not have the flexibilty of increasing the strength?

None of this would be an issue if I didn't have to jump through hoops to get the stuff

ps I 'm not stingy lol. It's just that I'm single, trying to buy my first home and not a high earner so I'm really having to count the pennies : /

Thanks, any help is appreciated
: )

free skin care · Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:24 pm

Hello Autumnlight Smile

Welcome to this forum... The highest strength of Retin-A gel is 0.1% and it is more economical long-term than buying 0.025% cream, because you will be using moisturizer to dilute the strength to give you 0.025% strength... Retin-A gel that your doctor prescribed is "microsphere" which means more "easily" absorb than the cream.. I would suggest first that you put a small pea-size of Retin-A gel on your palm, afterwards put moisturizer, then mix them together before applying to the problem areas. Also don't forget sunscreen of at least 30 SPF when going out to protect your skin... Good luck! Smile

free skin care · Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:54 pm

Hello Autumnlight,

Is the problem that you cannot get a lower strength? I get retin a prescribed from an NHS doctor and it is at a strength of 0.01% so it is definitely possible to get a low strength here.

Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:52 am

Thanks Jade-1234
That's what I was doing.. Maybe I didn't mix it for long enough.
I don't think it matters now anyway as this product has been discontinued in the Uk : /
Thanks again

Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:57 am

Hi Moon
Thank you for replying. Feel like I'm going round in circles trying to get hold of this stuff.
My problem was I couldn't mix the gel with the cream. I wanted a high strength cream really so I could dilute it as required.
I've since found out that Retin a has been discontinued in the uk on Nhs
I'm curious to know exactly what product/brand/manufacturer you're using and when you last got some on prescription?
I'm thinking maybe there is a different brand of this drug a available on Nhs??

Thanks again : )

free skin care · Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:22 am

Quote:

Hi Moon
Thank you for replying. Feel like I'm going round in circles trying to get hold of this stuff.
My problem was I couldn't mix the gel with the cream. I wanted a high strength cream really so I could dilute it as required.
I've since found out that Retin a has been discontinued in the uk on Nhs
I'm curious to know exactly what product/brand/manufacturer you're using and when you last got some on prescription?
I'm thinking maybe there is a different brand of this drug a available on Nhs??

Thanks again : )

Are you serious?! I did get mine back in April last year - so some time ago. Do you know if they discontinued it after this date and do you know why they have stopped making it available on the NHS? I use POM Retin A.

Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:31 am

Autumnlight wrote:

I'm thinking maybe there is a different brand of this drug a available on Nhs??

Hi Autumnlight. As far as i'm aware the equivalent of retin a on the NHS is isotrex gel - i actually have a topic about it on this forum. When i went to my local GP we got talking about retinoids and although he appeared pretty incompetent (even more so in hindsight!) he did tell that the isotrex gel is the only retinoid gel now available on the NHS. I think it is almost identical to Retin a, but there is an extra step in the process with isotrex as it's a synthetic tretinoin but i believe this is a mere technicality (i think??). I should say i went to my GP for acne and i'm using the gel for that, not anti ageing like you. Hope that's some help.

Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:46 pm

Moon wrote:

Quote:

Hi Moon
Thank you for replying. Feel like I'm going round in circles trying to get hold of this stuff.
My problem was I couldn't mix the gel with the cream. I wanted a high strength cream really so I could dilute it as required.
I've since found out that Retin a has been discontinued in the uk on Nhs
I'm curious to know exactly what product/brand/manufacturer you're using and when you last got some on prescription?
I'm thinking maybe there is a different brand of this drug a available on Nhs??

Thanks again : )

Are you serious?! I did get mine back in April last year - so some time ago. Do you know if they discontinued it after this date and do you know why they have stopped making it available on the NHS? I use POM Retin A.

I just realised I wasn't using 0.1% I was using 0.01% same as you, same brand too. No wonder it wasn't doing anything I was diluting it with 3parts moisturizer!
It was discontinued in October 2012, I checked with the chemist in Boots. I have no idea why he prescribed it if they can't get it anymore.

The alternative at the moment is buy it private for £75 or online cheaper.

Maybe see your doc and ask for a replacement. I'm reluctant to ask mine as he wasn't forthcoming in giving me it anyway

Lindsay123 below has mentioned something below which I'll look into

Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:57 pm

Moon wrote:

Quote:

Hi Moon
Thank you for replying. Feel like I'm going round in circles trying to get hold of this stuff.
My problem was I couldn't mix the gel with the cream. I wanted a high strength cream really so I could dilute it as required.
I've since found out that Retin a has been discontinued in the uk on Nhs
I'm curious to know exactly what product/brand/manufacturer you're using and when you last got some on prescription?
I'm thinking maybe there is a different brand of this drug a available on Nhs??

Thanks again : )

Are you serious?! I did get mine back in April last year - so some time ago. Do you know if they discontinued it after this date and do you know why they have stopped making it available on the NHS? I use POM Retin A.

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