The Retinol Uglies? Does it make age spots worse too?
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free skin care · Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:19 am

I know retinol can cause the uglies and make skin crepey, but can it also make age spots worse before they get better? I'm seeing faint new spots coming out since I started using a retinol cream a couple of months ago. (before that I only had a couple on each cheek) Or is it just aging starting to show up......

free skin care · Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:08 am

It's interesting that you brought this up... I started using a retinol eye cream 2.5 months ago and definitely got the crepeyness in my lower eye area after using the cream for a couple of weeks. I actually just started noticing a couple of age spots around my eyes (the lower area where my cows feet are starting to show up) that I know I didn't have before, but since I stared using CP's a little over a week ago I thought that maybe the spots were old damage coming up. I know that didn't help you at all, but your observation got me thinking, so I thought I'd share my experience...

free skin care · Wed Jul 21, 2010 1:25 pm

Dryness, crepiness, and exaggerated wrinkles/lines can all be pretty common when you first start using a retinoid. These "effects" usually dissipate as your skin acclimates.

I'm not sure about new spots with retin a use; I never experienced this myself. Are you making sure that you're using a good sunscreen on a daily basis?

free skin care · Wed Jul 21, 2010 1:46 pm

Yes, I use sunscreen religiously. I've been using the same one (Sofina Perfect UV) for several years now - maybe I need to switch?

The fact that they've appeared so quickly and suddenly has me a bit freaked out.

free skin care · Wed Jul 21, 2010 5:42 pm

The skin can take a while to adjust to prescription Retin-A. In some people it can cause peeling and some redness and irritation. But I was unaware that Retinol (a milder product) can cause wrinkling and crepiness or any kind of "uglies".

Is your skin peeling much? It could be that as the skin sloughs off, the age spots are revealing themselves. If your skin isn't irritated, I would continue using the Retinol product.

free skin care · Wed Jul 21, 2010 6:13 pm

No peeling, but it does get a little irritated (bumpy) if I use it every night.

free skin care · Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:03 pm

natsumi wrote:

No peeling, but it does get a little irritated (bumpy) if I use it every night.

Then I would back off a bit - maybe try every second or third night and see how you go.

free skin care · Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:23 pm

I know alot of ladies here have had such good success with retinol/retin-a but I used it for awhile and my skin just looked worse.

free skin care · Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:37 pm

luvskincare wrote:

I know alot of ladies here have had such good success with ret inol/retin-a but I used it for awhile and my skin just looked worse.

I think retin a is a case of the 'getting worse before it gets better' syndrome. It really does take six months to a year before any real results can be seen -- or maybe even longer in some cases.

At this point in my skin care regime, I don't think there are any quick fixes. And nothing is permanent... not even cosmetic procedures.

Sticking with what is tried and true is the best that we have thus far!

Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:57 pm

Hello.

This is my first post.
I will be 37 years old in a month. Recently my skin started breaking out worse than it did in my teenage years. Enlarged pores, blackheads, blemishes... Combined with the sudden appearance of fine lines above my lips and crepe paper skin under my eyes.

A week ago I began applying Philosophy's Help Me, and I am concerned by the fact that I look like a tomato which has been dropped on the ground and pecked at by birds. All of my old acne scars are incredibly defined and every bit of sun damage appears to be magnified. To make matters worse I am breaking out even more! I need to schedule a facial or an appointment with a dermatologist. I was wondering if my skin could be breaking out due to the fact that all the yuckies are coming to the surface so that they may disappear forever?

free skin care · Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:34 am

Firewoman wrote:

Hello.

This is my first post.
I will be 37 years old in a month. Recently my skin started breaking out worse than it did in my teenage years. Enlarged pores, blackheads, blemishes... Combined with the sudden appearance of fine lines above my lips and crepe paper skin under my eyes.

A week ago I began applying Philosophy's Help Me, and I am concerned by the fact that I look like a tomato which has been dropped on the ground and pecked at by birds. All of my old acne scars are incredibly defined and every bit of sun damage appears to be magnified. To make matters worse I am breaking out even more! I need to schedule a facial or an appointment with a dermatologist. I was wondering if my skin could be breaking out due to the fact that all the yuckies are coming to the surface so that they may disappear forever?

Found this on Philosophy Help Me:

Overall Rating: 8/10 (great product with retinol, but only one network antioxidant, and not good for oily skin or skin prone to breakouts)
What the experts say: According to Dr. Leslie Baumann, Director of Cosmetic Dermatology at the University of Miami, “Philosophy Help Me retinol night treatment is less potent than a prescription retinoid but can diminish fine lines just as effectively over time.” Unfortunately, Begoun notes that the product should only be used normal to very dry skin, because it contains a fairly high concentration of emulsifying wax.

http://www.futurederm.com/2008/01/06/product-review-which-otc-retinol-treatment-is-the-best/

I don't think I subscribe to the theory that "the bad stuff rises to the surface". If something is breaking you out and your skin is really irritated, I would stop using it.

Thu Jul 22, 2010 9:12 am

Thank you! Wink

I will stop using immediately. There are so many products on the market it gets confusing. Can anyone recommend a retinol treatment for aging combination skin?

free skin care · Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:02 pm

I use Retin-A and have never used a Retinol product, so I can't recommend one from experience. However, NCN Proskincare has one:

http://www.ncnproskincare.com/new-items/strongest-all-trans-retinol-1.0-2.0.html

Nanci is always extremely helpful, so you could email her before you buy.

There's also the Roc Retinol brand which is available everywhere - that seems to get allot of good reviews.

Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:13 am

I am having the same problem. I started using Retin A (first .025 then .050) about a 5 weeks ago on my hands and chest to get rid of brown spots. the hands are fine - maybe see a bit of fading of the spots. but there are more brown spots now on my chest than before I started. well, not so much typical "brown spots" as small spots of brown pigmentation. it looks awful. I used the RA to get rid of these spots and it gave me more! I have read in some places that RA can first expose spots under the surface of the skin before it sloughs off and has the desired effect. Is this true? do others have experience with this?? or is this a sign it is not working and to stop. my fear of stopping is that then I'll never get rid of the new spots!!! Help!!

free skin care · Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:01 pm

So I searched on the term "uglies" seeing what was out there about vitamin A - and I found this thread.

My history: I used the lowest dose of retin-a about 2 years ago and it was a disaster. It took 6 months after stopping for my skin to return to normal. Extreme ruddiness.

Just recently, I decided to try a milder product with A: Osmosis Correct with .05% Retinaldehyde. My skin has never looked worse. Fine lines greatly exaggerated under eyes. Skin ruddy. I was using every night (instructions say twice a day, but I did not do that). Should I continue on at 3X a week?

Like a few members, I really believe that the only topicals that really work are A and C. And a good chemical exfoliant. I can't do LAA either (same reaction) so I am going to use Tetra C in a oil serum. But I don't know how to incorporate the A.

I guess my big question is: will I even see a benefit if I just use it 3X per week?

TIA

Ingredients for Osmosis Correct:
Aqua (Harmonized Water), Lecithin (Phosphatidylcholine), Niacinamide, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Chlorella Vulgaris Officinalis Extract, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Asiaticoside, Beta-Glucan (D), Fulvic Acid, Lactic Acid (L), Sodium Hyaluronate (L), L-Hydroxyproline, Thioctic (R-lipoic) Acid, Retinal (.05% Retinaldehyde), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Santalum Austrocaledonicum (Sandalwood) Wood Oil, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloud Berry) Seed Oil, Cyclodextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Dextran, Dimethyl Sulfone

free skin care · Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:12 am

Erg, I would think that would see some benefits even at only 3x a week. But maybe try to work up to more frequent usage over time.

I personally have the same issues with redness, and had to move to an A product that had multiple levels so that I could start at a weaker one and move up. I ended up having to drop back in strength because I moved up too soon and was a tomato face agin, sigh.

Fri Sep 06, 2013 11:57 am

I am using Skinceutical 0.5 at night once a week then twice a week then my skin started itching, there are redness, and my previous pigmentations in my forehead (which the main reason why I am using REtinol) became very dark and very noticeable like I have a brown almost black patches on both sides of my forehead. I think I over applied the product and made the mistake of using a toner with salicylic acid (on nights I am not applying Retinol) that's why my skin is now inflamed/hyperpigmented. I am seeing some peeling on the areas too and hoping that the dark patches will peel off too. But I am freakin scared that the discoloration (very noticeable and half my forehead) will go away. Any advice on it? I already stopped using the toner 2 weeks ago, but my skin is getting darker each day. Help please.

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