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Mon May 08, 2006 8:53 pm  |
For those of you who have been using Retin A for six months plus:
What sort of improvements have you noticed with Retin A? Are the improvements definitely noticeable or quite subtle? Have you ever upped your percentage of Retin A and if so did that make a change?
I've been using .025 for a solid 6 months at this point to treat acne, fine lines, and hopefully help rather than harm some mild acne scars. I'm certain my skin looks better than it did six months ago but nothing dramatic. I know it's supposed to take a long time to see anything and maybe I'm being impatient, or else the improvements have been so gradual I haven't noticed them much.
But I just had my prescription upped to .1 percent...I'm curious a) if my skin will handle it well and b) if I'll be able to notice the difference |
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Tue May 09, 2006 12:50 am |
Hi Janis,
I used Retin-A Micro for 6 months about a year ago and it didn't really do anything except irritate my face. I was using it every night and I think if I had used it less, maybe the results wouldn't have been so harsh. I definitly didn't get the amazing results I have heard about though.
HTH!
Ali |
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31, combination-dehydrated skin (I live in the desert), occasional breakouts. I just want beautiful, glowing skin! Is that too much to ask? |
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Tue May 09, 2006 5:56 am |
| I have been using Renova for about 9 months, firstly all over my face but now since I only have a little drop left just using it around my lips where my main concern is and to be honest dont notice any difference at all.. Will keep using till its finished then decide whether to repurchase. Maybe I need to step up to a stronger cream.... |
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Tue May 09, 2006 6:08 am |
Can't say I'm encouraged by your responses.... 
So no one's noticed positive changes with Retin A?
Like I said, I AM confident that my skin is in better shape than it was 6 months ago -- it's smoother and healthier. I guess I was expecting something more intense, though. I'm definitely going to stick with it for at least a year. So far I haven't experienced any negative side effects, really, which might change as I transition into the .1 percent. |
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Tue May 09, 2006 6:11 am |
I have been using Tretinoin for 6 months (from my derm) and I must say that I have positive results. Brighter smoother skin after the purging. I use 0.025, I don't plan to increase yet, maybe when I am older 
Anyways, they say to decrease usage like 3x a week for maintenance. So now I alternate with some oils or aspirin masks, or whatever I fancy. But if u stop totally, then your skin will revert back to its old condition... 
My derm also said, once your skin gets better, then you won't get much more results, so I am not sure if .1 would equal better results. They only say to increase if you don't notice results anymore  |
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31, Combination normal-dry skin, loves CSRx, PSF, A'kin, Decleor, ACV, Jojoba oil! |
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Tue May 09, 2006 8:07 am |
| I been on Renova for about 3 years now and as I had got it for reversing sun damage and minimizing wrinkles I have not noticed any changes going on. |
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Tue May 09, 2006 8:17 am |
| I've been using Tazorac for about a year. It has helped my adult acne (it came back over a 3 week period when I stopped using it). I believe it has also has a modest positive effect on fine lines (my skin has been getting better and better but I'm not sure exactly which thing I use or eat is responsible). My skin is sort of sensitive but I have had no problems with this. |
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Tue May 09, 2006 9:32 am |
I am using Renova along with the Obagi NuDerm--started just last week.
I will be posting my progress as I have a bit of sun damage/uneven skin/melasma.
If I can't find this post again, just look for my weekly updates--though it's supposed to take 6-12 weeks to see any improvement. Plus, you go through the whole "skin uglies" first. |
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Wed May 10, 2006 6:05 am |
DiverChick, definitely do track your progress, I know I personally would be interested and I'm sure others would be as well.
So no one has any more firsthand accounts about Retin A? Come on -- I know half of you here must use it!
I will say that although the texture and tone of my skin has improved somewhat, I haven't seen any improvement with fine lines. |
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Wed May 10, 2006 7:37 am |
I've been using Rx Tazorac for a couple of years or more. I use it several times per week on my face. I like to use Renova every other night around my eyes.
No miracles but there has been a difference. For instance, before retinoids I simply HAD to wear a makeup foundation because of blotchiness. My skin tone is very even now and most days I don't wear anything, not even powder. My pores are less noticeable, but I think that is a combination of using a retinoid alternated with AHA's. As far as wrinkling I only have those in my eye area which has considerably less fine lines than they did before retinoids. I tend to think deep wrinkles need more help than a topical.
As far as I am concerned, rx Retinoids have done much more for me than any skin care product I've ever tried. I think this is as good as it gets without invasive surgery. |
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Wed May 10, 2006 9:26 am |
I'm a long-time Retin-A user. Got my first tube almost 15 years ago. I started with 0.01%, moved up to 0.025% and then 0.05%. That last one proved too much for me so I'm back to 0.025%, using it 2-3x/wk mixed with my Toleriane Fluid moisturiser.
Over the years I've strayed, seduced by the claims of Neutrogena, Neostrata, Green Cream, Diacneal, and other otc creams. My skin has finally recovered from a persistent bout of contact dermatitis that lasted for months and I've decided to stay with my tried-and-true retin and stop experimenting. I'll stay strong even though reviews of IS Clinical, Juvena and Vivier have me reaching for my credit card. 
When I'm on retin-a, after the initial period of dryness and flaking, my skin is smooth and the pores on my nose are invisible. One of the initial reasons for going on retin was to fade my freckles - that didn't happen However the retin use does require diligent use of sunscreen so for that reason my freckles have faded a little. As for lines, I'm fortunate to have very few, mainly on my forehead but no lines around my eyes to speak of. Good genes probably account for about 20% (I'll be 50 later this year), diligent sun-avoidance for 70% and retinoids for the other 10%. Retin-a definitely caused a line across the top of my nose to disappear after about 6 months. I'm only now starting to see it reappear but it's still not as deep as it first was 15 years ago.
Retin-a is not all good news. It's probably caused my sensitive skin and dry cheeks. I do have to be careful on sunny days. If I'm not wearing sunscreen and/or a hat I'd swear I can feel my cheeks heating up and the freckles popping up.  Still I think I'll keep using it for the foreseeable future until something better comes along. |
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Wed May 10, 2006 12:36 pm |
| stardust wrote: |
| As for lines, I'm fortunate to have very few, mainly on my forehead but no lines around my eyes to speak of. |
No lines around your eyes at 50?? That's amazing!
I'm half your age and already have lines there. 
Remind me to do WHATEVER you're doing! I guess Retin A is a good start! |
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Wed May 10, 2006 3:19 pm |
| phredd4, what AHA's do you use? |
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Wed May 10, 2006 7:05 pm |
| pnw wrote: |
| phredd4, what AHA's do you use? |
Right now I'm using Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel then ISC Active Serum on my face and MD Forte Eye Rejuvenation right under my eyes. The MD Forte has 6% glycolics. I recently purchased MD Formulations Eye Cream which has 10% glycolics and will be trying that out soon. By just testing it on my hand it seems much more hydrating than MD Forte, so they may end up being about the same as far as results.
I use the MB cleansing gel nightly, then alternate the rest with Tazorac and Renova. I use other products for daytime.
There are alot of great AHA products on the market. When one forumla stops working as well, I start with another then back and forth. |
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marianneO
New Member
 
Joined: 10 May 2006
Posts: 6
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Wed May 10, 2006 8:32 pm |
I have been using tazorac .1% gel every night for almost 2 years...my skin has cleared up amazingly. No more bumps..very rare whiteheads.
The elasticity in my skin has been very good..the only thing is I have to be careful not to overuse the product and be really gentle with other products I may choose to use. HTH. |
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Wed May 10, 2006 9:53 pm |
| I envy stardust. The first time I used 0.025%retin-A was 16 years ago. I had horrible reaction to it. My whole face was red and swollen. My face looked like tiger for a few weeks. I did not go out at all. When I went to see the doctor I had to wear wide-rim hat in order not to scare people away. Initially I only put it on my eye area. It worked so well, so I applied it on a larger area on my face later. After using it every day for a whole week, my face flared up and continue to get much worse even without putting on any more Retin-A. My suggestion to Janis is be very careful when you use it. I don't dare to touch the Rx retin-A any more. |
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Thu May 11, 2006 5:51 am |
| Rose wrote: |
| My suggestion to Janis is be very careful when you use it. I don't dare to touch the Rx retin-A any more. |
Yeah I've definitely heard some horror stories...
Weirdly enough though, my skin has never shown any negative reactions to Retin A. The only complaint I might have is mild dryness here and there, but nothing that a dab of moisturizer can't cure.
I've been using the .1 Retin A every night this week, and again, no bad side effects. My skin feels unbelievably smooth. I think my plan will be to only use it about 4 nights a week, though, to avoid overdoing it. |
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Thu May 11, 2006 6:08 am |
Hi Janis & Rose,
The key to my retin-a use is that I'm buffering it with my moisturiser. The actual strength is less than the stated 0.025, and I'm only using it a few nights per week. If I upped the usage or used it straight from the tube, I'd definitely have red peeling cheeks.
As for no lines around my eyes, I wear sunglasses whenever I'm outside unless it's raining or pretty dark. I probably look like I'm trying to hide from the paparazzi!  |
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Thu May 11, 2006 8:19 pm |
Hi Stardust,
Have you tried Skinceuticals' Retin-A? I have a sample. My biggest problems are under eye lines, dar circles, and hyperpigmentation. Perhaps, I should incorporate Retin-A into the skincare regime.
Do you have pigmentation problem?
Thanks,
Rose |
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Fri May 12, 2006 4:42 am |
Rose,
I've tried Retin-A and SkinC Retinol 1%. I think they have similar result but SkinC is more expensive than Retin-A.
I also enjoy the result of using Retin-A, pores invisable, less oily skin especailly on T-zone, whitening and even skintone, skin brigtening like an egg, removing ances/white head/black head.
But the course is terrible, serious peel off. Redness in the 1st week like burnt. Sensive. But after continous using a month, you'll see the result. But I don't like the never ending peelling off.......
So, I'm now change to use Gly Derm Lotion Lite Plus which I found with similar result. But you have to wait for the result. Its slower than Retin-A.
I feel Retin-A can't change your skin back to 18. |
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Fri May 12, 2006 6:25 am |
| Rose wrote: |
Hi Stardust,
Have you tried Skinceuticals' Retin-A? I have a sample. My biggest problems are under eye lines, dar circles, and hyperpigmentation. Perhaps, I should incorporate Retin-A into the skincare regime.
Do you have pigmentation problem?
Thanks,
Rose |
Hi Rose,
The Retin-a I use is prescription only. The Skinceuticals Retinol 1% is not quite the same thing. It's a weaker strength retinoid and available at regular retailers. It's been a while since I filled a rx but here in Canada I get my retin for about Cad$30. The Skinceuticals is US$48 so it's more cost-effective for me to stick with the retin-a. Especially since the Cellcosmet eye cream and Clarisonic are calling my name.
As for pigmentation problems, I've certainly have them. I've got freckles which I don't think are cute. I think they make my face look dirty and I'd love to get rid of them. That hasn't happened yet but using the retin requires sunscreen so that's helped. The retin doesn't help with dark circles but IMO it keeps the fine eye lines at bay.
If you can't tolerate the retin, an otc retinol is something to try. It should help with fine lines. |
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Fri May 12, 2006 6:33 am |
| I've noticed when I use rx Tazorac .05% it's like putting nothing on my face because I've used it for so long. Every time I try to step up to .1% all the time my face starts the peeling, sensitivity and irritation and never seems to stop. So all last winter I was using .05 most of the time and .1% once every weekend. Now that I am using ISC Active Serum on the off nights I'm back to .05 the rest of the time which is ok with me because I love using other products too and the combination is working for me. |
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Fri May 12, 2006 8:11 am |
I've used prescription retin-a products for a couple of years. Started with .025 when I used this with the Obagi System, then switched to Renova .05. I do take breaks from retin-a every so often.
As with most skin care products, I think that the more damaged the skin,(through sun damage and just plain aging), the more noticeable the results. I was 42 when I started to use retinoids, and obtained visible results....lightened freckles, softened wrinkles, diminished fine lines, smoothed out texture and decreased appearance of pore size on my nose.
Many people discontinue using retin-a products because of the initial side effects:
"Side Effects
Almost all Renova users experienced side effects before seeing visible improvement. These side effects are temporary, usually mild to moderate in severity, and may include some redness, dryness, itching, peeling, or a slight burning or tingling sensation. In clinical studies, these skin reactions were temporary and usually disappeared within a few weeks after therapy began. In most patients, the dryness, peeling, and redness recurred after an initial (24 week) decline. During these studies, only 4% of patients discontinued Renova due to adverse reactions."
b]"In the clinical trials[/b], physicians noted some signs of skin improvement in 78% of subjects treated with Renova. 64% of subjects showed improvement in fine wrinkling, 65% showed reduction in brown spots, and 51% showed smoothing of surface roughness. In subjects treated with a placebo skin cream plus a comprehensive skin care and sun avoidance program, 38% showed improvement in fine wrinkles, 48% showed reduction in brown spots, and 33% showed smoothing of surface roughness."
Renova is a great staple product for my skin (and age). I believe that I'll continue to use a retin-a product, but will always incorporate additional serums/actives as well.
[/quote] |
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Closer to 60 than 50 with dry, fair skin. |
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Fri May 12, 2006 1:04 pm |
Hi Janice
I wouldn't recommend you eliminate the retinoids from your beauty routine. If anything, they help you keep the collagen in your skin. Retin-A is not your global answer to aging skin, you must ensure you do the following to either maintain your skin or to improve it:
1) Use a retinoid every other night. If you use it everyday, your face will look more wrinkly b/c it will dry you out and peel your skin more. If you're used to .025% then up it to .05%. I told my derm that I was used to my .025% and he gave me Tazorac .05% and boy did that make a difference! My skin is firmer, more elastic, lighter, even-toned, and a lot less oily. I looked 10 years younger with this. I apply it every other night before I sleep. The other nights I use DHC's Coenzyme Q10 cream or just leave my skin bare.
2) Use an antioxidant. Ascorbic acid, CoQ10, or idebenone is fine to use. My derm told me that Prevage is good to prevent damage in the future but will NOT fix your problems now. It's good for prevention. I didn't like Prevage b/c it broke me out. So, I use either DHC Coenzyme Q10 or Juice Beauty Antioxidant Serum on top of my Cellex C serum and B-5 serum.
3) Use sunscreen. Retinoids make your skin even more sensitive to UV and if you expose your non-sunscreened face to the sun then your skin will be even more damaged. I use Shiseido's SPF 55 Lotion b/c it's a higher SPF and it won't come off my face since it keeps the oilies away.
4) Exercise. Studies show that people who exercise regularly have more collagen in their face (and rest of body). Might be due to more circulation? We should do this anyway b/c it's good for our health.
5) Diet. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE. I can't emphasize this any more than I can. What we put into our body will show up in our face. Dr. Perricone was right. Salmon, veggies, fruit (esp. colored ones b/c of antioxidants) are key. Your face will be firmer, more elastic, clearer, and even toned. I've changed my diet significantly by cutting out more sugary foods and breads from my meals and I see a major difference in my face compared to 3 months ago. Sugar is the worst for your skin b/c of the cross-linking of the collagen which leads the breakdown of the skin. Here's a link you might find interesting: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/jun2004_ask_01.htm
In a nutshell, retin-A will NOT make the big difference in your skin. It needs to be part of a combination of routines to get you that younger look. Trust me, my skin is much more beautiful because of it.
If you are used to the .025% and still don't see results after following all the points I made, then step it up to the next level. My derm told me that Tazorac is better for photoaging than Retin-A. Ask your derm for samples of Retin-A .05% and Tazorac .05% and you decide which you would like to use.
I hope that helped!
Librarygirl |
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Fri May 12, 2006 6:41 pm |
| Janis wrote: |
| stardust wrote: |
| As for lines, I'm fortunate to have very few, mainly on my forehead but no lines around my eyes to speak of. |
No lines around your eyes at 50?? That's amazing!
I'm half your age and already have lines there.
Remind me to do WHATEVER you're doing! I guess Retin A is a good start! |
I'm 55 1/2 and have NO lines around my eyes! So, it is possible  I use RA all the time, and have for a couple of years. But never really used it close to my eyes because I thought it was a no-no. But read not long ago it was fine to, so now I do.
But, I think good genes are partly responsible for mine. |
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