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kbn316
New Member
 
Joined: 13 Jul 2011
Posts: 2
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Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:46 pm  |
I've been using tretinoin cream 0.05% every night for 6 weeks...and I see no changes AT ALL. Not even side effects! The first week I did get flakes and the corners of my mouth dried out really bad. But after that first week...nothing.
I even put it on RIGHT after washing my face! And in the morning, I use an OTC (philosophy) retinoid eye cream. And still no flaking, redness, peeling...nothing.
I have a history of bad acne until 3 years ago when I started taking Yasmine. MIRACLE drug for me! My acne completely cleared up. I take it continuously so hormone levels never drop, and as a result, I also never get my period.
I don't get cysts anymore, but I do still have congested skin with blackheads and bigger pores than I'd like. I'm 41 and have sun damage from many years of tanning--mostly just fine lines but no deep wrinkles. The BCP's also caused some melasma spots to pop up.
I just don't notice any changes at all on the tretinoin! Not in skin condition, blackheads or texture. My skin might be a little smoother now, but not much.
Maybe I need the stronger cream? Or maybe my washing routine is sloughing away all the dead skin so that's why I don't get peeling? I use philosophy Purity in the evening and their Microdelivery Wash in the morning. The microderm wash is AMAZING. It's totally gentle but exfoliates really, really well.
Anyone else ever use Tretinoin and have no effects at all? When will I start seeing a change in my skin?  |
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Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:17 am |
First of all, you're really lucky you can tolerate tretinoin so easily. It took my skin about 4 months to stop peeling and breaking out, and I still get occasional peeling if I use anything harsh.
It took 5 months for me to see noticeable (but tiny) differences in my skin, and now almost a year in, I'm happy with how my skin looks overall: smoother, brighter, clearer, and fine lines fading away.
And the results keep increasing until about 2 years in, and then hold steady if you keep using it. Sheer time is the biggest factor in results.
If you want a boost (to get results faster), talk to your derm about your blackheads, or see about a gentle facial to clear them out (make sure they know you're on tretinoin).
I've noticed that certain sunscreens make my blackheads more prominent than others. I've also thought about trying Clarisonic with the delicate brush head to really get all the sunscreen off. |
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30-ish, sensitive fair skin, oily and acne-prone, faded freckles; tretinoin since Oct 2010 |
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Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:09 am |
rockhugger, how many times per week do you use tretinoin and which strength and brand? Thanks!
| rockhugger wrote: |
First of all, you're really lucky you can tolerate tretinoin so easily. It took my skin about 4 months to stop peeling and breaking out, and I still get occasional peeling if I use anything harsh.
It took 5 months for me to see noticeable (but tiny) differences in my skin, and now almost a year in, I'm happy with how my skin looks overall: smoother, brighter, clearer, and fine lines fading away.
And the results keep increasing until about 2 years in, and then hold steady if you keep using it. Sheer time is the biggest factor in results.
If you want a boost (to get results faster), talk to your derm about your blackheads, or see about a gentle facial to clear them out (make sure they know you're on tretinoin).
I've noticed that certain sunscreens make my blackheads more prominent than others. I've also thought about trying Clarisonic with the delicate brush head to really get all the sunscreen off. |
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kbn316
New Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2011
Posts: 2
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Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:24 am |
Thanks, rockhugger, good to know! I was at least expecting the dreaded "initial breakout," but even that hasn't happened. I guess I'll just wait it out and be grateful my skin doesn't mind the tretinoin.
I expect to stay on this drug long-term...I get it for free! I don't entirely get it, but my insurance pays 100%. That saves me so much money. I was spending $100+/month on the philosophy Miracle Worker line that I really don't need anymore. I'm using up what I have, but after it's gone I'll stick with just the philosophy washes and the tretinoin. Oh, and the Vitamin C powder which I really like. |
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Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:50 am |
| I just had the opposite reaction from Tretinoin micro gel .025. I only used it a couple of days in a row, but made the mistake of using my Clarisonic to clean my face and it took off patches of skin. So I've stopped until the skin heals. |
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Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:56 pm |
kbn316-
I used tretinoin for about a year. It takes a long time to see a difference. My skin peeled at first and then it was almost normal. If you have any acne about to come it, it will bring it out so your skin might break out at first. I would keep on using it if I were you. Eventually you'll see a big difference. The aesthetician I saw a couple of days ago wanted to put me on it for acne, scars and wrinkles. She said it'll repair the skin but I decided not to go for it because I want to get a laser treatment or something. I used the 1%. It cost me about $96 plus tax and I really didn't want to keep on paying for it that's why I stopped taking it. |
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Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:44 pm |
| It takes a long time for any product to work; Tretinoin is the only known, medically endorsed topical to help fright signs of aging and to stimulate collagen; if it happened too quickly, then, to me, it would be suspicious and possibly dangerous. |
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Skyla |
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Thu Jul 14, 2011 2:02 pm |
It's also not unusual for tretinoin/retin a to take up to a year for results to be noticeable.
For me, I find it to be preventive rather than reparitive. |
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50 Is definitely NOT nifty!! |
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Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:36 pm |
| I didn't notice a big difference either until I bumped my Retin-A up to 0.10%. My skin tolerated the 0.05% with very little flaking or side effects. Now that I do the stronger one my face has adjusted to it very well and I am happy with the results. I did stay on the 0.05% for one year. |
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Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:34 pm |
| Sono wrote: |
kbn316-
I used tretinoin for about a year. It takes a long time to see a difference. My skin peeled at first and then it was almost normal. If you have any acne about to come it, it will bring it out so your skin might break out at first. I would keep on using it if I were you. Eventually you'll see a big difference. The aesthetician I saw a couple of days ago wanted to put me on it for acne, scars and wrinkles. She said it'll repair the skin but I decided not to go for it because I want to get a laser treatment or something. I used the 1%. It cost me about $96 plus tax and I really didn't want to keep on paying for it that's why I stopped taking it. |
Wow, the cost of retin A (or similar) is 4 times what it costs over here in Hong Kong.
I'll remind myself to stock up then before I leave. |
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Mid/late 20s...acne prone combination skin, slight pitted acne scarring on cheek, freckles, sun spots, severe dark circles, broken capillaries around my nose, blackheads on nose...yeah, I'm a skin mess. |
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Fri Jul 15, 2011 12:19 pm |
Thanks for the link! I thought the HQ/retin a toner looked interesting. |
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50 Is definitely NOT nifty!! |
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Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:42 am |
I use Ketrel .05% cream about 3 nights per week. It's a generic French brand, with basically the same formula as RA cream.
| RussianSunshine wrote: |
rockhugger, how many times per week do you use tretinoin and which strength and brand? Thanks!
| rockhugger wrote: |
First of all, you're really lucky you can tolerate tretinoin so easily. It took my skin about 4 months to stop peeling and breaking out, and I still get occasional peeling if I use anything harsh.
It took 5 months for me to see noticeable (but tiny) differences in my skin, and now almost a year in, I'm happy with how my skin looks overall: smoother, brighter, clearer, and fine lines fading away.
And the results keep increasing until about 2 years in, and then hold steady if you keep using it. Sheer time is the biggest factor in results.
If you want a boost (to get results faster), talk to your derm about your blackheads, or see about a gentle facial to clear them out (make sure they know you're on tretinoin).
I've noticed that certain sunscreens make my blackheads more prominent than others. I've also thought about trying Clarisonic with the delicate brush head to really get all the sunscreen off. |
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30-ish, sensitive fair skin, oily and acne-prone, faded freckles; tretinoin since Oct 2010 |
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Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:18 am |
What I noticed this morning is that, while I expected my skin to peel and feel rough, it also looks thicker in that any fine wrinkles I had look more prominent when I smile because of the "stiffness" of the skin. How long does that side effect last? Does it end when the flaking ends?
Strangely, my upper eyelids and back of hands are smooth and supple. |
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Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:58 am |
SoftSkin, I suspect that your skin is just protecting itself temporarily after the trauma you described earlier. My skin is way softer (and seems more far thin on the surface) than ever. I like this since I've always felt like it had some kind of surface buildup due to my oily skin and mild acne over the years. Both have cleared up - still somewhat oily but I can live with that. For the first time in my life I feel that its really necessary to protect my delicate skin with proper sunscreen.
I'm sure your thick skin will sort itself out in no time. Oh, and my flaking didn't end 'til I switched to the cream. And I still flake occasionally, usually when using the gel. |
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Olive, normal/oily skin. Using rinse-off ocm, Vit C, Tretinoin since Nov/10, GHK since Feb/12, Niacinamide & glucosamine, alternating, & now skipping nights! Concerns include oiliness, hyperpigmentation from occasional zits, 11's & nasolabial folds. |
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Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:33 pm |
Interesting about switching to the cream for flaking. I had a sample of Refissa cream with a higher strength and while it flaked, my skin didn't seem as flaky or thick. I thought I'd try the gel because it seemed slicker and would spread more easily so I'd use less. Might as well use up this tube and then buy the cream. For now, I'll just use mine every other day. I can't wear foundation because of the texture of my skin. I find myself with tweezers picking the flakes off. Maybe I should try one of those lint rollers with the sticky tape. 
A thought: when I used LacSal (lactic & salisylic acids) every night, it made my skin very smooth. Should I use it on alternate nights to get rid of the flakes or would that be too harsh? LacSal is an exfoliant while tretinoins build collagen. |
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Sat Jul 16, 2011 7:12 pm |
| SoftSkin wrote: |
Interesting about switching to the cream for flaking. I had a sample of Refissa cream with a higher strength and while it flaked, my skin didn't seem as flaky or thick. I thought I'd try the gel because it seemed slicker and would spread more easily so I'd use less. Might as well use up this tube and then buy the cream. For now, I'll just use mine every other day. I can't wear foundation because of the texture of my skin. I find myself with tweezers picking the flakes off. Maybe I should try one of those lint rollers with the sticky tape.
A thought: when I used LacSal (lactic & salisylic acids) every night, it made my skin very smooth. Should I use it on alternate nights to get rid of the flakes or would that be too harsh? LacSal is an exfoliant while tretinoins build collagen. |
LacSal is a relatively mild AHA. It should work well in conjuction with the retin a. I just started using Lactic Acid with my retin a. Just be careful about overdoing it and take a day off when your skin gets stressed. |
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Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:12 am |
| I began Retin A for acne (anti aging was just a bonus). I kept bumping myself up to .1% gel, and saw results almost immediately after the peeling stopped. It cleared up my back permanently, I still use it for my face a couple times a week. |
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Late 30's, fair skin, dark hair. Retin A, DIY potions. Missions completed- acne, acne scarring, 11's, redness, contact dermatitis. Working on maintenence and cellulite. |
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