topic Re: Need help with Retin-A usage in Beauty

Need help with Retin-A usage

JeanCA — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 19:01:43 GMT

Hi ladies, if you are using Retin-A can you share about how you use it to maximize the benefit without excessive peeing, redness, and dryness? I have combo dry skin and it leaves me with very dry patches that takes a long time to resolve. I saw my friend who has been using it for last 5 years (whom i haven't seen in years) and she looked great! I would like to start again for long term benefit but worry about the dryness. Thank you!

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

virgosun — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 19:16:42 GMT

I use the .05% Retin-A cream nightly. I started using it 2x a week, then 3x a week then nightly. I use a very small amount, they stress that it is not used like a moisturizer. I also mix mine with Obagi Blender which is an emollient 4% hydroquinone cream. I was told to make a thin line of each about half the length of my index finger, blend and pat on my skin. About an hour later I follow with a moisturizer or serum. I've had no redness and only a very slight amount of peeling on my chin once in a while.

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

chloesmoma1 — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 19:26:19 GMT

Hello I am a medical esthetician and I have worked for some of the top derms in the country. I work in an Obagi spa and I will let you know virgosun that you should NOT use serum or moisturizer after blender/retin-a. The combo is the last thing that should go on your skin 1/2 hour before you go to bed. If you use serum or moisturizer you are lessening the combo. The whole idea of retin-a is to peel! The dryness and redness last only a few weeks. The peeling is what gets that dead layer of skin off, you build up dead skin daily so you constantly need to get rid of it. If the products are used correctly in about 5-6 weeks your skin will normalize and you should wake up with "dewy" skin in the morning. The combo should be mixed together on the back of your hand and rubbed in completely in a circular motion..patting it in is not the correct way to use it. The correct amount should be enough that you must make a few passes over your whole face to get it all rubbed in completely. The combo should be used the same method as you would moisturize.

Feel free to ask me anything else.

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 19:27:01 GMT

JeanCA-with Retin-A, because it's so strong, you really need to ease into it. Honestly, you may never become a nightly user, and that's OK. I've been using it for a couple of years now and learned the hard way about the drying and flaking. I had to back off for awhile in the beginning and start over. To ease into it, apply the Retin-A a couple of times a week for 2-3 weeks, the, maybe move to an every other day schedule for a couple of weeks, and then nightly. Only use the Retin at night and use a little moisturizer with it, if you need to - not by mixing them together, but by applying the moisturizer after your cleansing routine and then a little later you can apply your Retin-A. I'm pretty much on an every other night schedule, alternating my Retin-A (0.1%) with an AHA treatment on the in-between nights, but on one of the weekend days I don't do either of them because I do a Skinn ABC Peel.

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

Coco Butter Bean — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 19:27:47 GMT

On 3/5/2015 chloesmoma1 said:
Hello I am a medical esthetician and I have worked for some of the top derms in the country. I work in an Obagi spa and I will let you know virgosun that you should NOT use serum or moisturizer after blender/retin-a. The combo is the last thing that should go on your skin 1/2 hour before you go to bed. If you use serum or moisturizer you are lessening the combo. The whole idea of retin-a is to peel! The dryness and redness last only a few weeks. The peeling is what gets that dead layer of skin off, you build up dead skin daily so you constantly need to get rid of it. If the products are used correctly in about 5-6 weeks your skin will normalize and you should wake up with "dewy" skin in the morning. The combo should be mixed together on the back of your hand and rubbed in completely in a circular motion..patting it in is not the correct way to use it. The correct amount should be enough that you must make a few passes over your whole face to get it all rubbed in completely. The combo should be used the same method as you would moisturize.

Feel free to ask me anything else.

Hello! Is this the right blender?

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

KathyPet — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 19:39:11 GMT

I have the 0.025 concentration which my MD suggested I start with using three times a week,to see how my skin tolerates it and then consider moving up to the next level which I guess is the 050 strength. I guess that the 1.0 strength is the most heavily concentrated application with the highest possibility of peeling and redness?

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 19:42:26 GMT

On 3/5/2015 KathyPet said: I have the 0.025 concentration which my MD suggested I start with using three times a week,to see how my skin tolerates it and then consider moving up to the next level which I guess is the 050 strength. I guess that the 1.0 strength is the most heavily concentrated application with the highest possibility of peeling and redness?

It's not 1.0%, it's 0.1%, and yes, that is the strongest concentration of prescription Retin-A.

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

Coco Butter Bean — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 19:44:27 GMT

Can someone please distinguish between the Obagi Blend FX and Obagi Blender?

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

virgosun — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 19:58:11 GMT

chloesmoma Thank you for the info. I'll take your suggestions into consideration. I'll give it a try without the additional moisturizer at night and see what happens. So far I've been following the directions I was told at my plastic surgeon's office. But I'm willing to try another approach. I do have a question, I've read that 4% hydroquinone should only be used for 4-6 months. Is that true? TIA

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

cddh — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:09:21 GMT

Tread slowly and carefully. Try mixing it with moisturizer in the beginning.

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

chloesmoma1 — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:09:39 GMT

The Obagi Blend FX is NON hydroquinone, which means it WONT fade pigment!

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

chloesmoma1 — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:13:34 GMT

Again you do NOT mix moisturizer with retin-a, that is not how it works!!! If you want a moisturizer based retin-a that is Refissa!

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

chloesmoma1 — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:14:57 GMT

Virgosun...yes it is best to give yourself a break from hydroquinone. Obagi and or ZO Obagi make a non hydroquinone cream for those months ??

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

chloesmoma1 — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:16:00 GMT

Lainikins the FX is NON hydroquinone and the Blender is hydroquinone which means it will fade pigment ??

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

Justina rae — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:19:50 GMT

Other tips:

1) Make sure your skin is completely dry before applying. Wait at least 20 minutes after washing your face before applying.

2) You should not be using any other cosmetic product or cosmeceutical that contains alpha-hydroxy acid or a vitamin A derivative, retinoid, at least to start until your skin adjusts. I also personally have found that Vitamin C in products irritates my skin.

3) Start with the lowest prescription strength. Start 2 days a week and increase until on an every other day routine. Stick with every other day for a few months before trying to increase to every day. Also if you are in a cold weather climate, decrease use during the coldest months.

4) Do not overapply. Less is more.

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

Coco Butter Bean — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:23:25 GMT

On 3/5/2015 chloesmoma1 said: Lainikins the FX is NON hydroquinone and the Blender is hydroquinone which means it will fade pigment ??

Thank you. I went ahead and ordered the Blender straight from Obagi and will use it as you have instructed in post #2.

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

chloesmoma1 — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:26:55 GMT

Lanikins...just make sure you blend them together on the back of your hand you apply like that...I use and recommend to all my patients the "two finger rule" take you second and third finger and pick up the mixture and dot the face with it and then use those same fingers from both hands to rub iron completely in a circular motion, make sure you get under the jawline so you don't have a line of demarcation. The left over combo on the back of your hand makes a nice little hand treatment for removing those brown patches from the sun ??

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

chloesmoma1 — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:29:32 GMT

I do the entire Obagi routine start to finish am and pm. Retin-A does NOT have to be used for not ha before you can go to nightly...if a patient uses it for 2weeks every other night and it fine then they can go to nightly! Sunscreen everyday is a must!!

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

Coco Butter Bean — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:33:05 GMT

On 3/5/2015 chloesmoma1 said: Lanikins...just make sure you blend them together on the back of your hand you apply like that...I use and recommend to all my patients the "two finger rule" take you second and third finger and pick up the mixture and dot the face with it and then use those same fingers from both hands to rub iron completely in a circular motion, make sure you get under the jawline so you don't have a line of demarcation. The left over combo on the back of your hand makes a nice little hand treatment for removing those brown patches from the sun ??

You are awesome! I'm going to print out your tips so I'm ready when the Blender arrives.

Re: Need help with Retin-A usage

JeanCA — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:36:03 GMT

If i use the blender, do i use this combo only and no other products on top or below?