topic Re: Question for Retin-A users......... in Beauty

Question for Retin-A users.........

Nadine — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 15:54:13 GMT

I dug out my .025 and want to start using it . I'm thinking once a week to start since I have very dry sensitive skin. I wondered how others started using Retin-A.

I'm still using Perricone and will continue but I think adding in this product will be a benefit.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 16:00:02 GMT

@Nadine wrote:
I dug out my .025 and want to start using it . I'm thinking once a week to start since I have very dry sensitive skin. I wondered how others started using Retin-A.
I'm still using Perricone and will continue but I think adding in this product will be a benefit.

@Nadine - When you say "dug out", does that mean you've had it for awhile and just haven't been using it? As with any prescription medication, which RetinA is, there is an expiration date. Check the crimped end of the tube, to see if one is there. You don't say what Pericone products you're using so I can't comment on that. However, assuming your RetinA is still good, it's the lowest strength availble. I honestly don't think using the lowest strength once a week is going to have much of an impact. JMO

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

Tricolor — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 16:08:31 GMT

@Nadine, I am 66 years old and started using Retin A when I was 47. Fortunately, I never had any side affects. My skin accepted it very well. I started off using it every other day. Now I use it 5-6 days a week. When I retired 4 years ago, I had to switch to an insurance that would no longer pay for it. I contemplated stopping it but glad that I stuck with it. For my age, my skin does look pretty darn good. Of course, I see so many aging changes, but when I see someone my age not using anything then I am convinced that this stuff is working. You may want to check your expiration date on your product. It will lose it's efficacy if it's old.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

ladyroxanne — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 16:51:38 GMT

nadine, i've read it doesn't matter what strength you use it will still have a lot of benefit. i do believe that you should check your expiration date though.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 17:19:34 GMT

@ladyroxanne wrote:
nadine, i've read it doesn't matter what strength you use it will still have a lot of benefit. i do believe that you should check your expiration date though.

@ladyroxanne - can you point us to where you read that? That just doesn't make sense to me.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

wilma — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 17:22:47 GMT

I started with the weakest % and used it every other night for a year. I didn't see any results. For the past 6 months I am using the strongest strength every other night. I see improvement in texture, pores, and fine lines. I also have fewer breakouts. I am over 50 but have very oily skin so the only side effect I have is very minimal flaking.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

ladyroxanne — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 17:56:08 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch

that is what my doctor told me. this after i bought a much higher percentage in mexico one year. he said you can get the same benefits from a lower percentage as the highest and recommended i not go that high. hope this helps.

eta: i see in my post that i said i read it. not true. i was having my first cup of coffee and not quite awake. lol

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

ladyroxanne — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 17:57:04 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch

i had to edit my post.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

Nadine — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 18:18:20 GMT

I did check the exp date and it's Oct of 2016 so it's still good.

Please don't flame me but for the life of me can't remember where I ordered it. Someone recommended a website in the U.S but it's made by Johnson and Johnson but manufactured in India.

I remember when I used it for awhile after I got it I used it three times a week and started peeling so I thought cutting back on the usage would be a good thing.

As far as Perricone I"m using the Face Firming activater in the am with the neuropeptide cream over and the perricone sunscreen over that. At night the Evening seum, can't remember the exact name with the neuropeptide night cream over.

Tried the cold plasma and had a reaction so it's going back.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

HappyDaze — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 18:25:39 GMT

@ladyroxanne wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinch

that is what my doctor told me. this after i bought a much higher percentage in mexico one year. he said you can get the same benefits from a lower percentage as the highest and recommended i not go that high. hope this helps.

eta: i see in my post that i said i read it. not true. i was having my first cup of coffee and not quite awake. lol

Two derms I see said the same thing. They said for anti-aging benefits, the lower % will give you the same benefits as the higher and the only thing the higher % may do is irritate you more, lol. The higher % are to treat acne and will not give you more anti-aging benefits.

With that said, I have not gone this route yet for personal reasons but I do discuss these things with my derms.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

AspenGrove — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 04:46:52 GMT

HappyDaze and others speak the truth!

When I started using Renova (tretinoin/retin-A in a cream base) about 16 + years ago, my derm handed me the clincial trial data that had been collected for over 10 years, internationally. The result of the double blind clinical trials was very clear, as stated by HappyDaze. The lowest dose is considered the best for anti-aging benefits. (Acne issues are a whole other study/dosing.)

The clinical trials concluded that people who used the lowest dose every night year-round gained the most benefit. Those who used higher doses ended up stopping their regular usage because of irritation -- even those who didn't experience irritation until years after starting. The lowest dose folks, however, never experienced those negative effects after their initial starting phase. In addition, the studies examined skin cells closely over that 10 years and concluded that the lowest dose, again, won out for all the anti-aging markers. For my skin, nightly tretinoin/retin-A at .025% has been THE one and only true game changer. Would never be without it.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

Mz iMac — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 19:08:57 GMT

I didn't know Retin-A is still around!

Retin-A was a gift from the Gods to my daughter. Back in the early 90's when my daughter was 1 week away from going on her Junior Prom, she got a giant pimple on the tip of her nose. She was horrified to say the least.

I took her to my doctor who happened to be a female. She prescribed Retin-A & wrote down instructions for use.

In 48hrs, the pimple was completely gone!!!

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 21:08:52 GMT

Interesting info here. My derm prescribed the full strength for me for scar prevention after surgical procedure and I've just stuck with it. I have plenty to last me for the next year and a half, but I wonder now if I should decrease when it's time to renew?

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

AspenGrove — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 12:56:21 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
Interesting info here. My derm prescribed the full strength for me for scar prevention after surgical procedure and I've just stuck with it. I have plenty to last me for the next year and a half, but I wonder now if I should decrease when it's time to renew?

Definitely worth asking your derm. Mine was/is very clear about never bumping up the dosage for all the reasons stated. She handed me the printed abstracts from the clinical trials, which included the specific data they collected and the conclusions of the physicians, so I'm sure it's readily available online with a simple google search.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

Drythe — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 21:32:54 GMT

Under derms. directions I have used .25 for years with excellent results. I will ask her when I see her in February about changing doses, but I would be reluctant to mess with the success I've had.

Thank you all for the information.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

Nadine — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 21:57:55 GMT

Really good info about the lowest dose. I'm wondering if only using once a week is the best way to start for at least a month.

I also wonder if a moisturizer without any actives should be used over . Last night when I used the retin-a I didnt use anything over it.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

winamac1 — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 23:49:17 GMT

@Nadine wrote:
Really good info about the lowest dose. I'm wondering if only using once a week is the best way to start for at least a month.
I also wonder if a moisturizer without any actives should be used over . Last night when I used the retin-a I didnt use anything over it.

No...do not use anything with actives over Retin A. Argan oil or a moisturizer with no actives like Clinique DDML is ok to use.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

AspenGrove — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 00:03:12 GMT

@Nadine wrote:
Really good info about the lowest dose. I'm wondering if only using once a week is the best way to start for at least a month.
I also wonder if a moisturizer without any actives should be used over . Last night when I used the retin-a I didnt use anything over it.

Nadine, when my derm started me on it, she had me start by using it once every three nights for two or three weeks, I believe. If I had no irritation, i could then use it every two nights for a couple of weeks and so on, until I was using it every night. She told me that if I had any irritation, I should back off and go back one step. She also told me that putting a simple, gentle (no actives) moisturizer on after was fine if my skin felt very dry or otherwise irritated, which mine never did. So, I don't put on anything at night except for my tretinoin prescription. But it's a personal thing. You'll know if your skin needs a moisturizer on top or not.

ETA: My derm told me that she finds that her patients who are using it for anti-aging benefits have much greater long-term success with tretinoin in a cream base, because it causes much less irritation than "plain" retin-A, which she says she prescribes primarily for acne patients. For those of us with drier skin and without acne issues, that "plain" retin-A can be very harsh on the skin says my derm.

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

Nadine — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 00:47:51 GMT

I may start with a little more often then once a week. I have some ddml so I'll use it over if I need to.

Thanks for the replies!

Re: Question for Retin-A users.........

winamac1 — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 12:32:58 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
I didn't know Retin-A is still around!

Retin-A was a gift from the Gods to my daughter. Back in the early 90's when my daughter was 1 week away from going on her Junior Prom, she got a giant pimple on the tip of her nose. She was horrified to say the least.
I took her to my doctor who happened to be a female. She prescribed Retin-A & wrote down instructions for use.

In 48hrs, the pimple was completely gone!!!

She was very fortunate as Retin A usually doesn't work that quickly--especially for spot treatment. It often takes one to two months of regular use to show efficacy. It's not often used for spot treatment either.