2 replies to this topic

[mkayx3]

i went to the dermatologist over a year and a half ago and she gave me a BP wash and .50 retin-a cream. ive been using it for 6 weeks and want to switch from the cream to retin-a micro gel to get better results and better control oil. so i went to the doctors today to get a dermatologist referal and she would not give me one, she said i must try everything there before she will send me to a dermatologist. she basically told me to just go on yasmin and that was it. she told me that retin-a should only be used to spot treat, and nottt on my entire face and that it would not clear up my whiteheads anyway (which is what i'm using it for). then she told the only way to get rid of whiteheads is for my body to heal my skin on it's own and in time they will come out (ive had them for years so obviosuly this is not the case) what should i do?? continue with retin-a? this does help with whiteheads right?

[AsiaXiah]

Retin-A definitely isn't meant to be a spot-treater. In fact, every dermatologist I've seen (plus, the Retin-A website and whatnot) clearly state that Retin-A (as well as the other retinoids) should not be used to spot-treat.

This is because Retin-A doesn't work like the benzo peroxide products. While those products work by attacking and killing the bacteria of existing lesions, the retinoids' main path of work is by preventing future outbreaks by making your skin cells shed faster by reduced cell division time.

Retin-A actually works quite well for all types of acne. If you're going to try Retin-A, I would suggest doing it the suggested way by applying it over your entire face instead of spot-treating. But on the same note, I'm not sure why your dermatologist told you what you said ~ maybe do you have sensitive skin that might not respond well to retinoids?

[mkayx3]

Retin-A definitely isn't meant to be a spot-treater. In fact, every dermatologist I've seen (plus, the Retin-A website and whatnot) clearly state that Retin-A (as well as the other retinoids) should not be used to spot-treat.

This is because Retin-A doesn't work like the benzo peroxide products. While those products work by attacking and killing the bacteria of existing lesions, the retinoids' main path of work is by preventing future outbreaks by making your skin cells shed faster by reduced cell division time.

Retin-A actually works quite well for all types of acne. If you're going to try Retin-A, I would suggest doing it the suggested way by applying it over your entire face instead of spot-treating. But on the same note, I'm not sure why your dermatologist told you what you said ~ maybe do you have sensitive skin that might not respond well to retinoids?

no ive actually been using retin-a .50 over my whole face for almost two months. but i want to switch over from the cream to the retin-a micro gel for better results and to control oil. so i went to my doctor to get a referal to see a derm. but she would not give me one