8 replies to this topic

[thebignosebandit]

Hello,
Every spring I always get a moderate cystic acne breakout. This year i got a good 5/6 cysts within the past 2 months, and ever one of them left large brown marks on my face. During this breakout, I went to the derm and was prescribed Retin A and Tetra.
Withing the past 2 weeks I haven't had a severe breakout, however, these red marks are taking FOREVER to heal.........
At this point I'm just waiting for these brownish marks to fade, usually they will fade withing 2 weeks, but currently they are still very visible. They aren't really indented or ice picked, but they are very pigmentated and visible. Is Retin A the cause of this? What should I do?
Thanks

[Orochian]

Retin-A is indeed related to redness. It enlarges the blood vessels underneath your skin, and on certain people (myself included) it can sometimes lead to patches of reddened "scars".

You should probably stop using Retin-A for a while. In my experience the redness can prolong up to several months after your last application of the drug.

Also take a look at the other thread about Retin-A and scars.

[Denise2]

I use Retin A micro and have the exact opposite. I use Retin A and Pure Deming Gel and redmarks tend to literally disappear at lightening speed with that combination.

Do a search on Pure Deming Gel at the top of the page here and check out the thread. Red marks REALLY, REALLY disappear with Pure Deming Gel. It's FANTASTIC; works really well with R-A micro.

[thebignosebandit]

thanks for the help guys.......

the thing is, to my knowledge retin a is suppose to speed the process of "shedding" your skin and increase collagen growth? logically this would fade marks a lot faster?

then the argument comes that it enlarges blood vessels? so im very confused. at the same time, retin a has so far kept me 95% clear, which i am loving right now.....the only thing is i have these very visible brown marks (i have dark tan skin) from previous cystic acne.

by the way, how long does it normally take for the body to fully heal a brown pigmentated mark? usually for me its 2 weeks to a month for a normal pimple, a cyst can take twice as long.........

i will definately check out the demming gel!

thanks

[Filipino]

Retin-a-Micro is supposed to heal pigmented skin in how long?? How about that St. Ives Apricot Scrub they recommended me??

[thebignosebandit]

hey filipino im filipino too and im sure we have similar colored skin......i had a pretty bad cystic break out a month ago, that left marks about 2 weeks ago, but they are being a bitch.......

a good thing is none of the marks have any indented scars or icepicks, skin is still really smooth, i just have these big brown marks on my cheeks.

[Filipino]

Yeah it's pretty bad. I'm also a little sensitive about my acne and hyperpigmented skin.. I also have Icepicks but I really don't care about those. They don't look so bad. After all, my dad is FILLED with icepicks because back in his day my gramps didn't know how to treat it or possibly because my dad grew up in a poor village and possibly my gramps couldn't buy medications or they weren't out yet...Oh that's not important!!!... But if he could get my mom, then I still have hopes in life..... O:)

[laina]

that's so sweet

[thebignosebandit]

LOL ya my dad is from the phillipines too and back in his day the "state of the art" acne medication was Crest Toothpaste....other than that all he had was hand soap for his face.....and he turned out decent, rolling scars here and there.......and he got my mom, so yes there is hope!