30 replies to this topic

[penguyen]

Thanks guys!!! Gosh..i know it's so frustrating!! But tuesday is actually just a consultation for my GA peel so if my skin's too sensitive, then I won't do it. But the lady said she would start me off with a light percentage and it's free =) i'm getting it done at a medical clinic! I just hate having to wear so much makeup to cover up the mark =( But i will keep going on retin a and today, I just got my clindamycin lotion from my pharmacy. The doctor said it would keep the pimples away, has anyone ever tried it? can you use that in conjuction with retin a micro?

[jewelsbeerlover]

Your skin will improve on retin-a DiDi! Mine sure did, it took months but it is sooooo worth it! Good luck girlie!

And thank you Darkling, I have been using retin-a for a year and 5 months now so I will probably be ok to stop use for a while. I just feel as if my skin needs a breather!

[clearskinn]

Hey guys!
I've been using retin a micro for about a month now and it seems that my skin is getting bad, it's still red and whiteheads are popping up. How long does it take to see improvement for you guys? Does retin a micro help with scarring?? I have a couple or red/purple marks and I hope it would work! I'm getting a GA peel on tuesday!!! kinda nervous!!!! XDDDDD Oh yeah, my name's Diane by the way, but people call me Didi!!!! If anyone can help me with my retin a micro question, I would appreciate it! I wanna give up sometimes on retin a micro but I'm sticking to it! I use cetaphil moisterizer everyday when I go out!!!! I'm attaching some pics of me, I have bad chin acne and with makeup on you can't tell but without it, it looks hella disgusting XD Yeah the pic of me in the car is with lots of makeup on!! GAH!

Be careful with peels. You can literally peel your skin off when you are on retin-a. I was forewarned by the pharmacy not to wax eyebrows either - you yank your skin off.

Many people have the IB with retin-a for several weeks. I'm at nearly 10 weeks now and just getting past it. Usually, 3 months is when the improvements really start showing. For now, you could actually get a years worth of acne in a few weeks. It's irritating, I know, but that's all crap that would have come to the surface sooner or later anyway!

for real tho, your skin will litteraly peel off. I was snowboarding about a month ago today, and smashed my face, it turned into a scar, and i was sure to apply polysporin to it, but a week later when it fell off i huge patch of red skin remained. it almost looks internal. Your skin is so fragile on retin a its crazy. take care of it!

[Scramuel]

Yes, Retin-A will slow the progression of nasolabial folds because it's PROVEN to boost collagen production.

I'm sold....using it the rest of my life! Unless something better comes along!

I'm going to try the dermaroller too. the 0.2 mm needles help the product absorb deeper.

[penguyen]

Thanks guys!! =) I will keep you guys posted!! Some days my skin would look better than other days!!! I'm trying to switch makeup tho, I use clinique oil free superstay foundation and pressed powder but I want something that would stay on all day. Any suggestions???

[jewelsbeerlover]

Sorry sweedie i would help u out but i hate wearin face makeup! Just looks so gross on me idk why it just makes me look all orange even if i buy white kind! UGHH!

[Banjos1]

I would really love to know the exact same thing! I have wondered this for a long time now... I have used Retin-A (a miracle drug, it really IS!) for a year and four months now. I got terrible hormonal acne on my chin and forehead in my late teens, and I still use Retin-A and have a few spots even while on it. (I am 21 now.)

I love this drug and I want to keep using it for it's effect of keeping acne at bay and of course for its anti-aging properties as well! I just get so sick of skin care, I mean, what would happen if I just stopped using it and like, stayed up all night clubbing or camping and just never worrying about getting home and applying Retin-A on time? I just wanna know, will my skin get all gross and red and peeling like it was the first 3 months I used Retin-A if I stop? I don't want that! But I want to stop worrying about "maintaining" my face! It's a pain when you are in the "fun years" of your life and you just wanna have a good time, ya know?

All the other folks at my age do not have these worries and skin care burdens, so why must I? I just would like if someone could help me figure out if I stopped using it after a year and four months, would that be ok? Or would I get all "acne-fied" again?!!!

Thanks peoples! I would really like to hear from those of you who HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH STOPPING RETIN-A OR ANY RETINOID!

[Banjos1]

I would really love to know the exact same thing! I have wondered this for a long time now... I have used Retin-A (a miracle drug, it really IS!) for a year and four months now. I got terrible hormonal acne on my chin and forehead in my late teens, and I still use Retin-A and have a few spots even while on it. (I am 21 now.)

I love this drug and I want to keep using it for it's effect of keeping acne at bay and of course for its anti-aging properties as well! I just get so sick of skin care, I mean, what would happen if I just stopped using it and like, stayed up all night clubbing or camping and just never worrying about getting home and applying Retin-A on time? I just wanna know, will my skin get all gross and red and peeling like it was the first 3 months I used Retin-A if I stop? I don't want that! But I want to stop worrying about "maintaining" my face! It's a pain when you are in the "fun years" of your life and you just wanna have a good time, ya know?

All the other folks at my age do not have these worries and skin care burdens, so why must I? I just would like if someone could help me figure out if I stopped using it after a year and four months, would that be ok? Or would I get all "acne-fied" again?!!!

Thanks peoples! I would really like to hear from those of you who HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH STOPPING RETIN-A OR ANY RETINOID!

As long as your pore structure and hormone mix stay about the same, you will most likely continue to experience acne and if you discontinue treatment your skin will return to the undesirable status quo. Usually, acne improves somewhat as a person gets older but people in their 60s can still battle acne and it is not all that uncommon, either. I can personally attest to this!

A certain percentage of the population have acne so, realistically, why not you? Extra skin care is just a cross you will unfortunately have to bear. Many, many people have far worse burdens than acne although I know that is hard to remember when you are looking in the mirror at your latest breakout. Retinoids are the best anti-aging products currently available but they are not quite the miracle-working compounds we all wish. Using sunscreens and avoiding the sun when possible is the best anti-aging practice.

[jewelsbeerlover]

I would really love to know the exact same thing! I have wondered this for a long time now... I have used Retin-A (a miracle drug, it really IS!) for a year and four months now. I got terrible hormonal acne on my chin and forehead in my late teens, and I still use Retin-A and have a few spots even while on it. (I am 21 now.)

I love this drug and I want to keep using it for it's effect of keeping acne at bay and of course for its anti-aging properties as well! I just get so sick of skin care, I mean, what would happen if I just stopped using it and like, stayed up all night clubbing or camping and just never worrying about getting home and applying Retin-A on time? I just wanna know, will my skin get all gross and red and peeling like it was the first 3 months I used Retin-A if I stop? I don't want that! But I want to stop worrying about "maintaining" my face! It's a pain when you are in the "fun years" of your life and you just wanna have a good time, ya know?

All the other folks at my age do not have these worries and skin care burdens, so why must I? I just would like if someone could help me figure out if I stopped using it after a year and four months, would that be ok? Or would I get all "acne-fied" again?!!!

Thanks peoples! I would really like to hear from those of you who HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH STOPPING RETIN-A OR ANY RETINOID!

As long as your pore structure and hormone mix stay about the same, you will most likely continue to experience acne and if you discontinue treatment your skin will return to the undesirable status quo. Usually, acne improves somewhat as a person gets older but people in their 60s can still battle acne and it is not all that uncommon, either. I can personally attest to this!

A certain percentage of the population have acne so, realistically, why not you? Extra skin care is just a cross you will unfortunately have to bear. Many, many people have far worse burdens than acne although I know that is hard to remember when you are looking in the mirror at your latest breakout. Retinoids are the best anti-aging products currently available but they are not quite the miracle-working compounds we all wish. Using sunscreens and avoiding the sun when possible is the best anti-aging practice.

Thanks so much Banjos1! You really helped to clarify a lot! Everyone seems to say don't stop doing what I am doing, so I will not! Until my insurance runs out, then I am screwed!

[junkyard]

Darkling, on 24 January 2010 - 09:30 AM, said:

QUOTE (jewelsbeerlover @ Jan 24 2010, 03:59 PM)
do you think it's ok to like not use retin-a for a week or two or so? or will my skin get all gross and go thru another IB when i start applying it again? Thats really something i always wonder about!

Hmm, I highly doubt that. I've heard that if you intend on exposing yourself to the sun (say you're going to the beach), you just stop using Retin-A a week or so in advance. If you are clear as a sunny day as of now, I don't see the problem, especially if you've been clear for a long time. I had to stop for a few days because the itching and redness was out of control, and my skin actually felt better, LOL!

I started using Retin A 11 months ago, and I have been on hiatus from my Retin A for a little more than 2 weeks now. My skin is currently more broken out than usual (I was basically clear 2 weeks ago when I stopped using it), so I am going to start using it again as of today.

The reason I stopped is because I started taking B5 which is making my skin much less oily. I am not sure if what I am dealing with is some kind of IB from the B5, or just my skin being pissed off because I stopped using my Retin A.

At any rate, I'm going back to it, and I'll let you know how quickly I see results.

[junkyard]

junkyard, on 07 January 2012 - 09:40 PM, said:

Darkling, on 24 January 2010 - 09:30 AM, said:

QUOTE (jewelsbeerlover @ Jan 24 2010, 03:59 PM)
do you think it's ok to like not use retin-a for a week or two or so? or will my skin get all gross and go thru another IB when i start applying it again? Thats really something i always wonder about!

Hmm, I highly doubt that. I've heard that if you intend on exposing yourself to the sun (say you're going to the beach), you just stop using Retin-A a week or so in advance. If you are clear as a sunny day as of now, I don't see the problem, especially if you've been clear for a long time. I had to stop for a few days because the itching and redness was out of control, and my skin actually felt better, LOL!

I started using Retin A 11 months ago, and I have been on hiatus from my Retin A for a little more than 2 weeks now. My skin is currently more broken out than usual (I was basically clear 2 weeks ago when I stopped using it), so I am going to start using it again as of today.

The reason I stopped is because I started taking B5 which is making my skin much less oily. I am not sure if what I am dealing with is some kind of IB from the B5, or just my skin being pissed off because I stopped using my Retin A.

At any rate, I'm going back to it, and I'll let you know how quickly I see results.

Just wanted to report back. I started using my Retin A again and saw improvement almost immediately. I have experienced no increase in my breakout (no signs that I will have to go through any of the IB crap that I went through before).

The only thing I have noticed is that my skin has been flaky in some areas (around the mouth/nose especially), but this is something that has always plagued me in the last year of using Retin A. Even if I don't use it directly on those areas, I tend to get real flaky. Oh well. I can think of much worse things than flaky skin.