29 replies to this topic

[lizziemcg]

Basically, I've been using Retin-A 0.01%, then 0.1% for five months. My skin has become increasingly oily over that time, and instead of having some kind of initial break out it seems like my skin was a little dry, combined with the oil and slowly but surely, pimples just began to mount up on my skin.

I really, really wanted Retin-A to work for me and waited 5 months, following every tiny step properly, only to end up with a face full of redness, brown spots, enlarged pores, unbearable blackheads and oozing sores. It seems everything was reversed, and Retin A worked against my skin.

So here we go, a few questions:

First, has anyone experienced this before? If so, what'd you do?

And second, what the heck should I do now? I've tried a variety of products; Proactiv, Benzaclin, Clindoxyl gel, tea tree oil, not using anything, birth control and now Retin-A, just to name a few, and I feel like I'm at a dead end with a messed up face.

I should also mention that I'm breaking out in places I never have before (since I first got acne in Grade 5, that's a whole nine years ago..), like the sides of my cheeks and the middle near my eyes, on the tip and bridge of my nose and on my chin.

Edited by lizziemcg, 19 September 2010 - 05:42 PM.

[fourfivesix]

I kind of went through the same thing. I was on tretinoin 0.05% for about 4.5 months, with little improvement and tons of side effects. My dermatologist prescribed me Differin a few weeks ago, which is just a different retinoid. The best thing to do would be to go to your dermatologist and discuss your options - different medications work for different people.

[swaggerific]

i currently use the 0.01% and this is going into my 4th month and i feel the same way. how is ur skin now?

[hope2011]

I'm on my 5th month of Retin A and i'm having a similar issue - I find that my indented skin marks are getting wider. My red acne scars can be covered with basic foundation but it's the indents/i guess could also be called wide pores are hard to conceal. Is it Retin A that is doing this? What is the solution? Can I just stop using retin a? I don't have live acne.

[AcneSlayer]

How much and how often do all of you use your tretinoin?

And how did you start out using it (like did you start out slower or just jump into it)?

[PimpleFree]

Can anyone explain why is this happening?

[AcneSlayer]

How often do you use it? How much do you use? How did you start out using it?

[PimpleFree]

How often do you use it? How much do you use? How did you start out using it?

Acneslayer I don't think they r on9 now. Btw you know the reasons?

[AcneSlayer]

Were you (PimpleFree) on it at all?

I have a theory. I just started Retin-A this week. I took a pea-sized amount and mixed it with my moisturizer two nights ago, and haven't used it since.

I plan on using once weeks 1 and 2, then twice weeks 3 and 4, then every other night from there on out.

My theory is that people just need to ease into using it VERY SLOWLY.

[PimpleFree]

Were you (PimpleFree) on it at all?

I have a theory. I just started Retin-A this week. I took a pea-sized amount and mixed it with my moisturizer two nights ago, and haven't used it since.

I plan on using once weeks 1 and 2, then twice weeks 3 and 4, then every other night from there on out.

My theory is that people just need to ease into using it VERY SLOWLY.

Why must use it very slowly ?

[AcneSlayer]

Because I believe that the drying and the irritation is what really causes these terrible breakouts that people are experiencing.

That's why I'm going to ease into using it so that my skin has the chance to get used to it. That way I can avoid it just ruining my skin like others have experienced.

Have you used it?

[PimpleFree]

Yahs, I am using it. It cleared my acne. Now I have no acne. But like what they r saying, it causes enlarged pores.

[AcneSlayer]

I'm glad it has cleared you up! As for the enlarged pores, I am not sure why that is. I'll have to keep an eye on that to see if it happens to me as well.

[PimpleFree]

Yah, I think you should. I research on9 and had came across people using retin a for 8.5 months and left them whole cheeks of indented scars (enlarged pores).

They went on using it despite discovering this because they were told it was a purging period. But these enlarged pores keep multiplying and now they left with horrible poker face with no acne.

[AcneSlayer]

Lol. "Poker face."

Well, I'll keep an eye on it, and stop using it if I notice enlarged pores. Time for bed for me, though. Night!

[PimpleFree]

I mean left them with scar pores. Im listening to the song, poker face. LOL.

[hope2011]

I use it everynight. I'm acne free but my doctor told me to continue using it? Should i reduce the amount / frequency? Anyone know more about this?

[AcneSlayer]

You could try using it every other night for a while and see how your skin does (like if you break out or not). Otherwise, as long as your skin isn't itchy, dry, irritated, etc. then I don't see why you realyl need to reduc the amount/frequency of use.

[Kat9]

I had a similar experience with Retin-A. It just peeled my skin but did nothing to prevent new pimples. I eventually stopped since my face was so flaky and pimples continued to develop underneath so it was pointless. I just took a break after Retin-A and only cleansed, toned, and moisturized so I could give my skin time to recover from the Retin-A. I would give yourself a break after stopping the Retin-A. Let your skin recover before you jump into another product. Tell your derm about this and maybe he/she can recommend something more appropriate for your skin.

[PimpleFree]

Omg. Hi people, since we are all suffered from acne, I would like to share this from what I found on using retin-a for acne.

For a long time, it was assumed that retinoic acid removed scar tissue. But then as technology advanced, it was found that retinoic acid increased the production of the scar forming protein TGF-beta-1.

This is not the first time I heard people saying retin-a ruined their skin. If you don't believe you can try google it. Many people have said retin-a did something bad to their skin! I have been using it also and I saw the pores enlarging and forming together into a scar! Please stop using retin-a if you find your skin getting scarring or enlarged pores before you regret! OMG! Pls refer to the link and read more about it.

Your choice and you decide. But please bear in mind that acne can be easily treated but scars are there forever. OMG!

http://healthyskin.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a.../2101020895/p/1