12 replies to this topic

[desperatejen1]

I've been using retin a micro 0.4% for two months and today my derm has decided to move me up to 1% Should I expect anything bad to happen? I didn't get any peeling from the 0.4% just got more oily. I didn't get that bad of a breakout from the 0.4% because I'm on birth control so I hope I don't break out bad from the 1%.. Any words of wisdom? I would really appreciate it. Oh and acne isn't my main concern it just hyperpigmentation/red marks. Thank you

Edited by desperatejen1, 20 December 2011 - 05:18 PM.

[desperatejen1]

Anyone?

[desperatejen1]

Really? No one

[desperatejen1]

Alright, well, I'm starting the 0.1% tonight unaware of what's ahead, but I trust my dermatologist. Would still really appreciate anyone's experience or knowledge of moving up strengths.

[desperatejen1]

Oh god! When I wake up my red marks are usually very light and this morning.... Oh my god. Red all over! Is this normal when you switch strengths??

[desperatejen1]

I want to die. I feel like I'm starting all over again.

[nomit]

Higher strengths means more irritation. Think of it like starting on a new retinoid entirely - your epidermis is thinning further, and this process undoubtedly produces irritation. If the side effects are too gruesome, you can always go back on the lower concentration.

[desperatejen1]

Thank you! Is this normal to happen on the first night of use? Because I was expecting some irritation, I guess, I was just surprised that it happened after only one application, and I didn't even use that much.

[nomit]

It's not unheard of. If it happened from the minute you applied it (within the first minute), you may very well have an acquired allergy to tretinoin, or, more likely, you're allergic to one of the inactive ingredients (I'm not sure if you switched brands, or if the suspensions in between concentrations vary). Odds are, though, your skin is just getting used to the new concentration, and it's going to be a rough two weeks.

Edited by nomit, 21 December 2011 - 05:46 PM.

[desperatejen1]

Okay, thank you so much for replying!

[junkyard]

Are you using the 0.1% every night? I hope it's going okay for you.

I started with 0.04% about a year ago and upgraded to 0.1% a couple months later. It made me more oily at first and did cause some acne flares, but eventually my skin was nice and smooth. That being said, it made me look kind of red all the time, and extremely sensitive to the sun. I am now phasing out of using it. I just can't handle the side effects anymore (redness, peeling, sun sensitivity).

I know some say Retin A is supposed to fade hyperpigmentation, but in my experience it almost seemed to have the opposite effect. I think what you're experiencing is normal, but I wonder why you decided to switch?

[desperatejen1]

Yes, every night. Everything has been going well. My skin is a shade of red and after I wash my face my skin kind of stings a little, but nothing horrible. You're gonna stop using it? What if your bad skin comes back? My acne is mostly gone from my birth control pill so I'm just working on hyperpigmentation, but if I stopped using retin a would all my marks come back? I just needed something stronger I guess.

[junkyard]

Since I posted that I have actually started using it again, but I am trying to go down to an every-other-night routine. I know the side effects of being red and flaky are supposed to go away eventually, but I've been using it almost a year and I am still bothered by these side effects somewhat. i am just going to decrease my use and see if it will still be effective.

If it has faded your hyperpigmentation, it won't come back if you stop using it. Be careful with sun exposure though. What are you using to wash your face at this point? I am using Purpose now. I was using Philosophy Purity but I think even that is too irritating for me when I am using Retin A.