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Hi everyone,
I've been on doxy and spironolactone for about 6 months and my acne has improved a great deal in the last month. I have no pimples at the moment.
As I'm left with quite a few rolling and pitted scars, I decided to get my derm to prescribe me retin a.
I've been using retin a for 6 days, I haven't broken out (fingers crossed it's stays that way). my skin is peeling a lot which is fine and normal. However on top of the peeling my skin is really ictchy and getting red.
The thing that worries me the most is that, on my right cheek near my chin the skin has always been quite rough and dry and now with the retin a use it is becoming more so. Lines her appearing more defined. Is this normal?
Will retin a help that part of my skin by shedding the bad skin and reducing the tight lines and rough skin or will make it worse?
Should I stop using the retin a on that particular patch of skin which is quite damaged rough and has many noticeable lines?
Please help. My scars distress me more than the spots so I want to keep using retin a but that particular patch of skin is already rough even before using retin a and im worried the retin a may make it worse.??
Btw I'm only using a mild cleaner to wash my face and nothing else. Also haven't worn any make up since being on retin a. I use a spf 30 oil free cream during the day. And only put a thin layering retin a on my face in the evening. And that's my skincare routine
I've attached a pic of the patch of skin I'm concerned about.
I was prescribed Tretinoin Cream 0.05% (Retin-A) for three plus years for acne related issues, not for scars. But I can tell you that in my case, it did more damage than it did good. It's less sensitive than BP is, but it's still strong enough to cause red blotchy patches all over my chin and cheeks where I applied it. They don't go away for months. It's because Retin-A destroys the bacteria on your skins surface while also damaging healthy skin cells.
It's great for short term use on people with normal, non-sensitive skin. For people with sensitive, fair skin like me, a month's worth of applying it causes 4+ months of discoloration. Luckily I've stopped it and while I was on it for three years, the color is coming back to my skin - thankfully. I've read horror stories where people are permanently marked for life.
So I'd just ask your doctor or dermatologist about potential harm to the skin with the cream, specifically discoloration.
Just a thought, wish you the best of luck!