does anyone USE Retin A. If yes, would you recomend it?
Re: Retin A
i used it for abt a year...it works but make sure u r using a really good sunscreen ( highest one avlb.) if not ur skin will become really sensitive to sunlight and other stuff.
once i stop using it though my acne came back and now i m on differin (its the same thing but its not as strong...dont need a strong dose)
Re: Retin A
i took accutane for 2 months. I have very ligh breakouts now. My acne is completely gone. I have scars left from acne and i was thinking about going on Retin A for acne scars.
Re: Retin A
ratin A isn't for scars...my dr. gave me a bleaching cream that is to be applied twice a day on the scars...ask ur dr. for something like that.
ohh and how is accutane...i thgt abt it and it was just too much work...preg. test, birth control bills and blood test...too much.
Re: Retin A
its completely worth it. I only took it for 2 months. I would recommend it to anyone who is struggling with acne. I don't breakout anymore, no matter what I put on my skin. I exfoliate lot more without the fear of breaking out. Are you married? If yes, then you defiantly need to take extra pre-caution and NOT GET PREGNANT.
Re: Retin A
i m not married but getting married in Dec 2009' and been struggling with acne for the longest time...it clears up but comes back and i m back to the dr. for more creams and pills..
i think i will talk to her (dr.) regarding accutane... n c what she says.
Re: Retin A
if you are not married then their is no worry about getting pregnant and this the best time for you to take it. I was married and had to struggle with birth control pills and regular blood tests. I still think its worth it and would do it again if I had too.
I would recommend taking it before getting married. My sister also took accutane and had no issues cause she is not married. She never bothered taking the birth control pills the doc prescribed. she just had to get a blood test done every month. She is also acne free.
Retin A is also used on scars but it's usually mixed with a mild bleaching cream.. (one that suits u're skin-type) differin is much milder and can be used for larger area's such as the shoulders and back (acne) Retin A shud only be applied to the area's where acne is visible.. it's extremely drying and shudn't be used along with other products.
HQ gel is effective for removing acne scarring.. and so is eldopaque 11% but usually the strength can be suggested after doing a thorough skin-cription and analysis!
Hi,
Retin A is a very potent ingredient. Therefore, I would recommend that you consult a dermatologist before applying something so strong to your skin. When using Retin A, your skin becomes more sensitive to the sun. So make sure that you generously apply a good sunscreen 15-30 minutes prior to going outside. In desi people.........use of Retin A can cause dark marks or hyperpigmentation on the skin......if you fail to use sunscreen during sun exposure.
I recently learned about a product by Philosophy, which is sold at Sephora. It's basically a jar of Retin A capsules. Supposedly you break open the capsule and then you can mix the Retin A liquid into your night cream. I have not tried it, but it seems interesting.
Most often products containing Retin A are prescription bases. So, refer to your dermatologist. Hope this helps:)
Re: Retin A
I have used Retin A and even though it helped my acne during the time I was using it, I stopped after three weeks.
I flaked A LOT during the time I used Retin A and I didnt leave the house without sunscreen, ever. But if I stopped using it, my acne came back full force.
I dont want to become dependant on any creams or lotions to have clear skin. I want a permanent solution. I got some salicylic acid peels and periodically have facials done to help prevent breakouts. This has helped my skin dramatically and I now have better skin and fewer breakouts.
Re: Retin A
How weird. I just made a new thread on accutane in the fitness forum looking for those who have used it. When I say I have acne, I don't mean just pimples. I have the serious acne. Can you guys tell me more about your experiences with accutane? Tell me all you can. Were you depressed during treatment etc. How about taking this drug if I am having an unusually stressful semester at college?
Sahar, I can tell you about Retin A. I used it for more than a year. I experienced severe snake like peeling in the first few weeks. It was terrible. But it tones down later. It still was too harsh for my skin. It always looked red as long as I was on it. And it was on the lowest percentage. A better choice would be differin.
PSquared, unfortunately there is no permanent solution except Accutane which has bad side effects and it is only prescribed as a last resort, at least in the US.
Retin A shud be used every alternate night.. there are a lot of diff gels to combat acne.. but treating it from within is very important. A derm wud analyse u're skin and severity of the acne.. and treat it thru accutane or antibiotics..
Retin A does dry-out u're skin and shudn't be used along with other products and wear sunscreen at all times. Everyone has diff degree's of acne, which only a good derm can solve..
Re: Retin A
Dear princessjojo.. I can tell you about my experience. I had mild adult acne.. I never had any breakout in my teenage years but started to breakout at the age of 24. Every breakout left a scar on my face. I have few permanent scars that will never go away.
Accutane was the best thing I took for my acne. I don't breakout anymore except maybe 1 or 2 small breakout before starting my period.
Accutane is a powerful medicine but I don't think its as danger as it is hyped up to be. Just don’t get pregnant. The side effects that I experienced were extremely dry lips, red eyes, super dry skin, and rash on both of my hands. Other then that I don't think I experienced any depression. The doctor wanted me to take accutane for 6 months but I stopped after 2 months because of my husband. He had a hard time dealing with the dry symptoms I was having and made me stop taking it L . Anyways, I am free of acne for now and if in future I start to breakout again I would not hesitate for a minute and take accutane again. You should with your doc and see what he says. As far as I am concerned accutane is the only permanent solution for get rid of acne for good.
Re: Retin A
i do want to start taking Retin A. I have heard good things about it. This lady i know uses it and has glowwwwwwwwing skin. I am going to see what my dermatologist says about me taking it.
I think peeling is good. its getting rid of old skin.
Re: Retin A
My sister in law from pakistan as beautiful fair glowing skin. She is very secretive about it and won’t share anything.
Re: Retin A
Regardless of how good it is for scars and acne, in the long run it does more damage to the skin than any good.
It causes skin to become thin and sensitive, requires a very good sunscreen to be applied all the time and leaves your skin prone to wrinkles in your 30s.
So be very careful.
Retin A promotes collagen production and increases cell turnover thus firming/thickens skin :)
However, any steroid based cream will thin-out u're skin..Retin A does cause photosensitivity.. and u shud stay away from sunlight and wear a really high spf at all times.
Re: Retin A
It is in the end a steriod and works like one and though might not cause any perm damage for short term users but in the long term it will cause the skin to be more prone to wrinkles as the skin tends to get thin from all the destruction it causes to the cells.
I'd steer clear of it or any types of steriods.
Re: Retin A
i used it for about two months i think. at the beginning my skin peeled like hell. i never had to use moisturizer before but i began to since my skin became extremely dry and flakey right after washing my face. i wouldn't recommend it because there were no commendable results. it just controlled my breakouts. meaning i wasn't breaking out more than usual. it did not cut down on the acne as i wished. i was 16/17 at the time. two years ago. my dermatologists just moved me to tazorac which is way better. but i rarely use any of those topical creams now.
Re: Retin A
It peeled because thats what its meant to do, RetinA or any steriod targets the skin by destroying the top layer and encouraging a new layer to develop
Hence the dire need for a good sunscreen to prevent the new sensitive layer from permanent damage.