Seven-Teen Says:
I’m quite desperate for any advice on my current skin situation. I have fair skin, and it turns out to be quite sensitive as well. I had a few break outs, being 17 and all, so I got Retin-a from my doctor.
I used it last week for 2 nights, and became quite red. I stopped using this but stupidly decided to put on antibiotic to ease the redness. what was I thinking? I suppose I wasn’t. Currently my skin looks burned– extremely red, blotchy, bumpy disgusting and scaley. I’m devastated, I might sound incredibly melodramatic but it’s truly quite bad.I will be seeing my dermatologist next Tuesday but that`s more than a week away and I’m writing to ask you for some advice on what might help heal this. I stopped moisturizing in fear of making it worse.
I heard that Lancome Nutrix helps with “any type of burns” but the only way I can get that is by ordering it on Amazon. Anything I can do? My texture is terrible right now, how long will it last?
The Left Brain’s Reply:
I need to preface this by saying we are not doctors. This question is best answered by the doctor who prescribed the Retin-a. But it is not uncommon for people to experience a worsening of their condition when using Retin-a before things get better. Essentially, your body needs to get used to the stuff. It usually takes 2 weeks before you start to see positive results. And it could take as long as 6 weeks before you get consistent results.
It’s not likely that the antibiotics caused your problem so don’t beat yourself up about it. It is most likely the reaction of your body to the Retin-a. Then antibiotics won’t help however.
There’s not much you can do to heal it as it’s an allergic reaction. It’s probably ok to use a hypoallergenic concealer but best would be not to use anything on your face. The condition should clear up in a day or two.
Hope that helps. And thanks so much for reading the Beauty Brains.
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I’m currently reading “Free Gift with Purchase”, by Jean Godfrey-June – she’s the beauty editor for Lucky. She says that Retin-A helps with wrinkles – can you comment on that? Any truth to it?
I have used Retin-A, and I think I remember that the skin on which it is used becomes more easily sunburned. Seven-teen does not say if she is using a sunscreen. She does say that she is fair-skinned. Could it be that she is sunburned? In addition to seeing her doctor, she might find it helpful to take a look at if she was using a strong-enough SPF, re-applying it often enough, and using a sunscreen with with UVA protection.
Seven-Teen, I think I’m late in this, but I’ve used Retin-A several times, and every single dermatologist said that the moisturizer and cleanser that were ok to use while on Retin-A are Cetaphil brand, found at the drugstore. It is hypoallergenic. And yes, you need to use hypoallergenic sunscreen during the day as well, or you’ll get a nasty sunburn and even brown spots on your skin. I always use SPF 30 and top that with loose powder as per the advice of my dermatologist, since the powder helps the sunscreen adhere to your skin. If I’ll be indoors all day, I apply it once a day, and if I’ll be outdoors, I reapply at noon.
As Seven-Teen learned the hard way, Retin-A and antibiotics do *not* mix. I made that mistake once. I was using the Retin-A and then put an antibiotic just on a big zit I got and ow. I got a big nasty burn there.
Now, your dermatologist should have advised you to use it every other day in the beginning, and told you that if after the first time you have used it you experience peeling, you should have put on your hypoallergenic moisturizer on your face first, then put on the Retin-A so you’d get a smaller amount until you get your skin used to it. Also, I hope he/she told you that your face has to be absolutely dry before you apply the Retin-A. Wash your face, dry it, and wait 15m to make sure. If there is any moisture, it will cause a burn.
Beauty Bug, as someone “blessed” to still have acne at 32 and of course, already have wrinkles, I’ve found out that Retin-A does help with wrinkles. The skin under the eye, the “crow’s feet” area is pretty sensitive though, so you have to start slowly, and use eye cream under the Retin-A and pat tiny amounts, but after you’ve used it for 3 weeks or so, you notice a different. Everytime I start a new course of Retin-A, my fine lines (I have more of a “crackling” under the whole eye area than real crow’s feet) are pretty much erased and I look much younger, and my nasolabial fold, that is threatening to sag (the smile lines) improve a lot too, but not as much as the fine lines under the eyes. So in my experience, for the “motion wrinkles”, it works so so, but for the fine lines on your face, it works wonders.
I always like to say that acne is a sign of youth. When you’re in your 30s and 40s you should celebrate every glorious zit!
I have been using retin a for almost 7 weeks and I currently am not loving my skin. I started using retin a because of pigmented marks and mild acne. My skin is still in the purging stage because I tried everything on my skin! I hope that it gets better to where I don’t need to wear make-up anymore to coverup pimples. I am breaking out really bad though, and I am not the kind of girls that thinks that one or two pimples is bad, I have like twenty or more but I am hoping and praying that it will work soon!!!
consider using it only at night right before bed. it basically weakens your skins natural resistance to light/radiation as a side effect.
however using it at night b4 bed means total darknessso no damage from light and plenty of time to sink in and do its job.
wash off in the morning and you should have no problems. first few weeks can be bad on it but for me in 3 months I was golden. Used for 9 months and never had any skin problems since. Best thing ever if you are patient.
Also it is good to use a moisturizer in the morning after if you are overly sensitive. Anything really (pure aloe,olive oil, natural types of products with either). I mixed aloe liquid and a small amount of olive oil in a bottle of plain old lotion and it worked great for me. Olive oil makes it ever so soft but leaves you feeling oily but aloe has no drawbacks whatsoever.
Hi I would like to talk seventeen about her skin problem but dont know how to contact her.