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Can Retin-A Stop Working Once Skin Has Developed a Tolerance to It?

asked 1 year ago by Grace8 in San Francisco, CA
Latest answer by Mary Lupo, MD
Question viewed 1,908 times
Tags: age 45-54, face, female

I am 47, female, fair skin. I feel like I blew it back in 1984 when I was just 20 y.o. & first got a prescription of tretinoin for acne. MDs didn't know to tell patients to wear sunblock back then & I got a deep tan one summer in Spain. The damage is there all these yrs later & the spots tend to come out more when I use Retin A but I don't know anything better for healing the skin. I've used it so long(retin A), feel like it's not as effective: is tazorac stronger? Recommendations?? thank you.

3 answers to Can Retin-A Stop Working Once Skin Has Developed a Tolerance to It?

+1

Keep using, but maybe upgrade

The benefits of Retin A are cumulative and one should stay on it forever, in my opinion. Make sure you are either using the Retin A micro gel 0.1%, (not any generic) for optimal  stability and bioavailability. I do love Tazorac and it might be worthwhile to upgrade, but it is not correct for you to think you must continue to see irritation for the benefits to occur for your skin.
Mary Lupo, MD

New Orleans Dermatologist
+1

Topical retinoids are excellent for increasing skin cell turnover and decreasing sun damage

Retin A helps decrease skin pigmentation and sallowness as well as minimize fine wrinkiling due to sun damage.  Normally the way retinoids are used is a 6 month treatment period, followed by maintenance.  All the gains in reversing sun damage with topical retinoids are lost if treatment is discontinued.  However the improvements continue widh continued treatment. Since Retin A decreases the amount of stratum corneum (the dead skin cell layer at the very top)... more
Emily Altman, MD

Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Retin A can be used for a lifetime

The first recommendation I would offer is to increase the strength of the Retin A first, it is offered in .025, .05 and .1 Cream.  You can add other supplements to the Retin A regimen such as Vitamin C (an antioxidant) for healthy skin, hydroquinone for dark spots and blotchy skin, and other collagen/growth factor ( SkinMedica) creams for yet another approach to healthy skin.
Thomas W. Bender, III MD

Mobile Dermatologic Surgeon

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