Retin - A Saved my Self Esteem

I work out side so have to be in the sun everyday, I wear a wide brimmed hat at all times in the sun and use a zinc oxide sunscreen, the sunscreen I use is invisible Zinc a physical barrier, I live In WA and treat the sun as my enemy now, I have found no extra sensitivity with countuined use of retin a, but I do protect my skin now, I have totally managed to rid myself of sun damage don't be hesitant to use retin a it's amazing and taking the right precautions I have found it safe in the sun x

Great, thank you for the help, and I wish you all the best!

Thanks for your lovely comment, my deeper lines improved after about 12 months , it takes time but it works and it is worth it, good luck

The deeper lines (crow's feet) around the eyes actually can go? I have been reading lots and so much I read says retin-a doesn't help.

O I must be lucky as it completly removed them I am a very happy with it xxxx I have to say experience has certainly proved the opposite with me [RS bleep]

Do you think the botox does that though? Or the REtin-A or both?

When the photos were took I had not had Botox then about 1 week after the photos were uploaded I had Botox in my forehead as I wanted my forehead lines softer I didnt have any to my eyes so my results are all retin - a but it did take 18 month so not overnight it had softened my forehead but not removed lines so the Botox was needed in that area

To start with in the first few weeks my skin looked awful, but as a month passed I could see it clearing my sun damage after about 9 month I noticed crows feet were fainter and around 1 year into use completely gone, it's been about 2 years now so it's a commitment , gradually it just gets better and better but to see real change I waited 9 month ... It's well worth it so be patient and best of luck

Thanks, Mandy, good to know. I got some too close to my eyes last night and now this morning it looks like I burned it. It's all red and really crinkly looking. :-( and it hurts.

Wash your skin and lather with moisturiser I use Nivea as it's gental avoid applying on that area for a day or two, let it settle, I have done that on my neck and it really hurts xx

Thank you for the honest info on what to expect. I had tried Retin A in the past and it made my skin so red and flaky I felt I looked freakish and couldn't go out in public so I quit using it. I am trying again by using just a tad on only my wrinkles and hoping to gradually add more and more of my face to the application process. Nice to know if a person sticks with this it does pay off in the end :)

It really looks like your skin has gained "volume" as well. Would you say it has?

The texture is thicker and defiantly tighter my skin was thin and almost see through it's back to a normal thickness now, I use a derma a derma roller three times a week but the creme has defiantly tightened and thickened my skin

Looking at it yep it dose

Thank you Mandy. That really helps. By the way you photos are the most realistic and accurate on the web. Very clear and one can see everything. Funny question but dud you notice any hair loss while using retin a? Thanks for replying so quickly!

Hi Mandy. Just spoke to the people at white lotus dermarollers. They say once every two weeks is better, as it keeps your skin time for the collagenase to break down the damaged collagen from the rolling. This is done after 2 weeks and then the collagen builds. More than that may cause inflammation which is not good for the skin

Thank you soooo much for that I guess thinking bout it. It makes perfect sense, I really appreciate you sharing that info and will now drop back to once every 2 weeks Thanks

Hi Mandy. I hope you don't mind all my questions. My situation is that I damaged my forehead and scalp skin by using Regaine for mild hair loss. It caused my skin to stretch a bit. I've had it surgically fixed but the skin tissue itself is still a bit lax and soft. There isn't much alternative but I'm hoping Retin A will make the skin stronger, not softer, restore the strong elasticity it once had so that it functions better. Your skin looks like it literally has built up a few millimetres! I actually want retin a to make my skin firmer(harder) not softer. Would you say it does this?

Hi I don't mind the questions it's nice chatting to you, I would certainly say it has thickend my skin and made it firmer with out a doubt, my skin is smooth and firm I think for you as you have described your skin, it sounds perfect and will certainly improve your skin, awful that the regain done that too you I hope this works for you, I guess it is not an overnight fix but it has defiantly been a fix for me

Hi Mandy. I just tried some and unfortunately it has a very strong and immediate hormonal effect on me, as retin a blocks the androgen receptors in the body. Both men and women have these. This is the second time I've tried it. Guess I'll just keep going with dermaroller and niacinimide. Thanks

O No sorry to hear that I wish you all the best with your current treatment and hope you get the results you need xxxx

Hi, what do you put on your face right after derma roller? And when do you use the retin a again?

what mm is the derma roller u are using pls? 0.5mm perhaps? I'm assuming that u are using the derma roller before your retin a cream at night..yes? And are you using a topical vit c before the retin a mandy pls? & if so which brand? Thanks so much. Now you have definatley gone from "an aussie bat-ler` to an aussie princess"..lol! i know being an aussie u will get a giggle out of that one.. ta ta lovey! nb. living here in 'yankland'..i really miss the humour & the warm heart of the aussies. You are very kind to share your knowledge & your pics so openly & freely..really!

I am using a 1.5mm roller. Even though it is 1.5 mm, I don't believe I pushed the roller hard to penetrate the whole needle deep into my skins. I put vitamin c right after the roller for 2 nights and then I use retin a after that. I use the roller every other week. I have not seen any result yet. Please share your routine.

two months of 'pre treatment' with vit c & retin a is essential 'prior' to beginning the derma rolling..(micro needling its also called) This prepares the skin . .Think adding fertilizers before as well as after tilling the soil prior to planting seeds. It is exactly the same principles. I use the acidic form of vit c powder mixed with water as a nighly serum after cleansing..then the retin a (i've worked up over 4 months from an 0.5% retrides (retin a) to an 0.1%. I did get skin reaction initally...redness, dryness, break out..Now, there are no side effects whatsoever..And people say 'you look pretty, what are you doing to yourself?" I use the 0.2 roller before the vit c & retin a 2 nights per week. Then i do a 1.5 roller & 2.0 stamp once a month. I've been using this on face, throat, chest (decolotage) daily with an improvement in the color, texture, smoothness & thickness of my skin. I buy all my the above from www.owndoc.com. They have discussion forums, the products are fairly priced& i have found them to be honest & helpful. re not seeing results. we cannot see ourselves clearly..none of us can...so i took some pics of the areas to be treated..then retook pics once per month...same time of day...same location etc. then!!! you will "see" the results.

thats not accurate mandy. theres a book u can buy (or maybe even pick up at the library mandy) written by the inventor of derma rolling dr des fernandes..he's in sth africia (so he's a bud mate..lol!) He suggests a 0.2 to 0.5 roller approx 3times weekly before c & a to enhance absorption. The 1.5, or 2.0 roller & stamp once every 2 to 4 weeks. Book is called "Illustrated guide to percutaneous collagen induction" By desmond fernandes. Its expensive approx $150..& has a lot of medical terminology. However, the info is 'from the horses mouth'..'the' inventor There are truley amazing before & after pics in the book & it explains the exact process of skin ageing & more importantly, the solutions to make your skin as young & beautiful as long as possible. It also explains how he came to figure out that the rolling was the key to the nutrients getting into the skin. And how its developed along the way. I bought the book & have learned a tremendous amount from it...& i'm a medical person. You can google him online in Capetown sth africia also, & he's written a few medical papers of dermarolling u can access from his site. Also on the other hand, clearly you have remarkable results doing what you are doing...so "if it works, why fix it". There are more opinions online about dermarolling than their are stars in the southern sky.. Wanted to give you something back, you are very kind & generous with your knowledge & your time.

Wow the book sounds amazing I will look into that, I love the derma roller and to read a book from the inventor will be awesome, thank you for the information and all the very best to you x

Hi Mandy. Please let me know what length needle you used. Tell me, do you find your skin is tighter? I know the treatment makes the dermis and epidermis tighter, but does it feel like they collagen under the skin (which attaches the skin to the muscle) is tighter too?

Thank you

Thank you

I cycle my use so 6 -7 months during the winter months and then a couple month off , I havnt had any issues however I use 0.5 so the weaker strength my skin looks amazing So for me Use with out a doubt

My derm says the same thing nothappyjan's says. Mandy, could your amazing looks be from the botox. Retin-A makes little to no difference in wrinkles in blind studies compared to placebo. And on top of that it irritates the skin and opens it to more sun damage. Your botox looks great! Sorry, I am not trying to sound like a know it all with my tone, just adding to the discussion.