BB36

Waste of Money

CoolBreeze Laser (Aka CoolTouch) Does NOT Work

Tretinoin ~ Don't Buy It Because It's Cheap - Portland, OR

Thank you. Yes, your skin care routine has to be very structured if you're on retinoids. But I do want to make clear that my chin and neck do not tolerate it well. I don't put the gel on those areas every day. But I'm most surprised that my eye area hasn't peeled or turned red at all!

My skin is very sensitive! I know that a lot of people who use Tretinoin (or any brand of Retin-A) don't apply moisturizer at night. You should never sleep without moisturizer on your face. The gel, especially due to the amount of alcohol, is very drying, so you need to be diligent about moisturizing day and night. I also used a low concentration, .025, which is lower than others out there. But so far I've been applying to underneath my eyes and no problems! I use gentle cleansers that are soap and alcohol free and I don't exfoliate or use scrubs. And of course I apply sunscreen of at least SPF 30 twice a day. All these steps protect my face and are a must for anyone on Retinoids.

This is a question that I've extensively searched the answer to and have not found a definitive answer. I've reached the following conclusion. Chemical sunscreens are like sponges. They can only absorb so much UV rays and must be reapplied after a certain amount of time or sweating/swimming. But physical sunscreens are like shields: the rays bounce off your face so it doesn't need to be reapplied unless it's been eroded by sweating or swimming. However, it doesn't hurt to reapply, especially considering that physical sunscreens don't cause free radical damage like chemical sunscreen. The following link might be of further help. http://www.skinacea.com/sunscreen/physical-vs-chemical-sunscreen.html#.UOzxdW_hqgQ

I also wanted to ask, since you've been on Acutane and Retin-A gel and the like, have you tried birth control pills?

So after taking Spiro for nearly 2 weeks, I've decided to stop. I've just been lethargic to the point of feeling sad all day. Also, since I'm taking Tretinoin gel now, it's best to only be on one medication because it's impossible to know which agent is responsible for the changes I'm seeing.