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POSTED UNDER Retin-A Reviews

Retin-A Works! (Even the Second Time Around) *with PICS!* - Germantown, TN

UPDATED FROM ihavmyflaws
5 years post

Round 4 of Retin-A with Finacea Foam

ihavmyflaws
WORTH IT$12
Hey guys. I am back on Retin-A. This time with Finacea Foam to use in the morning. I have been on it for 42 days now, and I am not impressed/happy/content with the results so far at all. I am really thinking it is the finacea foam, but maybe I just have not given it this process long enough to critique yet. The second time I was on retin-a (from my first post in 2013), by day 33, I feel as if my kin was improving faster than it is now, and it was worse then. Maybe because I was on the antibiotic pill as well. Also, I was on Sumaxin washpads then. This time, I am only using soap with 10% sulfur in it. The foam just seems to make my face oily, and I don't like that. I am hoping by day 50 I will really start to see improvement. Also, I am using the generic tretinoin, not actually Retin-A brand, and I am using the cream in the tube and not the pump. I do believe all of that makes a difference.

ihavmyflaws's provider

Advanced Dermatology and Skincare Associates

Replies (2)

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October 22, 2018
Have you ever considered using acids on opposite days of retin a? I use 15% mandelic acid which is excellent for cystic acne. I used it for hypignentation and within a week I could already see results. I get rosacea acne and it clears it up a lot. I just started on retin a and use it opposite nights without the retin a. It really gets deep into your skin and goes to work.
November 2, 2018
What about trying a skin peel "I just watched a video on UTUBE where the beauticians used 10% then applied retinol 1% to get a deeper treatment" he was using it for acne & scarring & then applied the retinol 1% nightly (
Brand: The Ordinary) Apparently his client is delighted with the results & had the peel once a month "the before photo's & video of the woman were amazing"
November 2, 2018
Taking vitamin B6 is supposdd to be good too
UPDATED FROM ihavmyflaws
2 years post

Day 184; Loving what I'm seeing

ihavmyflaws
Fingers crossed my skin keeps on this path. Super smooth and dark spots really starting to fade more

Replies (4)

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January 27, 2015

Thank you for continuing to share your journey with us, it's so helpful!

January 27, 2015
No problem!
February 18, 2015
It's a up and down cycle. I want to quit :/
February 19, 2015
How many weeks in are you now?
February 19, 2015
Six! One day I was clear and then the next I have a breakout. Was it like this with you?
February 19, 2015
Yes! I was freaking out, but it cleared up again, so don't give up yet!
February 19, 2015
I'm only worried I would have to deal with this for years. When can we get off of this? Thank you for the motivation.
February 19, 2015
That I don't know. It's something I plan on talking to my dermatologist about when I go back in July or August. I just know both times I came off it after my skin cleared up, it reverted back to the bad skin and inflamed bumps :/
February 19, 2015
Also, I just looked back at my pics and week 6-7 were my worst weeks so..
February 20, 2015
Well I'm glad you told me... I guess your skin gets used to it. I'm going to get off of it NOW. I really hate waiting 30 min. in between to put this stuff on and then my moisturizer. I would rather go another route and my skin is so bumpy..
February 20, 2015
Aww im sorry. It's just the purging process. I hate to say it, but I think you're giving up on it way too early! A lot of ppl don't realize just how long it takes for the medicine to work. You probably wont see promising reaults for 3-4 months. Even I was doubting it this go-around, but I stuck with it and glad I did now. It's always worth it in the end to me. And like I said I never put moisturizer on at night and at the beginning I would wait 30 min after washing my face to apply my retin-a, but now I just wait 10-15 min. In fact, I'm back exercising and I'll wash my face after that at like 7 and apply my retin-a at like 9 right before I go to bed without washing my face again. But I understand you have to do what feels right for you. I'm just a big advocate for retin-a!
February 21, 2015
Do you think I should boost it up to 1.0? The only reason why I want to stop is the purging. I went from four pimples and only hormonal breakouts to 20 pimples and breaking out every single day. They are nasty and under the skin too. :/ I never get these kind, it takes forever to come to a head. I really don;t know and I'm moving in with my husband soon. This is the worst it's ever been with my skin. I can't not wear makeup, that's how bad it is... :(
February 21, 2015
I know I'm sorry :(. Yeah I never wore makeup during the purging days. It was just no point. It wasn't covering up anything, but I use the 1.0% strength, so yeah talk to your derm about that. Be aware it might be more drying, but my face got used to it and stopped getting dry due to it. Did you see my day 48/49 pics? Does your skin look about like that. For me, that was when I was really feeling like crap about myself. Self-esteem was not there.
February 21, 2015
I actually switched and used skinceuticals 1.0 retinol last night. No new breakouts so far. I'll let you know how the switch goes, but rentinol is less aggravating than rentin a. Wish me luck!
February 21, 2015
Good luck! Keep me posted
February 24, 2015
I have not broke out in two days and I'm already less red. Retin A wrecked my skin. I couldn't do it anymore.
December 29, 2017
Are you still on it, or have you stopped using it?
June 2, 2015
Looking good now, I have suffered with the same problem the scars were the problem when I got the acne under control but I have been using a derma roller for the past 18 months and I am amazed at the results
December 29, 2017
A derma roller?? never heard of it, but will definitely look this up! thank you!
October 9, 2015
great updates. very detailed. thank you
December 29, 2017
Thanks so much. I did it because when it comes to skin treatments, if people are like me, we NEED details! Acne is rough
UPDATED FROM ihavmyflaws
2 years post

Day 172

ihavmyflaws
For the past 4 weeks, I have stopped using sumaxin wash cloth pads, and now wash my face with St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub in the morning followed by St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Moisturizer. After exercising, I wash with Cetaphil Gentle Facial Cleanser, and it doesn't dry my face out, so I don't moisturize after. At night, I wash for 20-30 seconds with black soap (you can get from beauty supply stores and amazon; i got mine from a kiosk at the mall for $5) and follow with retin-a 10-15 min later. Black soap is very drying, though! Let me tell you. I did it morning and night for about a couple of weeks, but it got too drying; that's why i switched to the St. Ives scrub in the morning. It's a scrub, but it's not that rough on the skin. So now, the only prescribed medicine I'm using for my skin now is retin-a.

Replies (0)