So the first two days of use resulted in a very very red, flakey, peeling, and painful face! I stopped using it for a few days, and now I've applied it at night for three days in a row and my face is handling it a lot better.
It can be harsh stuff!

Anyone have any advice on washing off flakey skin? I know exfoliating while using retin-A can be a bad idea (which mightve been why I had such a hard time the first few days, since I tried to exfoliate the peeling skin).

So now I've been using retin-a for about 10 days and my face looks horrible ( worse than ever before) ! I'm very wrinkly and red. I moisturize frequently and use sunscreen. Is this normal ?

As a Paramedic you won't like it as much if you fall asleep in the sun! I have run those calls before. Use it very wisely.

My son was prescribed a third-generation retinoid called "Tazorac" to help with facial acne and to repair scaring.  Things did redden up at first.  I think you have to get past the first growth cycle of the skin to begin ti see the improvement.

Quote from: Thylacin on January 01, 2014, 01:14:42 AM
So now I've been using retin-a for about 10 days and my face looks horrible ( worse than ever before) ! I'm very wrinkly and red. I moisturize frequently and use sunscreen. Is this normal ?

It sounds like you may be overdoing it. Start really slow (once every 3 days for a week then once every other day for a week and then every day). Use only a little bit starting out (about a pea sized amount for the entire face).

Another tip that they did not tell me at the doc's office that I found online is to wait 20-30 minutes after washing your face to apply (so the skin is dry - if it's wet it tends to make it over-activate).

If your skin is having a harsh reaction, that means you need to ease into it more. I think that's why a lot of people switch off of it at first, because it is really powerful and you must respect it!

Here is a great Video about Retiols and Reten-A.



I personally use the ROC Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, and have had very good results with it.

Quote from: Jennygirl on January 02, 2014, 08:59:17 PM
It sounds like you may be overdoing it. Start really slow (once every 3 days for a week then once every other day for a week and then every day). Use only a little bit starting out (about a pea sized amount for the entire face).

Another tip that they did not tell me at the doc's office that I found online is to wait 20-30 minutes after washing your face to apply (so the skin is dry - if it's wet it tends to make it over-activate).

If your skin is having a harsh reaction, that means you need to ease into it more. I think that's why a lot of people switch off of it at first, because it is really powerful and you must respect it!

Yeah, I've kept using it daily since my last post and my skin has recovered and looks fine now (except for peeling). I might've been severely dehydrated when I last posted since I had been drinking, which wouldn't have helped.

As a child in elementary school I had this prescribed to me, my mom loved it. It made my nose bubble and blister in the sun as my Canadian mom who was new to so. California sun did not put sunblock on me.
I would like to try it again now
tho!