Feedback on Retin-A Side Effects and Usage, page 74

About Retin-a

If you’ve used Retin-A, please help others by adding your feedback. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.

Subj: How long till I get good results?
Date: 11/30/2010
I been using retina a 0.025 for 2 months now I noticed my laughter lines lessen but still not completely gone how long does it take? also my pores are quite large and havent noticed a difference how long till I get good results?

Anni

AskDocWeb: Improvement is typically very gradual over a period of several months.

Subj: Good results are worth it
Date: 12/1/2010
I have been using retin-a for about a month now. The results are great. I’m pleased. Yes I’ve experienced redness, itchy, flaky skin and I’ve had flare ups. But man my skin looks good!!! I’ve been reading some of the input given. Please follow directions. Stay out of the sun. Use a sunblock. It’s supposed to peel. It’s supposed to do most of the things listed that they are experiencing. It tells you your acne will get worse at first. My advice is if it’s not too painful stick with retin-a the results are worth it.

shirley

Subj: Redness and oiliness
Date: 12/1/2010
it sort of cleared my acne, but i still get pimples. I’ve been using it for about 2 years now, and there is currently 10 blemishes on my face. I’ve also noticed that My face and eyes are constantly red. I have to use makeup ever day just to return my face to a normal looking color. it is also excessively oily. it was not this way before application (approx. 2 years ago). Could these side effects (redness and oiliness) be reversed if I stopped use of retin-a?

Paige

AskDocWeb: That depends on if the redness and oiliness are caused by the Retin-A or not. Remember that once your face becomes accustomed to this product, redness is one of the signs of using too much. A little goes a long way.

Subj: Putting lotion on over the Retin-A
Date: 12/1/2010
I’m using Retin-A Micro. At night, I wash my face, let it dry then put the retin-a on. I then put lotion on over the retin-a. Am I not supposed to be doing that? Should I just be going to bed with the retin-a on and no moisturizer on top?

Erin

AskDocWeb: We have seen wait times for applying lotion that range from 30 minutes to up to 3 hours after applying Retin-A. The manufacturer’s website does not appear to have a recommendation on this.

Subj: Stain on cheek?
Date: 12/3/2010
Hi, I recently started using Retin-a and Im very happy. My other concern now is I have a stain on my right side of the cheek that appeared, and this is before I started to use Retin-A. Will Retin-A help any pigmantation? And if so how long before I actually start to see the results?…i did go see a dermatologist and actually she is the one that recommended this. Ive seen improvement on the acne but no on the stain…

YANET

AskDocWeb: Retin-A does help with some kinds of skin discoloration, liver spots, brown spots, and even some gray growths, however, that may take 3 to 6 months.

Subj: Side effects of Retin-A
Date: 12/5/2010
I have started using this product after the recommendation of my doctor, would like to know if it has some side-effects and how long usage of it would be just optimal??

Pooja

AskDocWeb: The side effects of Retin-A are listed here. As far as we know, an optimal period of time for using Retin-A has never been established. Many patients continue to use it long after their skin condition has cleared up simply because they like the anti-aging affect on their skin.

Subj: My skin is dry and flaky
Date: 12/7/2010
I am 23, and I recently started using Retin-A to treat both mild acne and to keep my skin looking young, as I’m heading into my mid-twenties. I have read that Retin-A is proven to boost collagen production, however, now that the winter chill is here, my skin is dry and flaky, even when I only apply Retin-A twice a week. Also, I feel like my forehead lines are getting worse. Is it worth using Retin-A for anti-aging if it is just doing to dry your face and make wrinkles? Please Help!

Brittney

AskDocWeb: When your skin is dehydrated, it is more susceptible to damage and less able to repair itself. During the winter the lower humidity level makes your skin dry out even faster. While it is important to use a moisturizer when using a product that is known to dry the skin, it is especially important in the wintertime.

Subj: Remarkable results
Date: 12/7/2010
I have been using retin A for 2 years and have seen remarkable results as my skin is even, clear, toned and glowing. So happy that I have started use. PLEASE use sunscreen on your face everday (winter and summer) and even on your chest and neck, wear a hat when outdoors, sunglasses to protect retinal damage and the delicate areas around the skin. Want to try Latisse for eyelash growth. Any comments?

K.

AskDocWeb: Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) has only been on the market for a couple of years but it is generating mixed comments on forums. It appears to work for most people but some of the reported side effects are disturbing. The most common side effects of Latisse are itching eyes and eye redness, which were reported in about 4% of clinical trial patients. Less common side effects include:

dark circles around eyes
dry eyes
eye irritation
eyelash changes
increased brown pigmentation of the iris (From blue or green to brown and is likely to be permanent)
intraocular pressure changes
redness of the eyelids
scaly eyelids
skin darkening of the eyelids (may or may not be reversible)
skin flaking
unexpected hair growth
unusual hair growth
vision disturbances

Continued use of Latisse is required in order to maintain the effect. Once discontinued the eyelashes gradually return to where they were prior to treatment over a period of weeks to months. A couple of the comments found on forums were disturbing:

“I have cataracts in both eyes and need surgery. I do not have a family history of cataracts.”

“I feel that the manufacturer DOES down play the side effects and potential risks with this product.”

And about the possibility that your eye color could change over time, there isn’t anything wrong with having brown eyes, but for some people having their eyes change color, that may have an effect on their sense of identity.

Subj: Breaking out even more
Date: 12/29/2010
I was using 0.04 for about 3 months and had improvements after the second month but then the 3rd month my skin started to break out. I am currently on 0.1 and using that for about a month and it seems that I am breaking out even more. In total I have been using Retin A micro for almost 4 months and my skins looks as bad as it did on month 1. I am on Ortho tri cyclen Lo which helped me a lot with cystic acne but that’s all. I am a lost and not sure what I should do. Any suggestion would be of value to me.

Chantal

AskDocWeb: It can be very frustrating to get results like that after 4 months but that may indicate a need for a specialist. If you are not working with a dermatologist you might consider doing that.

Subj: Lustra-Ultra Cream works well on dark spots (sun spots)
Date: 1/2/2011
I just started using Renova and I am experiencing the typical peeling and redness they say to expect around the mouth. I also use it around my eyes and have not experienced any adverse effects. I am using it two nights, then taking a night off, until the redness is gone. I plan on giving the product at least 6 months to work. I also use La Roche Posay’s Active C eye cream during the day. I’ve seen a lot of folks mentioning dark spots, or sun spots. I’m sure Renova probably helps them, but I’ve found that Lustra-Ultra Cream works phenomenally well. My sun spots are gone, but you must be patient and give the product time. In my case my sunspots took about 7 months to disappear. That’s why I’m more than willing to give Renova all the time it needs.

Heidi

Subj: Couldn’t handle the severity of the acne
Date: 1/3/2011
I’ve been using Retin-A Micro Gel .1% for about four months and right from the beginning got deep cystic acne all over my face. Before I only had a few on my cheeks or chin per month but after using Retin-A, I had it all over my face. The kind of acne that I got from using Retin-A were extremely deep and painful and very large. It got so bad that some of the acne would merge together to form an even larger and obviously more painful. I kept using it in the hopes that I would get through the purging stage. Well, I finally stopped using it b/c I couldn’t handle the severity of the acne. I experienced all the other side effects but it was the deep, painful, cystic acne that finally got me.

Sara

Subj: Fine lines around eyes
Date: 1/7/2011
I’ve been using Retin A 0.05% for cosmetic reasons for almost 4 months. I do see the positive effects it has had on my skin, however, even with the maximum amount of moisturizer, the fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead have become much more noticeable; I can’t smile without leaving semi-permanent wrinkles under my eyes. And the dryness of my skin is not subsiding. Although I only use this product 1 -2 nights per week, with moisturizer, could this be an effect of using a dosage of Retin A that might be too high for my skin type? If I lower the dosage to 0.025% will I still have these side-effects?

Emily

AskDocWeb: Using a lower dosage will certainly reduce the possibility of side effects. Since the dryness of your skin is getting worse you may need the more specialized help that only a dermatologist can provide.

Subj: Brevoxyl 4 Creamy Wash
Date: 1/7/2011
Can i use brevoxyl 4 creamy wash with rettin-a-micro..meaning can i wash with the brevoxyl then apply the retin a to the dark areas?

Terrence

AskDocWeb: The product information for Brevoxyl 4 Creamy Wash says, “Do not use benzoyl peroxide topical while you are also using tretinoin (Altinac, Avita, Renova, Retin-A, Tretin-X). Using these medications together could cause severe skin irritation.”

Subj: Fine lines
Date: 1/8/2011
Hello, I have been using Plexion Cleanser and Tretinion Gel, USP 0.01%.(It said that only a pea size is needed for the entire face but I used more like 3 to 4 pea in all each night, but I applied the wash correct morning and night). Well, I am ONLY 14 and I have been using these things for about 4 to 5 months now and ever since November 2010 (now January 8th, 2011)

I started to notice these fine lines are coming out of nowhere. I am much to young to notice any of this and i’m used to seeing my skin young and smooth. (used these products for acne, because it was pretty bad at one point and these products together killed the acne. Now I use them to keep the acne off). Am I doing this wrong? have I used it for too long? Could you please tell me if this could be causing the slight fine lines that are slowly appearing, and if so, how and why. Thank you for reading this.

Jacob

AskDocWeb: It is not surprising that you have unwanted side effects when you use 3 to 4 times the amount specified in the instructions. It really is important to follow instructions, especially when it comes to drugs and medicine. Using more than the recommended amount is called an overdose. Typically that has unpleasant and sometimes dangerous consequences.

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