Some people use a full 0.1% daily (that’s 4 times the potency)! Question – what are your thoughts about using both Azelaic Acid Gel 15% and Tretinoin Cream .05%? I took my first bite and nearly vomited. Or is it possible that I need a higher concentration of tretinoin, or a cream instead? I never considered that . Tazarotene is more stable under UV light than tretinoin and can be used in the morning. What Moisturizer Should I Use With Retin A? So….. beef liver is the most nutrient dense food on planet earth. One study found there was “no clinical or statistically significant difference” between 0.025% and 0.1% tretinoin after 48 weeks, besides the severity of irritation (0.1% tretinoin obviously being more irritating). My doctor prescribed them to me and seems a bit harsh. What gives? Babcock M, Mehta RC, Makino ET. that in one product? I’ve seen 5 and driven 1.5 hours to see some of them , only to be glanced at for a second and shoved out the door with steroid creams . Types of retinoid products from weakest to strongest. I am 15 and have been using tretinoin 0.1% for about a month. Lastly, if you decide to stick with tretinoin remember that the results are cumulative and get better with time! It does make my skin peel, but I have been awarded clearer, softer, smoother skin. UPDATE 10/21/19: one study found that using short contact therapy is still effective and far less irritating versus leave-on treatment. But wait a few minutes (20-ish) for them to get absorbed and then apply retinol on dry skin. If you start using it daily, the irritation and dryness becomes especially bothersome during weeks 3 and 4. Additionally, use micronized versions of tretinoin if possible! I used it for 3 months and documented my experience here. Ask any questions, stay moisturized, and may your Purge be swift! She told me never to moisturize because I have oily skin, and to use duac gel in the morning and tretinoin 0,05 straight away, nothing else (just cetaphil cleanser) and that my skin will be very bad, dry, irritated the first month but that’s what we want. To give you some perspective, think about carrots a.k.a. Maybe my new one with the zinc will work . It speeds up wound healing and is a potent humectant that hydrates the skin by drawing water from the environment and dermis (deeper layer of skin). (1). Because HPR is an ester of Retinoic Acid – the active form of Retinol, instead of an ester of Retinol, it doesn’t have to go through the same conversion process to be used directly by skin. (9, 10, 11) Hyaluronic acid is another necessary component of human skin. (17) Another similar study found improvement in 68% of patients after 10 months of daily tretinoin cream 0.1%. Retinol is the best for aging and acne, but it has side effects. My skin did not “purge” much, or at all, for the first three-ish months I began using it, and I saw no significant changes in my acne, but I experienced quite a bit of dryness and very slight peeling, which I combated by “buffering” with moisturizer and using a “hydrating facial cleanser”, both with no actives. Once again azelaic acid compares almost identically. I’m wondering if my barrier was compromised now that I’ve read your stuff . I got my tretinoin online in cream form at the 0.025% strength. Did it help your seb derm or acne , or make worse ? What do you think? I’m 15, and have been suffering with acne for probably three or four years, I’m not completely sure, but I initially assumed it would subside after my ~raging hormones~ from puberty subsided but it’s safe to say that has not been the case. (28) So be warned, you might become a lizard. Buffering is so important when it comes to potent skincare. Such preparations may routinely contain salt, buffering agents, preservatives, compatible carriers, and optionally other therapeutic agents. PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation), How to Treat Fungal Acne (Malassezia Folliculitis), 1500+ Fungal Acne Safe Products: An Updated List of Skincare For Malassezia. Perhaps you noticed how long the studies I listed above were (24 to 48 weeks respectively). Buffering is the term used to describe the process of mixing your Retin-A treatment with your non-comedogenic face moisturizer. Do do this, simply apply tretinoin for 30 minutes on dry skin before thoroughly rinsing with water. Don’t be impatient and stick with the program. 54 Likes, 13 Comments - Residents (@lapmrresidency) on Instagram: “Resident’s Corner: Name: David Huy Blumeyer, MD Year in residency: PGY-4 Where were you born…” Share this! Week three Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. Tell your friends how they can become anti-aging lizards. You look to be 25 or younger , so at least you have some time before ya need the anti aging stuff and you’ll have your barrier sorted out by then ! Aspirin given shortly after a heart attack decreases the risk of death. (2). “I like adapalene because it is an over-the-counter retinol that used to be prescription, so it has been held to the same standard, efficacy wise, as a prescription medication,” she says. Well, 100 grams of carrots only contain 40 IU of Vitamin A. Isn’t that NUTS? So what ever happened with the liver? Cookies help us deliver our Services. I like coenzyme q10 and microneedling for wrinkles. Why Squalane Oil Is the Best Oil According to 40 Studies. Even if I have to let my face rest and repair first . Example product: Obagi tretinoin strengths 0.025%, 0.05% 0.1%. Heck, you name it and it probably does it. It does have a tendency to cause more irritation than adapalene. Let’s review some of the data! In fact, upwards of 80% of it remains on the skin’s surface. I know how annoying that can be . Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts! Expect to see results much faster compared to OTC retinoids I used oral accurate. For example, a very well controlled study involving 360 participants found significant improvements in fine lines and wrinkles after 24 weeks of using tretinoin cream 0.025%. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Less is more here. (31). I'd love any input or advice! I’ve been on Curology since April . Anyway, I’ve been using Tretinoin for years as suggested by my dermatologist and yes I’d have to agree that it does little to nothing when it comes to treating acne But I do feel like it’s keeping my skin free of other irritations so I keep using it. I know that tretinoin might now work for everyone, but as someone who has been to multiple derms and tried a lot of different methods, I highly recommend it. So of course when impulsive me found out about how nutritious this delicious succulent treat was, I decided to buy 7 POUNDS of it! Azelaic Acid vs. Tretinoin (Retin-A). My skin is clear and people have complimented me on the appearance of my complexion. I’m wondering if tretinoin is the culprit that worsened my seb derm . I have no idea what to believe anymore, this is very frustrating. I love how you discuss the science behind products because it makes so much more sense now. Tretinoin is a well established acne treatment. Especially considering these participants were using the strongest prescription tretinoin available. Wouldn’t it be too drying or cause more damage to my skin? For example, a 3 month long study found tretinoin gel 0.05% reduced acne on average by about 34.9%, with a whopping success rate of only 19%! You can read more about it here. However if the irritation and peeling is too much, then go to buffering. However, if blackheads, clogged pores, or congestion are your main issues than tretinoin or salicylic acid are good options! Don't worry it's nothing spammy! (21, 22) As an aside, don’t ever use tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide together. I feel Tretinoin (Retin-A) was very helpful in keeping my skin clear looking,and i think somewhat tighter, it also gave my face a healthy color and appearance . Buffering—or layering a retinol product between two layers of moisturizer—can also help minimize retinol burn. In a very well controlled study with 178 patients, 0.04% tretinoin gel reduced acne by about 36% after 3 months. I’m hoping that this will really clear up my skin and minimize my fine lines. Consider ‘Buffering’: ... Retin-A is a brand name for tretinoin which is a retinoid and helps to increase skin cell turnover. Benzoyl peroxide and adapalene being the most prescribed at 12.8% and 14.4% respectively. So far I have experienced a ton of peeling. (24) You might be thinking that a 36% reduction after three months isn’t very impressive. The most recognized prescription name for it is Retin-A, but there are other brands too: Atralin, Refissa, Tretin-X, Renova, Avita etc. [15] Beef liver (100 g) = 53,400 IU of Vitamin A. ... A place for Tretinoin/Retin-A users, new and old, to discuss, ask questions, and enjoy the effects of Tretinoin! But awful side effects. So on and so forth. I’d be wary of using it during childbearing age. I wait about a minute and then apply a pea-sized amount of the tretinoin, and finish with my Neutrogena Oil-Free sensitive skin moisturizer. Point being, the more collagen we can produce the more we slow down the aging process. (6, 7, 8) Collagen being a structural protein that provides strength, flexibility, and resilience to the skin. Here’s Why According to Science! I give tips and discuss how to do this in the section below. You looking GOOD. Hi thank you so much for all you do and the research and time spent making this website and incredible resource. 6) Buffering. But, if you’re currently in your teens or 20s and acne is an issue, Dr. Rabach suggests an adapalene specifically. It is frustrating because it is really improves my pigmentation and pore size. My question that you may or may not have an answer for is what should I use as a spot treatment for acne/active breakouts (nothing too major, but annoying nonetheless) while using tretinoin? How to Use Tretinoin and Reduce Irritation. I can’t imagine not using moisturizer like the lady in the video– but all skin is different! .rll-youtube-player, [data-lazy-src]{display:none !important;}, by f. c. | Last updated Apr 18, 2020 | 68 comments. On the upside, improvements never seem to slow down. Believe it or not , the only derm who will even listen to me is my Curology doc. If your skin can handle tret on bare & dry skin, then that's ideal. A 6 month study involving 289 people found that 20% Azelaic Acid cream and 0.05% Tretinoin were “equally effective” against acne. I wish that there were more derms in my area ! To reduce the side effects, simply begin incorporating it into your skincare routine more slowly. I have a strange theory about why my acne went away ! With this method, only 20% of participants in the above study experienced irritation, whereas it’s normally 80%! (23) However, its efficacy largely depends on its local tolerability, in other words, how irritating it … Doing so will dilute the Retin-A and make it less likely to cause dry and flaky skin. Around January, I noticed slight improvement, but it was so insignificant that I was not sure there was any real improvement without looking at older photos from around October, before I began treatment. The one who diagnosed me with seb derm barely glanced at it . 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