Retin a is making my skin worse!

[chilli_1]

Ok, so im 26 and just starting getting pimples a few months ago so i went to the dermatologist who prescribed me retin-a for my white heads,

Im 4 weeks into this treatment and my skin is soo bad, i no longer get white heads i get HUGE red pimples with no heads wich has left heaps of scars on my face, now im regretting ever using this stuff.


do these scars eventually fade while using retin-a or will they end up being pitted? i have not seen any improvements even on the scars.

any thoughts please??

[David M]

Originally Posted by chilli_1

Ok, so im 26 and just starting getting pimples a few months ago so i went to the dermatologist who prescribed me retin-a for my white heads,

Im 4 weeks into this treatment and my skin is soo bad, i no longer get white heads i get HUGE red pimples with no heads wich has left heaps of scars on my face, now im regretting ever using this stuff.


do these scars eventually fade while using retin-a or will they end up being pitted? i have not seen any improvements even on the scars.

any thoughts please??

Retin A and Tazorac do this. It's all part of the clearing process.. Your skin actually gets worse the first 3-4 weeks of treatment before it improves.. It brings everything to the surface. Most derms will or should explain this to you.. Some improve faster then others, but for some the twelve weeks of treatment is needed. Dont worry if yours takes time. The worst of it will be over. Once you begin improving etc, the red marks and everything else WILL fade and you will have beautiful skin.... I use Tazorac and that happens to me as well.... I was on it for two yrs. It only took about 10 weeks to clear me completely, but per my derm I continued to use it daily as maintainance and for TWO years I was blemish free.... Now that I start again, its like starting over and going through the entire process.... Dont be discouraged. Stick with it and in the end you will have amazing skin. It will be well worth the wait

[BluEyez1031]

I used Retin-A for MONTHS and it never cleared my skin up, just made it worse. Wait a few more weeks and see how you're doing.

[aussie_jono]

mANY ACNE TREATMENTS WILL DO THIS INITIALY.

An alternative regime which i have found better than Retin-A consists of using 5% Benzoyl peroxide (Oxy 5 and many other brands) at bedtime after clensing, and 2% Salacylic Acid (Nutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Moisturiser) in the morning, also after clensing

[tiggerbuddy]

As David said, this is to be expected. Did you read the instruction pamphlet that came with the product? If not, I'd suggest reading it thoroughly. Your skin is expected to get worse before it gets better. Results aren't usually achieved until abut 8-12 weeks.