|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/27/2008
Posts: 2,147
Points: 7,615
|
My dermatologist gave me a prescription for Retisol 0.025% yesterday while I was in getting my "refill". This shouldn't be too hard on my skin to start with, especially if I start using it only every few nights? Thanks!
"My friends, love is better than anger.
Hope is better than fear.
Optimism is better than despair.
So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.
And we’ll change the world."
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 6/8/2009
Posts: 926
Points: 3,784
|
Hi Barbi.
I assume you are using a cream formulation, which should be gentler than a gel. Could you list the excipient ingredients?
Every other night should be okay for the first week or so, until you start peeling, getting red, or itchy, or irritated, or very dry. Then you can cut back to every third night or so or until your skin is ready for another application.
If it still bothers you, you could try buffering it by applying a light layer of moisturizer first. I don't really like this because it wastes an expensive product but some people do it.
Other things you could try are an OTC hydrocortisone cream just for the first two weeks or so until you adjust, avoiding all other irritants in your routine, and using a very small quantity, maybe mixing it with something inert like a hyaluronic acid gel or some other bland moisturizer or gel you currently use in your palm before applying.
The first six weeks are the toughest, but if you stick it out you should be happy eventually. You will also be able to use it more often eventually.
If you see any new breakouts it's probably not what some describe as purging but it might be a reaction to the base. I never had any luck with the creams but I do well with the stronger alcohol-based gels. But every skin is different.
If it makes you miserable try the micro version, or a low strength tazarotene.
Be sure to wear lots of sunscreen during the day, and a hat or visor with a wide brim and wrap sunglasses.
You can also use it on your hands, your neck, and your chest if you wish.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/27/2008
Posts: 2,147
Points: 7,615
|
kosmeds wrote:Hi Barbie.
I assume you are using a cream formulation, which should be gentler than a gel. Could you list the excipient ingredients?
Every other night should be okay for the first week or so, until you start peeling, getting red, or itchy, or irritated, or very dry. Then you can cut back to every third night or so or until your skin is ready for another application.
If it still bothers you, you could try buffering it by applying a light layer of moisturizer first. I don't really like this because it wastes an expensive product but some people do it.
Other things you could try are an OTC hydrocortisone cream just for the first two weeks or so until you adjust, avoiding all other irritants in your routine, and using a very small quantity, maybe mixing it with something inert like a hyaluronic acid gel or some other bland moisturizer or gel you currently use in your palm before applying.
The first six weeks are the toughest, but if you stick it out you should be happy eventually. You will also be able to use it more often eventually.
If you see any new breakouts it's probably not what some describe as purging but it might be a reaction to the base. I never had any luck with the creams but I do well with the stronger alcohol-based gels. But every skin is different.
If it makes you miserable try the micro version, or a low strength tazarotene.
Be sure to wear lots of sunscreen during the day, and a hat or visor with a wide brim and wrap sunglasses.
You can also use it on your hands, your neck, and your chest if you wish. Thank you Kosmeds for your detailed response :) Yes, I am using the cream formulation as I do have dryer, more sensitive skin. The package does not list all the ingredients- just that is contains 7.5% PARSOL MCX and 2% PARSOL 1789 and thus contains an SPF of 15. I have only used it once so far- Friday night and plan of using it only ever 2-3 nights to start off with and then gradually build to nightly used as my skin adjusts. I really want to avoid a red, raw peeling stage if possible because I don't think I could handle that emotionally. I do use an SPF of 60 daily, but as soon as I am finished with the product I have, I am going to try the Anthelios product you always suggest. I also never go outside during daylight hours without my big Fendi sunglasses, even in the middle of the weeks on end of November rain.
"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 6/8/2009
Posts: 926
Points: 3,784
|
Bizarre, to put an unstable sunscreen in a medication that is to be used at night, with an active that breaks down on irradiation. I wonder what the point was. Avobenzone and octyl methoxycinnamate are not a stable combination. I wouldn't use it during the day because it won't keep the active from breaking down, and it won't even protect your skin from UVA because the avobenzone will be destroyed by the octyl methoxycinnamate. What were they thinking? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15560736http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18093761But you are using a dedicated sunscreen anyway. I found the ingredients but I thought that sunscreen combo had to be a mistake. Nonmedicinal ingredients (aside from the UV filters): butylated hydroxytoluene (preservative), carbomer 934 NF (thickener), cyclomethicone NF (silicone oil), diisopropyl adipate NF (emollient ester), glycerin USP (humectant), imidurea/parabens (preservatives), isoarachidyl neopentanoate (emollient ester), light mineral oil USP, phenyl timethicone (silicone oil), polysorbate 60 NF (emulsifier), purified water USP, sodium hydroxide 10% (pH adjustment), sorbitan monostearate NF (emulsifier) and stearyl alcohol (emulsion stablizer). Yes, it looks very emollient to me. I think you can avoid a lot of the grief from irritation if you stop using it until your skin recovers. If you get used to it every third night then you can experiment with every other night, etc. Some people can never use it every night.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/27/2008
Posts: 2,147
Points: 7,615
|
kosmeds wrote:Bizarre, to put an unstable sunscreen in a medication that is to be used at night, with an active that breaks down on irradiation. I wonder what the point was. Avobenzone and octyl methoxycinnamate are not a stable combination. I wouldn't use it during the day because it won't keep the active from breaking down, and it won't even protect your skin from UVA because the avobenzone will be destroyed by the octyl methoxycinnamate. What were they thinking? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15560736http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18093761But you are using a dedicated sunscreen anyway. I found the ingredients but I thought that sunscreen combo had to be a mistake. Nonmedicinal ingredients (aside from the UV filters): butylated hydroxytoluene (preservative), carbomer 934 NF (thickener), cyclomethicone NF (silicone oil), diisopropyl adipate NF (emollient ester), glycerin USP (humectant), imidurea/parabens (preservatives), isoarachidyl neopentanoate (emollient ester), light mineral oil USP, phenyl timethicone (silicone oil), polysorbate 60 NF (emulsifier), purified water USP, sodium hydroxide 10% (pH adjustment), sorbitan monostearate NF (emulsifier) and stearyl alcohol (emulsion stablizer). Yes, it looks very emollient to me. I think you can avoid a lot of the grief from irritation if you stop using it until your skin recovers. If you get used to it every third night then you can experiment with every other night, etc. Some people can never use it every night. I thought it was kind of odd that they put a sunscreen in a product that is meant to be used at night too. But evidently some acne patients do use it twice a day. I really hope I can work up to the point of daily use, even if it does take some time. I am trying to prevent aging, so hopefully starting a dedicated anti aging program at my age will prove to be beneficial.
"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 6/8/2009
Posts: 926
Points: 3,784
|
My dad put me on Retin-A when I was 13. That was 30 years ago. Kligman said that freckly Celtic types can start using it as young as age 11. They show significant photodamage even that young, even if they live in Northern climates.
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
Joined: 5/14/2008
Posts: 17,625
Points: 44,960
|
Before Kligman came up with the retin A, he would say that Vasoline was the best thing you could put on face. My mother had this article about him and interview with him that said that. She would always pull it out of the drawer to tell me not to put all the cosmetic 'junk' on my face (like pricey skin creams). She had very good skin and that's what she used; a rough face cloth and some Ivory soap and then some Vasoline. She would keep the Vasoline on for an hour as a face mask and then remove the excess of it with a warm cloth so there was only a thin layer of it left.
If anybody knows of any orthopedic doctors, in Boston or Concord MA area who are conversant in FEMORAL ACETEBULAR IMPINGMENT, please let me know.
Cancel above request. My hip is now too far gone. Need a total hip replacement.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 6/8/2009
Posts: 926
Points: 3,784
|
Yes, as far as moisturizers go, you can hardly do better than petrolatum. 1. it's inert, which means that essentially everyone tolerates it. 2. it restores skin barrier function faster than just about anything else, even compared to very sophisticated and expensive blends of emollients containing physiological lipids and humectants. 3. It's used after lasers and peels because the skin tolerates very little else--you can even use it even when you don't have skin there.
But most people want something that doesn't feel as thick and greasy. So we have this multi-billion moisturizer machine that keeps putting out new and "improved" moisturizers that some people will pay up to $150/oz for, when they could do better if they just used some plain old petrolatum.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 6/8/2009
Posts: 926
Points: 3,784
|
duplicate
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/27/2008
Posts: 2,147
Points: 7,615
|
I used the Retisol last night for the second time and am pretty dry and peeling a bit today. So move on to every 4-5 days, if not just once a week to adjust. Did your mom use the Vaseline just at night Miss J? I can't imagine using that during the day, but it would definitely work as an intensive moisture night mask.
"My friends, love is better than anger.
Hope is better than fear.
Optimism is better than despair.
So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.
And we’ll change the world."
|
|
|
Guest |
