11 replies to this topic

[Dagon]

My experience:
I decided to try retinoids after reading some of Frederiks posts here last summer. I've been using Tazorac .05%. So far my experience has been good, but one of the things I've noticed is that the skin condition doesn't simply keep getting better. It seems to get worse, then improve. Then it may worsen again, and then all of a sudden it will look amazing. Repeat ad-infinitum. Just as you're starting to enjoy the new radiance to your skin, some day you will wake up and your wrinkles will be more pronounced or your skin may be red and flaky, or tight. Then of course this will change again after a few more applications. The changes occur very quickly and skin appears to go from looking pretty bad (often red and sundamaged looking), to looking amazing literally overnight.

At some stages I was ready to give up, because I didn't like the fact that I my skin type seems to have changed from oily/combination to dry/sensitive. But then somedays my skin really does look amazing so let's give the retinoids a year and then make a decision.

I guess my question is; when does it level out? My guess is that after a year of usage, my skin will stay looking great and the bad effects will disappear?

Adjustment:
It took my skin a long time to adjust. For about 3 or 4 months I could only use it every second night, or every third night. Only in the last month would my skin accept it every night, and even now I still buffer every second or third night. The eye area became particularly sensitive to moisturisers and even my ultra light, skin friendly La Prairie SPF15 eye moisturiser would cuase a lot of redness and soreness on the skin under the eyes. I needed to change to a very sensitive cleanser and moisturiser. For washing/cleansing the face I use "kind to face" face wash: http://www.superdrug.com/invt/949388
And a moisturiser like this:
http://skincareideas...00g_503437.html

Other people:
Some people have said that my skin looks very good. My aunt mentioned that she thought I had put on a little weight on my face, and it looked better. Strange, as I've actually lost weight and I practice mild CR and eat a lot of raw vegetarian food. One person thought I was wearing face make-up, and that I had a very good, healthy colour and it wasn't like my normal pale look (this could be down to the raw food also)

Future:
At the moment I use a very gentle Oil of Olay sensitive skin moisturiser under my Biotherm SPF50 each day. Any other moisturiser seems to irritate the skin a little and make it red, especially around the eye area. But in the future I'm thinking of adding Ferulic C+E. I may also go back to using Anthony vit C serum, which gave me nice results before my retinoid use.

[Logan]

Have you considered using copper peptides for healing and collagen production?

Odor free emu oil may be good for collagen production and dryness.

[Dagon]

Have you considered using copper peptides for healing and collagen production?

Odor free emu oil may be good for collagen production and dryness.

I've considered it, but based on research I've done on this forum, there isn't a lot of hard evidence.

I think there are some peptides in my Biotherm sunscreen actually:
http://www.biotherm....;prdcode=27304x

Also some caution:
While moderate use of copper peptides stimulates collagen synthesis and has antioxidant effect (by stimulating the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase), excessive use can have an opposite effect by increasing the levels of free copper and/or by triggering excessive production of metalloproteinases. Free copper promotes free radical damage and collagen breakdown leading to accelerated skin aging. Metalloproteinases can digest collagen and elastin, weakening the skin and causing sag. These problems do not seem to occur among the majority of copper peptide users. However, there are anecdotal reports indicating that such side-effects might happen with overuse or, rarely, even normal use in sensitive individuals. Ideally, a sufficiently large study is needed to better quiantify these risk.
Source: http://www.smartskin...cal/copper.html

Edited by Dagon, 12 February 2010 - 03:32 PM.

[happy lemon]

Dagon,

My reaction towards retinoids is exactly same as yours. I have started using retinoids since last July and can only mange to use Taz & Retin-A every night for 3 months.

From last July to Nov, even I started slowly; from every third night to every second night and put moisturizer under retinoid, I did have redness and burning sensation. From time to time, no matter what I put on my face (except tap water), I felt like burning. In view of this inflammation, I had stopped using retiniod for one month.

Even now, my friends and colleagues always come up and ask me why my skin is so red; nevertheless, they comment that my skin tone becomes even & clear. That said, when I put sunscreen in the morning, I still have a mild stinging feeling.

I have just purchased the GHK serum from Skinbiology in the hope that it can calm the reaction towards Taz & Retin-A.

I will keep you posted if the GHK serum can do the job.

[Dagon]

Dagon,

My reaction towards retinoids is exactly same as yours. I have started using retinoids since last July and can only mange to use Taz & Retin-A every night for 3 months.

From last July to Nov, even I started slowly; from every third night to every second night and put moisturizer under retinoid, I did have redness and burning sensation. From time to time, no matter what I put on my face (except tap water), I felt like burning. In view of this inflammation, I had stopped using retiniod for one month.

Even now, my friends and colleagues always come up and ask me why my skin is so red; nevertheless, they comment that my skin tone becomes even & clear. That said, when I put sunscreen in the morning, I still have a mild stinging feeling.

I have just purchased the GHK serum from Skinbiology in the hope that it can calm the reaction towards Taz & Retin-A.

I will keep you posted if the GHK serum can do the job.

Cool, thanks for the info.

You should also try the Biotherm SPF50 I've posted above, it's very light and it isn't shiny/oily either, like a of them!

[happy lemon]

I am using Neutrogena but going to use a zinc only sunscreen block which is of matte finish.

Though Taz has made my skin dry, I still find Neutrogena a bit shiny.

One more thing, I am not sure if there is a correlation: after putting rosehip oil on Taz (1-2 hour apart), I find that the irritation towards Taz/Retin-A become less. I am going to use squalaneonce I use up the rosehip oil.

[Amantine]

I found that starting retinoids and using high spf/ppd chemical sunscreens was too irritating at first. For me the trick was to start the retinoid in winter (very little daylight here in Ireland) and then over time, as my skin got accustomed to the retin-a/tazorotene I could switch to higher spf chemical sunscreen. I only use chemical sunscreens in social environments, at home I keep the curtains closed or use a mineral susncreen and look like a geisha

[jwilcox25]

I am using Neutrogena but going to use a zinc only sunscreen block which is of matte finish.

Though Taz has made my skin dry, I still find Neutrogena a bit shiny.

One more thing, I am not sure if there is a correlation: after putting rosehip oil on Taz (1-2 hour apart), I find that the irritation towards Taz/Retin-A become less. I am going to use squalaneonce I use up the rosehip oil.

Just wondering which sunscreen in particular were you thinking of using? Zinc-only that is matte sounds good

[happy lemon]

Just wondering which sunscreen in particular were you thinking of using? Zinc-only that is matte sounds good

I have used the Invisible Zinc for few days and found that it is of matte finish, very very slight whitecast (my friend do not notice it) and no sheen.

It is 20% ZnO moisturizer with anti-oxidant.

I think some people are loving it!

I wish that I would have liked it; however, my skin is bit oily and i am living in Asia; when the humidity is over 90%, I may say I'd say it a bit greasy.

That sai, if you live in a dry climate, I think you'd like it.

I bought it here:
http://www.ry.com.au...0ml-p-2279.html

FYI:
http://www.imminst.o...o...st&p=376391

[happy lemon]

Dagon,

......I have just purchased the GHK serum from Skinbiology in the hope that it can calm the reaction towards Taz & Retin-A.

I will keep you posted if the GHK serum can do the job.

I have added 3 things into my regime and it seemed that my skin is no longer as red as before.

Before applying Retin-A, I put the Super GHK Copper serum of Skin Biology on my skin after cleansing.

After Retin-A, I put squalane and few minutes later, I layer it with jojoba oil.

I believe that the redness has subsided owing to the Copper Peptides.

That said, I did not notice the change until 3-4 weeks of using the serum.

While the squalene & jojoba oil do relieve me of dryness & burning sensation and they hydrate my skin very much.


P.S. I put quite thick layer of squalene & jojoba oil on my skin; though they make my face look very greasy before hitting the bed, the next morning I find that my skin absorb all of them and is very supple & soft.

Also, your mileage may vary.

[TheFountain]

Dagon,

......I have just purchased the GHK serum from Skinbiology in the hope that it can calm the reaction towards Taz & Retin-A.

I will keep you posted if the GHK serum can do the job.

I have added 3 things into my regime and it seemed that my skin is no longer as red as before.

Before applying Retin-A, I put the Super GHK Copper serum of Skin Biology on my skin after cleansing.

After Retin-A, I put squalane and few minutes later, I layer it with jojoba oil.

I believe that the redness has subsided owing to the Copper Peptides.

That said, I did not notice the change until 3-4 weeks of using the serum.

While the squalene & jojoba oil do relieve me of dryness & burning sensation and they hydrate my skin very much.


P.S. I put quite thick layer of squalene & jojoba oil on my skin; though they make my face look very greasy before hitting the bed, the next morning I find that my skin absorb all of them and is very supple & soft.

Also, your mileage may vary.

How is the copper peptide treatment going? Have you noticed any adverse effects?

[happy lemon]

How is the copper peptide treatment going? Have you noticed any adverse effects?

No uglies so far & not much improvement was witnessed either.