Retin-A turned my face into Crisco Cooking Grease.

Camisado · 01-11-2008, 07:22 AM

When I first started Retin-A Micro in the summer, for moderately severe acne....I knew it would take several weeks for me to notice a difference. So I waited it out. I put up with the red, painfully irritated peeling skin, the breakouts, etc etc.....but......after 3 months of the Retin-A, my acne not only did not go away but my face turned into a greasebomb.

When I told my doc about it, they said, Retin-A should make my face LESS greasy, and to use MORE of it.

Well, I quit using it, and the grease went away.

Unfortunately, the acne only got worse over the months.

I've tried: systemic antibiotics, Retin-A, topical antibiotics, Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic acid treatments.

My acne was moderately severe since I've had PCOS, but just about 2 months ago it went from mod-severe to nodular cystic monstrousity all over my chin and ears.

I feel like such a freak. The nodules on my chin are so massive and they NEVER come to a head. They just stay there and multiply and eventually turn into a big knot and hang around for weeks....and when they findally go away a bit...new ones form.
I just do NOT know what to do..... I've been reading some stuff you gals have tried that works, but, I'm losing faith.

It's so ridiculous because I used to have such beautiful skin...
I'm also frightened of scars. *sigh* Even in high school I didn't have acne this severe...

molliemamato3 · 01-13-2008, 03:02 PM

First, let me say I'm sorry and I know how you feel. I got painful, cystic acne for the first time in my entire life this past year. They get HUGE, last months and never come to a head just like you said. I think a lot of the cystic acne is def. this hormone thing we've got going on, but a lot of it is all this crap we put on our poor skin.

Sounds like you might have the hormone imbalance going on, but have you ever thought about food allergies?? Lots of food allergies can make you break out in cystic acne too. I stay away from dairy as much as I can and try to watch my wheat/gluten and of course the carbs/sugar.

And try to give your skin a break for a little while. It sounds like it might be really sensitive and rebelling to all of the products you've been using. I swear to you, once I stopped putting so much on my skin and just kept it simple I noticed a huge difference. I have found my acne was being caused by sensitive skin - the more BP, SA and harsh chemicals I used the worse it got. Try washing with something for sensitive skin WITHOUT sodium laureth sulfate - cetaphil antibacterial bar, purpose bar, etc. Don't use sea breeze or anything like that with alcohol - use witch hazel as a toner if you need one. Use a nice, warm compress on those really big cysts to help draw them out. Try to find an oil free moisturizer that works for you - it sounds wrong to use moisturizer if you're oily, but the retin-a could have been drying you out and then your face responded by upping it's oil production to compensate. Voila, crisco factory!!!

Try not to touch your face. The chin and ear thing you mention makes me think that could be why you're breaking out there. Or harsh hair products touching your face too. But try not to rest your chin/face in your hands. Keep your keyboard, mouse & phone SUPER clean. And wash your pillow case EVERY day in hot water/dry on high heat.

Other than that, try some herbs too. Vitex, Progesterone cream and upping my B-complex also helped me. I see an accupuncturist as well which I think has helped the most. My liver wasn't filtering the waste like it should have been so it was all coming out in my skin which is the largest organ, so where else would it come out?? Well, I am rambling and this is a lot of info. But hang in there. I hope you find something that helps you soon!!

molliemamato3 · 01-13-2008, 03:04 PM

Oops, one more thing!! Are you using a mineral make up??? Make sure if you are that it's one without Bismuth Oxychloride. It is the number one ingred that some sensitive people can't handle in mineral make up. It broke me out BAD.

eleanor rigby · 05-20-2008, 03:20 AM

I have outrageously oily skin and the Retin-A does not help with that, but it seems to be the only thing that gets rid of the bulk of my acne. I'm sorry it didn't work for you.

KRYSTAL80 · 05-28-2008, 11:20 PM

I Was Prescribed The Retin A In High School , About 9 Years Ago And It Was Nasty. I Face Felt So Greasy. It Was So Red As Well . I No Longer Have Acne Issues, But When I Do, I Like To Use Pro-active. I Feel Like This Is A Miracle For Acne. You Should Try It. They Have A Money Back Guarantee. So If You Dont Like It Just Send It Back.

christianlea · 05-29-2008, 12:43 AM

When I was younger, I had really severe acne on my face, neck, chest and back. It was awful. I used to spontaneously start bleeding on my back from all the acne, especially when active (talk about dreading gym class...). I tried all kinds of stuff. RetinA caused me the same problems as you... It made me feel like I had really really dry skin that was covered in vegetable oil. It didn't work at all. Finally, my doctor prescribed me Accutane. I had to take it twice as long as recommended at twice the dosage recommended for my weight, but it finally worked! The great thing about it is that once it works it is fairly permanent, or at least lasts for a long time. My skin is starting to break out again as my PCOS is worsening, but I had about 10 years with fairly mild acne. Anyway, the stuff is super strong. (like my nose and lips used to start bleeding from dryness...) If you decide you want to go that route though, you can ONLY take it if you are NOT trying to conceive. The doctor will probably make you go on birth control before starting it. Even at 14, I had to go in every month for blood tests to confirm I wasn't pregnant before they would continue my treatment. Anyway, that might be a route to try. It was definitely worth it for me. HTH.

jjkrhbb · 05-30-2008, 02:24 PM

I agree that it does sound hormonal. Believe me I know how you feel. I had beautiful skin until college and then my skin went to the dogs. I get the large underskin cysts that cluster on the lower chin and cheeks. May I suggest some things that helped me? First, I am on a BCP called Zovia 1/35. This has helped regulate the hormonal cysts I was getting. Second, I am on Spiro (Aldactone) 50 mg per day. I am on the lowest dose. It has taken away nearly all oiliness I had. I used to be an oil slick 30 minutes into my day. And oily equaled cysts for me too. So this has helped alot. Third, I use Finacea every morning. It is labeled as a rosacea medication but is used off label as an acne treatment. I spread on a thin layer all over the face and let sink in and then put on makeup. This has helped with my scarring and helped slough off skin gently without peeling. It does sting a tiny bit for the first few weeks....that goes away though. Fourth, I do use Retin A Micro at night. However, my derm told me to mix it with moisturizer. She told me to mix one part moisturizer to one part Retin A, mix in your palm and then apply. One thing this does is eliminate the redness and major peeling. Also using it at night with nothing else interfering with it helps it work. I do agree with another poster here that Retin A may be drying you out and your oil glands are overcompensating. The very first time I used Retin A I had the grease pit you speak of. You really need to use it with a moisturizer. I know it sounds counterintuitive but it does work better. I also agree that using mineral makeup is good. Again, make sure you steer clear of the Bismuth. It does cause cysts in some people. Good luck.