If I can't use RetinA or Renova

pigreyhound · May 2008

Ok, so I am using products from Dianne Yvonne or PFS and everything is going well. Mild cleanser, Exfol, GHK copper, Emu oil on dry patches and sunscreen. Everything going well except the breakouts on my chin. Deep, but small (thank goodness). My MD said they were likely caused by hormone fluctuations.

RetinA and Renova make my skin miserable. They aren't so bad that I want to take major acne medication. But they are annoying and persistent.

Any suggestions for what I could use daily to keep them at bay? The rest of my skin is looking good.

RedCatWaves · May 2008

pigreyhound wrote: »

Ok, so I am using products from Dianne Yvonne or PFS and everything is going well. Mild cleanser, Exfol, GHK copper, Emu oil on dry patches and sunscreen. Everything going well except the breakouts on my chin. Deep, but small (thank goodness). My MD said they were likely caused by hormone fluctuations.

RetinA and Renova make my skin miserable. They aren't so bad that I want to take major acne medication. But they are annoying and persistent.

Any suggestions for what I could use daily to keep them at bay? The rest of my skin is looking good.

You might want to try switching from Exfol to the 2% or 5% BHA. Exfol is very mild, and maybe it's too mild to clean out and exfoliate those stubborn chin pores (I have similar troubles with my chin). Mandelic Acid is another product (it's an AHA) that might help that troubled area.

pigreyhound · May 2008

Thank you! I have a sample of the BHA at home so I will try to use that and see if I notice a difference.

I appreciate your help. I like the other products and my sensitive skin is doing well.
Now to find a sunscreen that won't cause problems! Most of them seem to cause me to react in the sun. I am hoping the new Anthelios will help.

pigreyhound · May 2008

The Mandelaic acid (sp?) is 66$ on Dianne Yvonne. Wow that is pricey!

RedCatWaves · May 2008

pigreyhound wrote: »

The Mandelaic acid (sp?) is 66$ on Dianne Yvonne. Wow that is pricey!

Wow...that has gone up a lot since I last bought it. I think I paid $50 about a year ago. It's good stuff though, and since I only use it for spot application, it lasts me a long time (over a year apparently).

Gardenofwisdom.com sells a comparable strength version for $45.50 for 1 oz.

pigreyhound · May 2008

Thanks RCW, I didn't get a chance to look around for other prices. And if it works, it is worth it. Lord knows, I paid a lot more on trips to Sephora on products that didn't work as well as the products I am using now!

I tried putting no Emu oil on my chin, but find I get flaky and dry there if I go without. I wonder if there are supplements I could take to help even out my hormones.

This is all so annoying. The rest of my face looks and feels good! And I can feel the darn things under my skin days before they show. I didn't have this much trouble when I was a teenager.

VTmom · May 2008

You could try differin. It's a retinoid also, but is gentler than retin-a. Its active ingredient is adapalene. I use both (but not on the same night) and am growing rather fond of the differin. It seems to be keeping me clear with no harsh side effects. :thumright:

Notty · May 2008

I don't know if this will help - but I use the 8% AHA from Walgrens - it's cheap and was suggested to me by a friend from her plastic surgeon. Much,much cheaper than Renova.

pigreyhound · May 2008

Thanks, Notty. I will see what I can find. My skin seems to prefer BHAs but if I continue to breakout on my chin, something isn't working right.

I tried Differin the past and had too much peeling and irritation. I have rosacea, even though it is under control right now, and many meds for acne really bother my skin. It drives me crazy that I am getting these deep pimples since I am really pretty careful about my skincare.

I wonder if there are vitamins or supplements I should try to even out the hormones? Anyone have success?

Verity · May 2008

I have breakouts, mostly on my cheeks just above my jawline. My skin tends to clear up early in my cycle, and then break out the last week or so before my period. The problem is pretty clearly hormone-related.

My dermatologist suggested Retin A for me, but I'm worried it will make my skin too dry. I tried AHA, and it seemed to make the problem worse. I don't know if it was just coincidence, but I'm scared to put it on my skin again.

I've looked into supplements, and actually ordered some chasteberry. Now I'm scared to take it. I want my face to clear up, but I'm worried about messing with my hormone levels. One web site warns that women with hormone-sensitive conditions, such as breast cancer, should not take it. What if I have a tumor, don't know it, and taking this supplement would be "feeding" it?

Surely these breakouts will stop after menopause. I feel utterly ridiculous to have acne at my age (46). For me, the possibility of having clearer skin is a reason to look forward to menopause.

I'm interested in learning more about the products mentioned in your op, but I'm having no luck googling the names of the products listed in your post.

VTmom · May 2008

Verity wrote: »

I have breakouts, mostly on my cheeks just above my jawline. My skin tends to clear up early in my cycle, and then break out the last week or so before my period. The problem is pretty clearly hormone-related.

My dermatologist suggested Retin A for me, but I'm worried it will make my skin too dry. I tried AHA, and it seemed to make the problem worse. I don't know if it was just coincidence, but I'm scared to put it on my skin again.

I've looked into supplements, and actually ordered some chasteberry. Now I'm scared to take it. I want my face to clear up, but I'm worried about messing with my hormone levels. One web site warns that women with hormone-sensitive conditions, such as breast cancer, should not take it. What if I have a tumor, don't know it, and taking this supplement would be "feeding" it?

Surely these breakouts will stop after menopause. I feel utterly ridiculous to have acne at my age (46). For me, the possibility of having clearer skin is a reason to look forward to menopause.

I'm interested in learning more about the products mentioned in your op, but I'm having no luck googling the names of the products listed in your post.

I'll be 51 in the fall and am still breaking out, sometimes like a teenager. :evil: Although I do go thru spells where I stay pretty clear with the routine I use. I'm in one of those spells now. My face is actually looking pretty good <crosses fingers and toes>. I'm not sure I think menopause will help. I hear stories to the contrary. :-?

ETA: products in original post: dianayvonne.com and psfskincare.com

Verity · May 2008

Thanks for the web addresses. I'm afraid I'm still confused, though. I still can't find the products you mention. :confused2:

LoloDSM · June 2008

I couldn't use Retin-A when I was pregnant, so my dermatologist prescribed Azelex. It is supposed to work similar to Retin-A but is more gentle. I did not experience redness or peeling with it. Truth be told, I liked my Retin-A much better, but maybe it would work for you.

Cynaminbear · June 2008

To help balance my hormones I take alfalfa from Something about the alfalfa balances progesterone and estrogen. If either is too high or low it helps. You have to take 9-15 capsules per day. I try to take 12 in three separate doses throughout the day.

Spiralli · June 2008

I've been using Avene's Retrinal and I like the results a lot. I started out with the lowest strength (0.025%) and stayed with that for a few months. Then I transitioned to the middle strength (0.05%) by alternating nights with the weaker strength. Now I use the middle strength only. Haven't tried 0.10% (the most potent in Retrinal).

I have never tried Retin-A or Renova; just mentioning the Retrinal as another possible option, since it didn't irritate my skin.

pigreyhound · June 2008

What is the difference between Retrinal and Retin A? I know RCW said that the GHK works best with Retin A, but my skin just was miserable with Retin A before.

Now it has been a few years since I tried it.

Jennifer Wilcox · July 2008

I am really lucky that I can use retin-a. It has made all the difference to clear up my chin. I am 37 and having more trouble now with my skin then I did at 17! My dermatologist also said the problems were caused by hormones. He perscribed Aldactone (Spironolacatone) to help the hormones. Otherwise, I think that taking chaste tree (Vitex) has been helpful.

Spiralli · July 2008

pigreyhound wrote: »

What is the difference between Retrinal and Retin A?

I can't speak on the chemical differences, just that Retrinal is made by Avene, is available OTC easily by mail-order/internet and has been much more gentle for my skin than Green Cream. That being said, I am thinking of trying Renova in the lowest strength, when I finish my Retrinal. I want to get the Renova without a prescription tho so that I can save some $, so I'm working on sources for that.

wavycurly40+ · July 2008

Another vote for BHA -- Neutrogena, specifically.

I've had recurring hormonal Chin Zits for over 20 years now, and the thing that has worked most consistently is Neutrogena's 2% salicylic acid products.

I found out about them from Paula Begoun's books -- and she's all scientific about the ph-balance, etc., apparently lots of them won't work, etc. The Neutrogena one met her standard.

Unfortunately, they change the formulas periodically -- the current incarnation is called "Oil Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment." Pretty cheap, from any drugstore.

Don't know for sure if it still cuts the ph-balance mustard, according to Paula, but it seems to work for me! I only use it on the chin, and I've never had problems (my skin is pretty sensitive, too -- benzoyl peroxide is evil to me).

I've gone from having breakouts every few weeks, or even once a month, to having them only 2-3 times per year.

Hope that helps!

viola · August 2008

I won't tolerate Retin A. I did tolerate Differin well, and it did seem to make a reduction in lines for me, but not enough to keep me shelling out that much $.

I couldn't use Retin-A when I was pregnant, so my dermatologist prescribed Azelex.

If you have leftover Azelex you no longer use for anything else, it makes a good ingrown hair treatment. Of course, most people aren't going to pay 100$/oz or whatever for ingrown hair treatment, but if you have it laying around anyway, why not.

SAM2 · August 2008

I also have the hormonal breakouts on my chin and they are very annoying. im 42 and never until 7 years ago broke out. i feel your pain. as a matter of fact,because of my skin problems, and my interest in skin, i decided to become an esthetician.
first, if your blemishes are the deep type and peri-menopausal many times (and for me) oral meds are the the only thing that will clear them up(oral antibiotic...)aha, bha, retin-a, glycolics,and prescription meds can only go so deep and will help with the comedones, papules and pustules, but do very little for deep blemishes. there is a supplement i used from dermadoctor.dot.com(for the life of me i cant remember the name of it) that did help, but was costly(30 to 60 monthly). you could try that if you dont want to be put on a prescription.
second, as for the retin-a, i had problems with that at first also for many months, until i tried this method. a low dose to start, and then only once a week.when your skin adjusts, 2x... it takes a long time to move to daily, if ever. 3 to 4 x a week for many is plenty.
also, and this is what helped the most, put a non active moisturizer on first. wait 20 min to a half hour then put the retin-a on. (i use emu oil as it helps the retin-a from penetrating to quickly, if you put the retin-a on first then the emu, it will do the opposite)
i hope this helps some:) sam

pigreyhound · August 2008

Thanks for the suggestions!
Since I have been more careful about using simple, active products from SkinBiology or Dianne Yvonne or PSF, I have reduced the number and size of my hormonal outbreaks. And the minor aging issues I was having have improved.

I use serums rather than creams and use Emu or Squalane for moisture. I bought some pure Titanium dioxide and mix it into my oil when I am out in the sun. (I also use a wide brimmed hat and avoid peak sun)

I think if I can continue to have success with these products, I won't need RetinA. I just remember how irritated my skin was the last time I used RetinA, so if I can avoid it, I am going to.

rudeechick · August 2008

Chin breakouts - the bane of my dermatological existance!! I tell my kids its "teenage acne" because I'm so youthful!

Its really hormones - I had GREAT success with the Differen in my 30s, when my cell turnover strated to diminish. If you cant tolerate the Renova, try that.

But, FYI - you can use the Renova every other day; have you tried that? ALso, I assume you know not to apply it for 20-30 minutes after washing? And that you can apply moisturizer over it after 20 minutes?

If I can't use RetinA or Renova

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