Tretinoin

[sleepflowers]

Apparently online consultations can prescribe it, as I've seen my GP and a dermatologist countless times and they've never given me it! Maybe I'll have to find it on the 'black market' like you did!

 

[Kindred_]

I’d be really encouraged by the results you’ve had so far. I think maybe it’s worth giving it a few more months before you give up on Dermatica. Am I right in thinking you’ve only been on it since Feb? So you will be due your first review in a few weeks time, at which point you can discuss your results with them and change up your prescription if necessary. Or contact them now if you don’t want to wait. Any long term changes in the skin take months to happen, so you won’t see the improvements you’re looking for this quickly. I’d stick with it, and speak to them about it.

Yes since February, can you tell I’m impatient my skin calmed down from a bad break out really quickly but since then I haven’t seen a change but I will stick with it and highlight this at my review!
do you know if they contact you for the review or do I need to?xx

 

[Kindred_]

I signed up to dermatica this week, waiting for it to arrive

 

[Kindred_]

Dermatica looks really interesting! I wish I knew about it earlier, especially after dropping nearly £300 on ZO obagi

I have a fresh tube of tretinoin in my drawer and now we’ve gone into lockdown it seems like the perfect time to start

 

[Bonnie Bisou]

it’s a prescription drug so would only consider buying it from a reputable source. There are plenty of places you can get it legitimately for about £20.

Where would you suggest purchasing from?

 

[sleepflowers]

Thank you to everyone who recommended dermatica! I’ve been using it for a month and my skin is finally calming down! Yay!

This is so good to hear, I just signed up for it the other day! I'm getting tretinoin and hydroquinone, which I've never tried before!

 

[Shineyshine]

I’m really interested in people’s experience too.

Can I ask how much the Dermatica subscription is or how it works?! Do you pay for a consult and for your product separately etc?

Thank you!

I signed up to dermatica when they had a Black Friday offer on - but normally it’s £19.99 a month plus p&p £2.90. The fee includes everything, but you have the consultation first then you complete the sign up process if you decide you want to go ahead with the treatment.

They’ve given me a four month treatment plan initially. The strength of the tretinoin is increasing gradually each month, and is under review in terms of my tolerance to it.

You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time. So if you decide to take a break and give your skin a rest or your financial circumstances change, it’s flexible.

 

[sleepflowers]

Has anyone used 'pharmacy' sites like this one?

Retino-A Cream (Tretinoin) - 0.05% (20g Tube) - United Pharmacies (UK)

Retino-A (Tretinoin) is a topical form of vitamin A which is applied to the skin to treat acne. It works by affecting the growth of cells in the skin, and helps to heal acne pimples and rejuvenate the skin. Some patients use this product to help reduce fine wrinkles and to improve the overall...

www.unitedpharmacies-uk.md

Quite a few have come up when I google it. Seems too good to be true? I think it's coming from abroad but it only comes to around £20 with postage...

 

[under the ivy]

I’m using Skin+Me 0.009% Tret for the 2nd month and I can see a difference. Although I did get dry patches and bumps under the skin. It’s definitely evening out my skin tone.

I use Avene cleanser, toner, moisturiser while my skin is reactive and SPF 30+ everyday.

 

[Shineyshine]

Yes since February, can you tell I’m impatient my skin calmed down from a bad break out really quickly but since then I haven’t seen a change but I will stick with it and highlight this at my review!
do you know if they contact you for the review or do I need to?xx

Yes they contact you and ask you to update your photos and answer a few questions, so you can tell them how you feel your treatment is going. They do this well before you get your fourth treatment sent out so that there’s time if the prescription is changed. I just had my first review a few weeks ago and I was pleased how it went. You could always give them a ring or send an email sooner if you want to ask them about your treatment though, if you feel it’s not working for you. There’s no harm in asking.

 

[Lhm87]

Where would you suggest purchasing from?

skin + me or Dermatica

 

[under the ivy]

Do you still get spots 2 months in? And do you use it every night?

I’ll have a look into Avene, especially for the moisturiser! Thank you

I do on my jaw but they’re really not that bad. It’s the dry/flaky skin I’ve noticed since using it. It’s worth going through the purge!

 

[sleepflowers]

I have just done my first month using Dermatica tretinoin + hydroquinone, I've had breakouts and quite a bit of dry skin but it seems to be settling down now. Luckily I can wear a mask for most of the day to cover the worst of it!!

My prescription increases in strength so we'll see what happens. I'll give it a go for at least 6 months I think. I'll be really amazed if it makes the stubborn acne around my cheek/jaw go away. It's been there for years now I think and never faded completely. If this doesn't work, I think accutane is my only option left. Or another birth control pill as my hormones are out of wack anyway.

 

[Shineyshine]

How is everyone doing on their skin journey?

Dermatica absolutely calmed my skin down from a horrific break out I was having but I feel like I’ve hit a wall now with progress. My skin feels super smooth but I’m still getting mild breakouts and pores/blackheads are still really visible. I’m wondering whether to switch to skin+me??xx

I’d be really encouraged by the results you’ve had so far. I think maybe it’s worth giving it a few more months before you give up on Dermatica. Am I right in thinking you’ve only been on it since Feb? So you will be due your first review in a few weeks time, at which point you can discuss your results with them and change up your prescription if necessary. Or contact them now if you don’t want to wait. Any long term changes in the skin take months to happen, so you won’t see the improvements you’re looking for this quickly. I’d stick with it, and speak to them about it.

 

[sleepflowers]

Just want to say.....roaccutane (oral tret) isn't the only option if you are a post-puberty aged woman. I had roaccutane as a teenager and whilst it worked well for many many years as an adult with a full time job I could not be arsed with the side effects, need for regular blood and pregnant tests.

Am currently on spironolactone which in combination with topical tret has been wonderful. It's an off licence use so needs to be prescribed by a dermatologist and have a very good GP who was happy to refer me and also excellent NHS derm who was happy to talk through *all* available options.

I have heard so many good things about spiro, I'm desperate to try it, but no doctor or derm will prescribe it to me! Even a private derm wouldn't give it to me...

 

[under the ivy]

@under the ivy would you be able to link or screenshot the avene moisturiser you use?

or if anyone else can recommend a good moisturiser to use alongside tret that would be great. I usually use coconut oil but worried this will form a barrier and not work well?x

It’s this one The cleanser is really good too x

 

[Postergirl]

I get mine from a spainish pharmacy online just use google to translate the page. It’s over the counter in Europe - pharmacy Andorra

I tried to order from there but was put off because when I went to pay with the card, they said there was a problem, and I had to pay by bank transfer. I did not want to do this . There must be an easier way to get Tretinoin.

 

[Shineyshine]

I just think tretinoin is a controlled medicine for a reason. I’m much more comfortable getting it from dermatica, despite it being more expensive, knowing that it’s on prescription and under the supervision of dermatologists.

 

[pancakesandspice]

I have heard so many good things about spiro, I'm desperate to try it, but no doctor or derm will prescribe it to me! Even a private derm wouldn't give it to me...

Unfortunately it's not yet NICE approved, although British association of Derm do recommend it, so is very dermatology dependent. Haven't had a problem with London derms (private and NHS)

 

[Kindred_]

How is everyone doing on their skin journey?

Dermatica absolutely calmed my skin down from a horrific break out I was having but I feel like I’ve hit a wall now with progress. My skin feels super smooth but I’m still getting mild breakouts and pores/blackheads are still really visible. I’m wondering whether to switch to skin+me??xx