anyone use a retinol product?

groovygrl

i have been breaking out on my chin like crazy in the last year and decided to try a retinol cream (.5, so not a high dose) and was advised to use it just a couple times a week on the affected areas or my skin would dry out really badly. I used it one time, on friday night nad this morning noticed my chin has all this flaky stuff going on, almost looks like little hairs, I don't know if I should try to exfoliate it off or what? I read the instructions & don't recall seeing that I was supposed to rinse it off after applying but I was just looking around online & saw something that said you should so maybe that is what I did wrong...now I'm a little afraid to use it again...(though from reading online, peeling in the beginning is typical & you have to use it for awhile to let your skin get used to it before you'll see effects...is this other peoples' experience?)

any tips?

djm31012

retinol is very drying so thats not surprising. and if you are in a cold winter climate that will make it even worse. stay away from exfoliating and just use lots of oil free moisturizer.

groovygrl

djm31012 said:

retinol is very drying so thats not surprising. and if you are in a cold winter climate that will make it even worse. stay away from exfoliating and just use lots of oil free moisturizer.

but do I keep it up a couple times a week and eventually it'll normalize again? also really nothing I can do to get these flakes off my face, they are hideous? I'm so glad I only did this area on my chin yuck

LoCarb

There will be an adjustment period for your skin to get used to the new product. I agree with @djm31012 -it's very drying, remember to moisturize. I use topical creams at night and moisturize before bed (after the cream dries) and again in the a.m. before applying make-up.

ETA: I use CeraVe PM and Cetaphil moisturizer. Sometimes in the winter I will use Aquafor when it's really dry and flaky.

djm31012

yes id say aquaphor...and i would use the retinol no more than 2-3 times a week. If you want a topical treatment for acne thats a little bit less you can try benzoyl peroxide its not as harsh.

82Sonia

I used a retinol before I got pregnant and it dried my skin out just like you said. Use lots of moisturizer and use the retinol product very sparingly.

PunkyBooster

There's def an adjustment. I agree with using it 2 nights a week for now. I use cetaphil to wash in the morning. Use that sunblock!!!

I've been using it for years, minus pregnancy, and think it's a great product. But it's not perfect and it will take some time to get used to it.

Just use the sunscreen religiously.

groovygrl

Thanks all! I also have melasma so I already use SPF when out in the sun and moisturizer w/ SPF... would love it if this would help clear up my chin issues though. I know it has anti aging effects but I can't imagine using it all over the place to get those benefits, ugh! Maybe If I could hide inside for a few months while my face adjusted. LOL.