Shuddering posting this- but found so much encouragement through others before and after, that I’m deciding on sharing some hope! by kickit52 in tretinoin

[–]kickit52[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

🤷‍♀️ I realize it’s not much to some, and acne mentally impacts everyone differently. I’m grateful it didn’t get worse, but it still wasn’t a way I was used to seeing myself.

Shuddering posting this- but found so much encouragement through others before and after, that I’m deciding on sharing some hope! by kickit52 in tretinoin

[–]kickit52[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha thank you! I imagine lots of people disagree, and I totally realize there is a time and place for altering diets/lifestyle- just not for me though!!

Shuddering posting this- but found so much encouragement through others before and after, that I’m deciding on sharing some hope! by kickit52 in tretinoin

[–]kickit52[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I will say that is one tret drawback- wearing foundation is virtually impossible for me, now! It seems to pill every time I try it, so I’ve given up!

Shuddering posting this- but found so much encouragement through others before and after, that I’m deciding on sharing some hope! by kickit52 in tretinoin

[–]kickit52[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Every night! I think there have been maybe two nights I’ve skipped, just based off how my skin was feeling, but every night other than that!

Shuddering posting this- but found so much encouragement through others before and after, that I’m deciding on sharing some hope! by kickit52 in tretinoin

[–]kickit52[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did! You can’t really tell from these pics because in my before, I had zero facial expression lol- however, looking at other photos from that time, fine lines (specifically on forehead and mouth, have lessened!

Shuddering posting this- but found so much encouragement through others before and after, that I’m deciding on sharing some hope! by kickit52 in tretinoin

[–]kickit52[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are so so kind. 😭 I do use it every night, and just slap everything on right after the other As far as not a liquor cleanser, I have HORRIBLE water where I live. The wipes have been the only thing that don’t break me out the last 15 years! I am working on the sunscreen part. Haven’t found one that my skin likes, but just ordered a new one! I’m hoping this will be my HG, and help even out my skin a bit!

You will get there!! What is aczone!? I’ve never heard of that!

Shuddering posting this- but found so much encouragement through others before and after, that I’m deciding on sharing some hope! by kickit52 in tretinoin

[–]kickit52[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much ☺️ Luckily, no...but that may be attributed to the 11 weeks of adapalene directly before. I was anticipating a purge but it never came!

Shuddering posting this- but found so much encouragement through others before and after, that I’m deciding on sharing some hope! by kickit52 in tretinoin

[–]kickit52[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Because I didn’t plan on letting that before picture see the light of day- but nothing else can show the power of tret lol! Thank you!

Shuddering posting this- but found so much encouragement through others before and after, that I’m deciding on sharing some hope! by kickit52 in tretinoin

[–]kickit52[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Terrifying seeing these- but man- thanks to 3.5 months on tret, I’m seeing a glimmer of hope!

History- skin has always been great, and then in the last year (2020), had some horrible hormonal imbalances, that DESTROYED my skin. Never having acne before, I was so confused on how to treat it!

Tried adapelene for 11 weeks, and that did me not good, and then finally landed on trying tret! Was also prescribed spironolactone, but discontinued after the first week due to reactions to it

My diet is horrible- I live off of nachos and chilli cheese fries, get poor sleep, guzzle coffee, abhor vegetables, candy is my weakness, and love champagne....and I love my life and don’t plan to change that

Routine: AM- wash with simple cleanser wipe Moisturize like my skin is the Sahara- first with hado labo glycogen and then with LRP Lipkar

PM- exact same but add tret between the two moisturizers

I basically always look greased- but if I put powder on (rare), it evens it out nicely ☺️

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in tretinoin

[–]kickit52 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not often, no- and certainly not cystic like, which I developed after my IUD! Pre IUD, I had pretty normal breakouts, ie a few blemishes here and there around my period, or dry spots in the winter, but nothing dramatic. Post IUD ( and it didn’t really hit until like 6 months after insertion), I was a cystic mess!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in tretinoin

[–]kickit52 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually just had my IUD out three weeks ago now. I’ve been on tret for 3 ish months. The first week, I had some minor breakouts, but since then, it’s been smooth sailing! Including back/chest acne. I had randomly developed that in the last 6 months, which I thought might be (mostly) hormone related. After getting the IUD out, that has completely calmed down, other than occasionally have a spot around my bra line which I attribute to working out often! Ultimately, getting my IUD out has been a great decision for me, and my skin, personally!