Too young for Retin-A?

[Anonymous]

Hello! I searched the forums for Retin-A advice, and most of the posters seemed to be in their late thirties. I'm 31, have very dry, very pale skin with fine lines on my forehead and around my eyes. They don't bother me much, but I don't want them to get worse! I know Retin-A is strong stuff, but I think it would be easier to prevent deep lines than try to fix them once they are here. Obviously I will consult my dermatologist, but just wanted a sounding board! Should Retin-A be used as a preventative measure, or should I wait until I'm older? TIA!

[Anonymous]

Go for it. I used Retin-A as a preventive measure in my early thirties and I think it did work to prevent the formation of fine lines. Now in my mid-forties I only have the faintest of lines on my forehead and nowhere else. No crinkles around the eyes or mouth at all. I stopped using it when I was planning to get pregnant, during pregnancy & breastfeeding, and never really got back on it again, out of sheer laziness. But I do still use OTC retinol and glycolic acid and think my skin is generally better than most women's my age, apart from some age spots that I'm working on, lol.

[Anonymous]

i don't think you're too young. i'm 32 and have been using OTC and plan to get a script. I have the problem of the start of fine lines and the occasional acne too...and retin A works for both of them.

[Anonymous]

Istarted using it in my late twenties. I have no lines or wrinkles. I am 45

[Anonymous]

34 and LOVE it. Just a word of warning that the first couple of months your skin may look pretty bad--totally peely and gross. But after that it looks awesome. You have to be really careful about sun exposure too, so summer might not be the best time to start if you like to be in the sun.

[Anonymous]

OP here--thanks for the advice! I am pretty religious about sunscreen (very pale!). But I think I will wait until fall.

[Anonymous]

I've been using it since I was 15, how is 31 too young?

[Anonymous]

I'm 32 and just waiting until I stop nursing in the fall to get a prescription. Had I not been PG or nursing for most of the last three years, I would have already done so.

[Anonymous]

Get it. I've been on it for a few months and I stopped using foundation a few weeks ago. I haven't done that in decades.

[Anonymous]

I started using it in my early 20s for acne.

I am 41 and (barring pregnancy)..I still use it. I have very few--if any--wrinkles and I was a TOTAL sun worshipper until about age 25/26. We are talking baking in the sun with baby oil for hours upon hours (it was the 80s after all!!!), damn I wish I could take those days back.

They give it to teens for acne so there is no reason why you'd be too young. Just be sure to wear sunscreen daily. Start with the lowest dose and you may need to use it every other night at first.

I have pretty tough skin so it only irritates me if it is a very dry windy winter and then I go to every other night. Retin-A micro lets you mix in with a neutral moisturizer.