Guest guest Posted August 11, 1999 Report Share Posted August 11, 1999 You know what's interesting - on my very first visit to my current derm, I had a few discolorations from old pimples that took forever to disappear (I think I'm a slow-healer to start with). Anyways, I asked my derm if using an AHA would make the discoloration disappear quicker. He wasn't too keen on AHA's - he said something like " it's better to let nature do it's own healing " , but he didn't elaborate on AHA's & I didn't ask. But then he's the derm who prescribed me tretinoin, which I think strengthens collagen. I thought tretinoin was in the same family of drugs as AHA's - aren't they all retinoids, or vitamin-a derivatives? I'm not sure, maybe they're not related at all. I just thought that was interesting how he blew off AHA's in that way. Maybe AHA's are just a lot of cosmetic company hype? ruizdelvizo@... wrote: > Lilly, > > Me three about products with AHA's in them. They can come back to bite > you and cause more redness. A derm from Yale U. said that excess use > of AHA's ruins collagen. About retin-a, I had a very bad experience > with it as a teenager and would not recommend it. However, > posted today about retin-a and she has posted that she has uses. A Dr. > Kligman, an esteemed derm professor from the U of Penn., recommends it > for rosacea on the theory that it destroys damaged blood vessels. I > don't know about that one way or the other... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 1999 Report Share Posted August 11, 1999 , AHA's and retin-A don't come from the same source. AHA's are acids that are derived from sources such as sugar cane (glycolic acid comes from this, I believe). I'm not sure through which process they go through. Retin-A is a derivative of vitamin A which I think comes out to be an acid. Also, if used in excess, AHA's damage collagen without creating new collagen. I have an inkling that it destroys blood vessels in the process. Maybe this is why your derm advised against it. Retin-A is supposed to create new collagen, but irritates the skin. It also makes the skin more sensitive to UV light. BTW, I heard a mild form of Retin-A sold in cosmetics, called Retinol, can cause breakouts. I used a Neutrogena lipstick with Retinol in it and got two or three big zits around my mouth. I've never had a lipstick do that. Take care! Matija wrote: original article:/group/rosacea-support/?start=71 37 > You know what's interesting - on my very first visit to my current derm, I > had a few discolorations from old pimples that took forever to disappear (I > think I'm a slow-healer to start with). Anyways, I asked my derm if using > an AHA would make the discoloration disappear quicker. He wasn't too keen > on AHA's - he said something like " it's better to let nature do it's own > healing " , but he didn't elaborate on AHA's & I didn't ask. > > But then he's the derm who prescribed me tretinoin, which I think > strengthens collagen. I thought tretinoin was in the same family of drugs > as AHA's - aren't they all retinoids, or vitamin-a derivatives? I'm not > sure, maybe they're not related at all. I just thought that was interesting > how he blew off AHA's in that way. Maybe AHA's are just a lot of cosmetic > company hype? > > ruizdelvizo@... wrote: > > > Lilly, > > > > Me three about products with AHA's in them. They can come back to bite > > you and cause more redness. A derm from Yale U. said that excess use > > of AHA's ruins collagen. About retin-a, I had a very bad experience > > with it as a teenager and would not recommend it. However, > > posted today about retin-a and she has posted that she has uses. A Dr. > > Kligman, an esteemed derm professor from the U of Penn., recommends it > > for rosacea on the theory that it destroys damaged blood vessels. I > > don't know about that one way or the other... > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 1999 Report Share Posted August 11, 1999 Matija, Ah ha....thanks for clearing that up! I always wondered why my derm was against AHA's but pro-tretinoin, and now you've answered my question. thanks! shannon ruizdelvizo@... wrote: > , > > AHA's and retin-A don't come from the same source. AHA's are acids > that are derived from sources such as sugar cane (glycolic acid comes > from this, I believe). I'm not sure through which process they go > through. Retin-A is a derivative of vitamin A which I think comes out > to be an acid. Also, if used in excess, AHA's damage collagen without > creating new collagen. I have an inkling that it destroys blood vessels > in the process. Maybe this is why your derm advised against it. > > Retin-A is supposed to create new collagen, but irritates the skin. It > also makes the skin more sensitive to UV light. BTW, I heard a mild > form of Retin-A sold in cosmetics, called Retinol, can cause breakouts. > I used a Neutrogena lipstick with Retinol in it and got two or three > big zits around my mouth. I've never had a lipstick do that. > > Take care! > Matija Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.