Cortisone & Retin-A

[Guest guest]

This is from a skin care site called " the cosmetics cop " or dear

paula. No study references to help find source literature, so take

it for what it's worth.

http://www.cosmeticscop.com/index.htm

Dear a,

I have a question regarding the daily use of over-the-counter

hydrocortisone creams. In your book you write that the stronger

creams can cause problems if used for longer periods of time, but

what about Cortaid 1%, for example? I use it to " cut " my 0.1% Retin-

A, which I use full strength on my body for keratosis pilaris. Ever

since my Accutane treatment, my skin gets irritated by plain

moisturizer-cut Retin-A, but when used with Cortaid, I get beautiful,

clear, smooth skin with none of the dermatitis.

Will daily use of Cortaid on facial skin cause problems? If not, is

there a problem with mixing it with Retin-A before application? Or

would I be better off diluting the 0.1% Retin-A with water for

application at night and then using the Cortaid during the day?

Dear ,

Almost without exception, any topically applied cortisone thins the

skin and, over time, can make wrinkling worse. But there are studies

that indicate that the use of cortisone with Retin-A or Renova

prevents the cortisone cream from having a negative effect on the

elastin and collagen in skin, while still retaining the positive

effects of reducing or eliminating irritation. For example, when skin-

lightening products with high concentrations of hydroquinone are

prescribed by a physician, they are often accompanied by a cortisone

cream and Renova or Retin-A. This way the hydroquinone's potential

irritation is eliminated and the Renova does double duty in

preventing collagen loss and improving cell production.

Another option for you is to consider using the cortisone as needed.

So rather than using it every day, only use it when the irritation

first shows up. Intermittent use of cortisone does not present a

problem for skin.

[Guest guest]

This is from a skin care site called " the cosmetics cop " or dear

paula. No study references to help find source literature, so take

it for what it's worth.

http://www.cosmeticscop.com/index.htm

Dear a,

I have a question regarding the daily use of over-the-counter

hydrocortisone creams. In your book you write that the stronger

creams can cause problems if used for longer periods of time, but

what about Cortaid 1%, for example? I use it to " cut " my 0.1% Retin-

A, which I use full strength on my body for keratosis pilaris. Ever

since my Accutane treatment, my skin gets irritated by plain

moisturizer-cut Retin-A, but when used with Cortaid, I get beautiful,

clear, smooth skin with none of the dermatitis.

Will daily use of Cortaid on facial skin cause problems? If not, is

there a problem with mixing it with Retin-A before application? Or

would I be better off diluting the 0.1% Retin-A with water for

application at night and then using the Cortaid during the day?

Dear ,

Almost without exception, any topically applied cortisone thins the

skin and, over time, can make wrinkling worse. But there are studies

that indicate that the use of cortisone with Retin-A or Renova

prevents the cortisone cream from having a negative effect on the

elastin and collagen in skin, while still retaining the positive

effects of reducing or eliminating irritation. For example, when skin-

lightening products with high concentrations of hydroquinone are

prescribed by a physician, they are often accompanied by a cortisone

cream and Renova or Retin-A. This way the hydroquinone's potential

irritation is eliminated and the Renova does double duty in

preventing collagen loss and improving cell production.

Another option for you is to consider using the cortisone as needed.

So rather than using it every day, only use it when the irritation

first shows up. Intermittent use of cortisone does not present a

problem for skin.