STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Do Prescription Creams REALLY make skin worse before better?

Grace · BCBG

I've heard this before too but I don't think it's true. Plus, doesn't a zit start weeks before you ever see it? I think I know the kind of breakout you are talking about...does it feel like it has it's own heartbeat!

esquiress · Marc Jacobs

The only prescription cream I ever used was Retin-A, in college. It def. dried out my skin for the first six weeks (like seriously FLAKING off) and then poof! I had perfect, glowing skin. But my skin was never really that bad to begin with, just occassional annoying pimples. But anyway, if super-dry skin counts as "worse" then yeah, I guess the myth came true for me.

I don't know anything about your situation though. A bunch of my friends have been on accutane too and they loved the results so I'll have to ask them if their skin got worse before it got better.

atlgirl · Gucci

I don't know about all meds...years ago I worked with a girl who started on Accutane...her face looked AWFUL. All shiny red, peeling...it was painful to look at her. But once the treatment was over, she had the most flawless, beautiful skin.

I use Retin-A and the only issue I have (thus far) is the flaking. Mostly not too noticeable, but I put on a heavy moisturizer at night for a few days after I use the Retin-A (I use it once a week).

jacL · Coach

My skin became worse before it became better when I was on prescriptions meds. It makes all of the underlying dirty stufff come out, then keeps your skin clear after that.

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Any anticipation of how long it takes for this bad period to end?

I did a little research and have determined that it is not a myth, with these sorts of creams the cell turnover is fourfold, so you basically experience 4x the breakouts while the skin adjusts, the layers get thinner, diameter then builds, its fascinating.