u/SeboSte

“Misinformation” is a really strong term to use. Rich, too. I’m not going to say you’re spreading “misinformation” but I am going to say you’re spreading your misunderstandings.

Acne in and of itself is already a compromised skin barrier. It just so happens the medications used to treat and prevent acne also encourage and regulate healthy barrier function as well. The purging is an accepted side effect of the prescription retinoid. The purging is also caused by the exact same mechanism of action that treats/prevents acne in the longterm and helps promote healthy barrier function. Purging is the retinoid working. But I’m not even sure why you’re bringing purging up. It’s just how retinoids work. Has no other impact other than moving the acne along to get over the hump to clearer, healthier skin. That said, patients experiencing more than a few months of purging are typically misunderstanding how to correctly use their prescription retinoid. Has nothing to do with the actual effectiveness of the retinoid.

But back to my primary point - every patient prescribed a prescription retinoid starts that retinoid with a damaged/compromised skin barrier. That’s why they’re prescribed to patients actively experiencing breakouts. That’s not controversial. My point isn’t to argue with you over the efficacy of retinoid and azelaic acid. My point is people in this sub, yourself included, are confused about how and why they work as well as how and when to use them. You then say things like “heal your skin barrier before using them”. The point of the prescription retinoid is to heal the skin barrier. There is no way to have a healthy skin barrier while experiencing active breakouts. Not a thing. Therefore it’s expected that the patient will be starting the prescriptions while their skin barrier is compromised. But that’s not my opinion, that’s how they’re prescribed 365 days a year in every dermatologist’s office.

It’s definitely meant to be a bit of a call out. Commenters in this sub give terrible advice when it comes to actual skin conditions and the medications used to treat them every day. Your comment above is a good example. You just told OP “….at the moment all you have to do is let your skin heal.” As though letting her skin heal wouldn’t have already occur to OP.

Your advice just doesn’t make sense though. These medications are prescribed to help patients heal their skin every single day across the globe. No dermatologist says “I’m prescribing you a prescription retinoid and prescription azelaic acid but you have to heal your skin first before you start using them.” They’re prescribed to help patients get their skin to a healthier place. If the patient’s skin barrier weren’t already compromised there wouldn’t be much need for prescription intervention in the first place.

OP asked “what can I do to ease the acne?”. Prescription retinoids like adapalene and tretinoin are by far the most studied and proven treatment for acne in human history. Yes, there are early side effects the patient has to manage and get past when first starting a retinoid. But those side effects can easily be managed and they subside pretty quickly all things considered. The longterm benefits also far outweigh the short term side effects.

Medications like adapalene and azelaic acid are used to treat stubborn, persistent acne in patients across the globe every single day. They’re meant to intervene and then prevent new breakouts from forming. If every single patients prescribed these medications were told they had to “heal their skin first” most patients would be waiting years to start using them. The medications are the intervention themselves.

YesStyle.com

Ok….so now we’re just waiting for Palestine and Hamas to admit to all their crimes against humanity too?