*referral links in this post
Hello skincare junkies! How are you doing? Its been a week since restrictions have eased in the UK and whilst it came with some snow and cold weather, we are grateful. Have you been out yet? What was your first beauty treatment? I had my hair done for the first time in about 6 months. Heaven! Speaking of treatments, I’m sharing my experience with Dermatica. They are an online subscription service that’s run by dermatologists who offer personlised prescription treatment for acne, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, melasma, anti-ageing and skin glow.
My Experience with Dermatica
How it Works
During the first lockdown my skin was not happy at all. It was dry, dull and just missed getting some good ole vitamin D. On an Instagram live, Caroline Hirons mentioned that Dermatica was offering your first month free. It was a no brainer for me to trial the service and have a prescription treatment. Which is what I did from July 2020.
First I needed to fill out an indepth online questionnaire about my skin and what I wanted to achieve. I then needed to upload some photos so the Dermatologists could determine my treatment plan. Within a week they approved my treatment plan and I only needed to pay £2.90 for shipping.
What I Was Prescribed
For my prescription I was put on the anti-ageing regimen and given 0.025% tretinoin and 4% hydroquinone cream. Yes I know there’s some controversy around hydroquinone but a) this is a prescription from qualified dermatologists, b) it really helps with dark patches and melasma and c) it’s temporary. Case in point, from February 2021 after another round of photos, my prescription was changed. I was given 0.1% tretinoin, 4% niacinamide and azelaic acid 4% for a further few months. I’m currently on the same strength for the tretinoin and niacinamide but they’ve increased the azelaic acid to 15%. During the autumn and winter months, I used it almost every night but as it’s spring, I have reduced it to every other evening.
What I Noticed
When I first started using the prescription, I did experience some peeling and dryness until my skin adjusted to the formulation. The same thing happens when the treatment is tweaked and I don’t mind because, it’s working. I’ve always said that skincare takes time but what I did notice is that after a month, my 11’s were a bit more reduced. Skin is a bit brighter and texture a bit more refined. This has progressively improved especially with the combination of using the glow tonic by Ren. Tret is the gold standard within the retinol family and for good reason! With consistent use it reduces lines and wrinkles, not that I had many to begin with. In terms of hyperpigmentation, this has been stubborn but is gradually fading.
Final Thoughts
For me the Dermatica prescription is worth it because I am not looking for the quick fix. Good skincare takes time and I’m happy to be in it for the long haul. Also, this is an affordable and easy way to get help from trained Dermatologists and prescription medication. What’s also helpful is their email service where you can message for advice or ask any questions. I appreciate the requests every few months for photos to see the progress of my skin on the treatment plan.
That’s been my experience with Dermatica, what’s your like? Have you tried their service before? If not, would you like to? Let me know in the comments below! Oh and if you *sign up using my referral link we both receive £5 off your orders after the free trial.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time, be well! x
