Retinol increased my pores

I have always had good skin but recently noticed a fine line just above my lip and also was getting creases on my face from my pillow so thought I could try retinol on the lines, I thought if I started early I had a good chance of erasing the lines as they are very fine. I used a dual retinol cream by avon for 2 nights, mainly on my cheeks and above my lip. After the first night I noticed that I had visible pores on my cheeks where I had none before and I was worried it was from the retinol I so tried to find info on the net about retinol but almost everything I read claimed retinol made pores smaller so I thought perhaps it was just a strange phase and used the retinol a second night. The next morning I had even more visible pores and they were even larger. I haven't used the cream for 2 days now and will not be using it again. I have exfoliated in the hope to get rid of the pores but it isn't helping. Am I stuck with enlarged pores forever now? I read that pores once stretched will stay that way. I would hate to be stuck with large pores permanently just because I used a cream for 2 nights. If anything, the patches of skin on my cheeks where I used retinol look much older than the skin on the rest of my face, by about 20 years! I am only 27 and I really regret using the retinol. Will my pores go back to normal, before this they were invisible? What can I do to get my skin back to how it was before I used the retinol?

[vrintige]

Hey tanyam27,

I have the same exact problem, and was pretty disappointed that no one has answered your question. I haven't discussed my concerns with a doctor, but I do have a hunch as to what the problem may have been. I was prescribed 0.05% retin-a for post-acne marks. I used it on various spots of my face. However, on my cheeks (around my nose), I noticed small holes that had never been there before. They looked almost like small incision holes...i soon realized that these were pores. I was pretty upset, because before using retin-a, my pores were pretty much invisible. Not small, but invisible. And now, I have these holes around my nose. It may be because of how much retin-a was used. I remember slathering s good amount around this area 2 times. That may be the problem? Did you use a big amount? I don't have the answer to this exactly, but I'm considering checking in with the doctor. I will get back to you with information. If you learn any, is it possible that you could get back to me as well?