Got my first Dermatica treatment now I’m scared

[TretNewbie]

I’m 50 with a good few wrinkles and plenty of brown sun damage patches.
I’ve received my prescription for Tretionoin 0.025% and Hydroquinone 4% but the enclosed leaflet scares me.
I wear Factor 30 daily but I’m frightened of redness, peeling and an inflamed face.
Have been using low dose Retinol for a few months and have built up for nightly, do you think that’ll reduce my chances of side effects?
Any reassurance gratefully received.

If you feel nervous, try using it every other night to build tolerance and switch to factor 50spf. I’ve been using it for years and it’s the one product I would not do without.

Thanks @timetest, do you remember getting an adverse reactions?
And have you seen an improvement in your skin?

I got a prescription of Tret 0.025% and Niacinamide 4% about a month ago and it's been fine so far. No peeling! Face looks fine, feels nice.

It should take months for visible improvement from retinol.

Oh and I wear factor 50+++ broad spectrum

Try using it over a cream. This will dilute the potency and prevent dryness. Watch Sam Bunting on YouTube, she explains how to do this properly.

I Use dermatica for retinol . Start off slowly maybe 3 times a week ? I did every other night because I’m inpatient haha . Make sure you moisturize ! I had also built up a bit with otc retinol and so only had minimal dryness mainly around under eye . Am switching to 0.5 soon so will see how that goes !!

I use dermatica - I had no peeling at all with the 0.025 but they moved me up to 0.050 after a few months and bloody hell my face was on fire and falling off in chunks. Thought I’d built up a tolerance but can only use once a week. I’ve asked to move back down next time.

Thanks for the comments.
The instructions say put on a clean, dry face. When do you put your night creams on?
I'm a bit anxious about the sun, even with sunscreen, hat and sunnies it's so sunny at the moment, maybe I should wait for a dull day.

I’ve been using it for more than 20 years and my skin looks in very good condition. I Rrember I had some peeling and redness when I first used it but I was using .5 Retin a and a lower spf. With .25 and a high factor sunscreen you reduce the risk of redness and peeing.

@emma6776 oh no hope I don’t get that when I move up ! I expect some redness but hopefully not that bad . At least lockdown means I can mostly hide away ! Ha

I'm now on day 3 of my first round of Dermatica. Same prescription as OP. Early days, but no side effects yet.

OP you are on a very low dose. Very unlikely to peel. If you do, just ease off to every 2nd day. Don't panic, you won't use it on day one and wake up with no face

I would try it once a week to start with. I cleanse, tone (Strivectin so lactic and hyaluronic acid) and then wait a bit (faff around, clean teeth etc). Then I apply the tret. I find it quite drying so I wait 10 mins and then apply a thin layer of Dr Jart Ceramidin cream. No flaking or redness so far and now I will apply more frequently.