Tretinoin

[aquamarine1]

Hi, I've been using 0.06% tretinoin along wi azelaic acid (skin and me) and my skin Isla definitely clearing but still very flaky. If I use a heavier moisturiser it continues to break me out. Has anyone had this issue and can recommend a solution? Any help appreciated!

I'm a month into Skin and Me, same mix but with nicanimide also and find Superdrug Vit E moisturiser is working very well with it. Struggled a bit with finding the right sunscreen and moisturiser at the start. Are you using a high spf in the morning??

Same here. Flaking like mad and quite red and painful. Nothing is helping other than regular application of a light moisturiser. Going light and regular to avoid the breakouts I was getting with anything heavier.

Really starting to think it’s not worth it.

Hang on in there. Took me three months for skin to settle and now is amazing.

Make sure it's on dry skin, or use a moisturiser before it to buffer
Try using it every other day and let your skin settle or even every third day. There's no rush with it, it's definitely a long term thing

Some great advice thanks. I hadn't realised I could put moisturiser on first to buffer. I do use spf but only 25 so I think I need to buy 50?.

Ah yes definitely use moisturiser when using it - don’t just apply it neat. Eeeek. And also as said - not every day. 2-3 times a week to start with.

Slightly missing the point but where are you getting your Tretinoin from please?

I’ve been so sporadic with using Tret that I’ve never got ‘past the peel’. So I’m persevering with 3/4 times a week and slathering on moisturiser at other times.

I don’t use moisturiser with it because I don’t want it to spread into other areas eg creases.

@absolutelynotfabulous I get mine from Dermatica, you upload photos and answer some q’s and they prescribe accordingly. Really easy.

@absolutetelynotfabulous OP is using Skin and Me.
Similar process to Dermatica that @ProfessorInkling mentions.
@QueenPaw do you recommend not using the Skin and Me prep daily too? It says daily so that's what I've been doing. Worried now it might be too harsh?

@Forestcantrun I built it up slowly to avoid irritation. Being using it pretty much since they started now and still take the odd day off to focus on hydration or use an acid exfoliating liquid

Cicaplast baume is the life saver :)

Dial back on how often you use it

I'm waiting for mine to arrive from Dermatica. So, you put moisturiser on first then the treatment?

I put lipbalm and eye cream on and then pat the skin & me tretinoin onto clean, dry skin. I make sure to avoid around the eyes, lip line and corners of my nose as these areas seem to get very dry if I get tret near them :(
I wait 20 mins and then use the cerave moisturising lotion.

I use Biore SPF50 watery essence in the AM.

I’ve been using skin & me for about 7 weeks now and though my skin is drier than normal, I’ve had no flaking!

I'm on day two but only 0.015. They step it up to 0.025 next month. No negative symptoms yet. I was going to not apply tonight but think I will. It does say every night. Maybe in my mind, as I know it can't work so quickly, but I'm sure my melasma looks slightly lighter.