Damaged skin barrier help!

[upaverytalltower]

I really can't seem to get the right balance with my tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide. Either my skin is peeling and raw or I am still getting spots. I have been using both every day but whenever I reduce that the spots come back. Don't know what to do. I am using a gentle non foaming cleanser and cerave moisturiser and that's it. Atm my skin is peeling off again and it's getting to the point where I am worried the damage will scar worse than the spots.

Helllppp.

Leave your face alone. Give it a break and then see a dermatologist. These home made treatments are the cause of real damage.

Stop everything except CeraVe. I agree about seeing a dermatologist.

Stop using everything except for the cleanser, a mild alcohol free toner if you use a cream cleanser, or nothing if you use a wash off product (a thermal water spray is fine for this). Dab excess product off with cotton wool, don't wipe. Use clean towels, face cloths etc every day. Use enough moisturiser for your skin not to feel tight - I apply it while my skin is still damp, it's easier to apply & I don't have to use as much, so it doesn't feel as sticky & oily later on.

That's two powerful treatments you're using together, has this been recommended by a derm?

Also I find some of the Cerave cleansers too harsh for my skin and use Superdrug Vitamin E, lovely soft, clean skin whereas the Cerave one leaves my skin very tight.

Yes it was a derm who prescribed them and told me to do it 😭

Agree about talking with the derm. I've used tret and BP separately, but only occasionally together and even still I've struggled. I now use aqueous cream as a cream cleanser (warm cloth to remove) before using my gel cleanser which has helped massively. La Roche Posay Cicaplast is a good healing cream for short term use. I also now use aqueous cream as the moisturiser on the nights I apply tret and its stopped 95% of the irritation. I then use cerave on non Tret nights. Word of caution that rarely aqueous cream can cause a reaction for some people. I hope you get some balance and relief soon!

Echo everyone's comments about stopping the two treatments at the moment and focusing on repairing your skin barrier.

I've found that sometimes spots are due to a damaged skin barrier. It may seem counter intuitive but fixing it may help in the longer term. The Cicaplast rec above is a good one.

Also definitely go back to your derm.

@Watchingthetelly aqueous cream is a soap substitute and shouldn’t be used as an emollient.
OP. You need to consult with the dermatologist.

@Wolfiefan I beg to differ, see photo. Unless Silcock's base and aqueous cream are not the same thing in the UK - which perhaps they are not - I'm based in Ireland and will stand corrected on that. Replace earlier advice with Silcock's base.

Aqueous cream is an emollient, but you can use it for cleansing instead of soap. It's not a soap substitute.

Aqueous cream definitely shouldn't be used as a moisturiser ,only if you are going to rinse it off.

You need to apply a heavy duty night cream on your face during the day to add back all the oils you're stripping out.

I have cystic acne and use duac on my face daily plus cleanser. My skin ended up red raw, peeling skin and so sensitive. I was worried I would trigger my acne by using a thick moisturiser but it balances mine out. I've not had an acne breakout in 7 months by doing this.

No idea what you beg to differ about @Watchingthetelly. It should always be rinsed off. Like a soap. Not used like a moisturiser.

Wolfie, I disagree with your statement that it should not be used as an emollient and must be washed off. It literally says “moisturiser” on the jar. Recommended to me by a fern and it’s improved my skin enormously using it as an emollient. I know it doesn’t agree with everyone used that way, but it does work for many.

*derm

Not what it’s designed for. The dermatologist is going on incorrect or outdated info.

The formulation of aqueous cream varies. Some are specifically meant to be rinsed off and some aren't.

Starting vitamin a does cause peeling, but this should subside in around 6 weeks and shouldn’t be severe. When I started retinol, I built up from twice a week and buffered it with moisturiser. Also don’t apply to freshly washed face, your face needs a good 20 mins to dry completely as this can cause irritation. However if your derm prescribed this regime speak to them if you are concerned. And please don’t forget to apply factor 50 facial spf every morning, regardless of the weather!

Wow using both tret and benzoyl peroxide is going to be massively drying !!! Would you consider just using the tret ? That in itself should have a big impact on your spots but it will take time

Have a look on reddit at the tretinoin forum there is great advice on their and some amazing before and afters

I used benzoyl peroxide as a teen and it was massively drying !

I have been using tret for a year now primarily for anti aging and over all skin condition and some spots ( skin has never been better now but it took a while ) I ended up quite spotty to start with ( google tretinoin purge ) but powered through , I would say make sure you don’t use to much tret and apply moisturiser before hand To buffer it .
Don’t use the tret every day I do two days on one off and moisturize every morning and evening after washing with a gentle cleanser .

Stick to non comdogenic moisturisers ( don’t clog pores ) I use cerave and I can Slather this on all day long ( and used to at the start of using tret ) and it won’t break me out like other creams .

The key is patience and consistency with tret there will be some dryness and spits but if you are peeling I would have a couple weeks of and then start again slowly

Sorry for the essay hope it helps

Spots not spits !

Also echo above poster please remember spf !!

Thanks everyone for your advice. I wish it wasn't so hard to have nice skin 😔 mine is hormonal cystic acne, I think it's harder to get a handle on with topicals than more standard spots.

Ok so if I had to keep either the tret or the benzoyl peroxide you think I should keep the tret? And maybe reduce it to every other day?

I have been just putting on lots of cerave since I originally posted. Still peeling but hopefully it will stop at some point. Yes I always use factor 50 too.

You should contact your derm asap

Yes it can be harder to treat hormonal acne altho I will say since been on the tret I don’t seem to get spots Along my jaw anymore which I think were hormonal for me

You could do every other day and then build up to maybe two days on one off , some people build up to use it everyday and I may possibly do that at some point

I would hate to give you the wrong advice and say yes just stick to the tret but you could maybe give yourself a couple of months doing just that if you have the patience And see how you go ?

The problem with over drying is then your skin produces more oil , before I got a decent skin care routine I could never understand why my skin was so oily but actually I think my skin was dried out a lot from using the wrong products

All aspects of my skin concerns have improved visibly since starting tret so I promise there is hope ! I have never really had nice skin in my life before now !

I would though just have a break now untill your skin barrier recovers and then start again as u said maybe every other day build up slowly . You should use a pea size amount of tret and mix with a bit of moisturiser , you will notice some dryness though and become more spotty , you kind of just have to power through as your skin will adjust

If you do use Reddit as I say the tretinoin forum and also the skin care addiction forum have so much great advice !