Getting used to Tretinoin- how long

[Overandout1]

Hi all,

So I signed up with Dermatica recently and for the last month have been using the Tretinoin 0.25.

However my skin is exceptionally dry, which I know is a normal part of the proces. My skin is crap anyway and I have fine lines that make up sinks into, so dry patches everywhere make it worse. I don't want to leave the house to be honest.
So, how long did it take for your skin to settle?
I was previously using Adapelene for over a year and my skin was fine with this.
I've been using lots of moisturiser and put moisteriser over the Tretinoin when applied at night.
I know I could use it every other day but wi it just take longer for my skin to get used to it if I do this? Do I just wait it out?

I look hideous right now.

Are you putting moisturiser on first? That can help as it creates a bit of a barrier before putting the Tret on. And yes every other day might make it more manageable. I’d go for that and build up gradually - that’s what I did and never had any flaking or dryness. Now I use it every evening.

Do you mean 0.025%? Maybe it's too high, they started me on 0.015% month one, 0.025% month 2 and 0.05% onwards. I haven't had any dryness or flaking using it every night. If you haven't been on the lower one you definitely shouldn't be using it nightly until your skin is used to it.

Oh god I am having a hideous reaction too. Absolutely horrific. I have the 0.015% & am having a week off from it. I did email them and sent them photos. I got an alarmingly swift reply.

I’ve got a massive event tomorrow and I can’t see how I can go with my face like this.

I wouldn’t use it every day. Drop back to once every three days for a while to give your skin a break.

What is Tretonin?

Stop using it for a week or two. Once you stop The dryness will turn to flaking. Once that’s finished you can start again but every other night. Tretinoin works brilliantly but in my experience it’s best to let your skin acclimatise.

Is your skin fairly dry anyway OP?
Mine is and I find I can only tolerate Tret once or twice a weeks tops in the winter.

Is your moisturiser occlusive enough? You need something pretty strong, like LRP cicaplast. Took me months and months to get used to tret.

My skin is now recovering. I’m doing EOD and moisturiser first. It’s really helping.

You need to build up slowly. Definitely don’t use every day. Start off 3 times a week and see how you get on. Try putting the moisturiser on first. You can always ask them to drop you down a strength.

Agree about stopping for a week or two now. Then restart slowly .

The trick is a little but consistently. I'm with dermatica having used 0.05% from the naughty shop for years. I have reacted more to this, it's likely the mixed prescription but I've seen a difference with the first tube. Initially I went every third day, and a rich moisturiser in two layers. I don't get on with applying moisturiser first as a buffer as it caused the dermatica to roll off. also, be mindful of where on your face you apply it, I do use a little under eye but go with the less is more approach otherwise the skin there gets quite dry.

I found the La Roche Posay moisturiser excellent. I did need to moisturise 3x per day I also used oil after.

Mine settled in a week.

I also like to put it on damp and use beauty pie ceramide serum capsules after.