No reaction to Tretinoin?

[whatajuckingfoke]

Hello,

I've recently started using Tretinoin after seeing it recommended for acne on here and from friends through Dermatica.

I'm on day eight, of using it every night, and as yet I've had no stinging, no redness, no peeling. The spots I had have cleared up with a few new ones forming and there is no real difference to my skin (I wasn't expecting one yet, I know it take a while).

But I am surprised that I've not had any reactions at all. Everyone I know has said they've had some sort of soreness, dryness, peely skin etc.

Is this normal? I have used retinol beauty products (only No7 etc which incidentally did make my skin peel!) and had a prescription retinoid (Adapalene) before trying this (again, the first fortnight my skin was so so tender and it stung to apply) so I'm wondering if either my skin is just used to this sort of treatment already or if it's not strong enough.

Any experiences?

What strength do you have? I had used over the counter tret from Spain so Dermatica seemed very gentle in comparison.

I had no reaction to Dermatica but then I had built up to it with retinol for a year or two. Then moved on to Ketral from Portugal. Then finally Dermatica.

You don’t actually need all the peeling for it to work. I do think Dermatica formulations are designed to be tolerable.

I've got:

Tretinoin 0.025%
/ Niacinamide 4%
/ Clindamycin 1%

So a low strength Tret, I think? The lowest?

It’s the lowest that Dermatica do I think but others such as Skin and Me do lower. I asked to be put straight on 0.05% as I was used to it.

You can always ask for stronger but the thinking these days is we really don’t need to go through the awful peeling stage.

I had this as well. I reacted to retinol but not tret. I assumed because I was on a mild prescription (starting at 0.015). Now I am on 0.05 I do get a reaction.

it takes around six months to a year to see fine wrinkles disappear. I have been using it since January, so just over two months and I have tret shine and my marrionette lines are firmer/plumper and visably less, more so on one side but definitely visably less prominent.

I started on 0.015 and moved up to 0.025 and have had no peeling or redness from daily use, I only have a slight soreness if I use it both morning and night. You would only react if you were on a too high strength too soon. Remember, it's not a case of having the highest strength to see results, you will get the same results regardless of strength over different time periods anyway. 0.05% I believe is the highest you'll get for fine lines, remember it's a marathon not a sprint. Trust the process.

I had no reaction for months and months. Then my skin started to go very red. I tried using moisturiser as a buffer, but it didn’t work. Eventually I stopped using it.

It does take a very long time to see results. I think it was at least 9 months for me.

I'm not using it for fine lines really I am 37 so don't have much -yet- in the way of wrinkles (although bonus that it'll help prevent them or iron out any little ones over time!) I am using it for acne.

Well fingers crossed it'll help with no reactions then!