Tret - still peeling after 12 months - persist?

[Panticus]

I'm feeling a bit despondent about the fact that my skin hasn't quite acclimatised to tret. I am still getting peeling, particularly around my chin, outer cheeks and nostrils.

Is it a sign that we're just not meant to be? 😭 I do have extremely dry skin, which I suspect is the main issue.

The current routine involves:

• 0.05% strength
• use only 3 or 4 nights out of 7
• sandwich with Cerave cream (before and after)
• use SPF50 religiously
• cut out everything else - I just use a cloth and water to cleanse, Cerave cream, tret and SPF

A couple of suggestions:

Try slugging with Vaseline/Aquaphor on your ‘off’ nights (I.e the nights you are not using tret)

Try a Eucerine Urea 5% (not the 10%) instead of your ceraVe. It’s very greasy and good for dry skin

finally: If all else fails, cut back down to 0.025. This would be preferable to no tret at all. It might take you a while longer to build up and if you can use 0.25 most nights, this is great

Try a bit of vaseline on your dry bits before using.

I also do a thick layer of vaseline after. My skin really likes it.

I don't find cerave cream that moisturising I don't understand the love for it. I like La Roche Posay toleriane cream for use after (then vaseline)

I still get peeling and I've used tret for about 5 years. I would recommend only using the lowest strength and sticking with this. For me the best regime I've found is to cycle with tret on night 1, acid on night 2 (maybe glycolic or salicylic acid depending on how my skin is) then slugging with lots of luxurious, heavy moisturisers and Vaseline on night 3. The best for slugging I've found is Cicaplast or Aveeno.
I think Cerave is too light and doesn't really moisturise my skin but is probably fine for the nights you use tret. I wouldn't use Vaseline or heavy moisturisers the nights you use tret as I think they 'lock in' tret and make the peeling worse.

I tried all the usual methods to minimise dryness and peeling but nothing worked (I persevered for 18 months) . I really wanted to continue using so reduced my prescription down to 0.015.

Yes I'm aware it's not very strong but with the higher strength I was having to leave it longer and longer in between applications as my face was so dry!

I can use this happily 4/5 times a week.

I just don’t put it around my chin/mouth area.
Cicaplast is better than Cerave if I do get dry skin/peeling. Cerave is good but quite a light moisturiser.

You could drop down a strength too.

After 3 years on it I still find a bit of peeling every now and then, but not enough to bother me too much or put me off using it. So I thinks it's not unusual.

If it's really bothering you, maybe drop down to 0.025% and see if that makes a difference.
A lower strength will still give good results if used consistently over time.

I've also read that using niacinamide can help improve irritation from tretinoin. But as you are past the initial purging stage, it may not do too much.

But you could try and gently introduce one or two ingredients like Vitamin C serum and niacinamide, both of which will help protect your skin barrier.

Thank you all, this is super helpful and you've given me hope. It sounds like I have a few options to try - starting with a new moisturiser, slugging and a drop in strength. Appreciate it!

You need a more occlusive moisturiser like Avene Toleraine cream, LRP cicaplast. I've been using this of late, was recommended on here.
m.feelunique.com/p/BIODERMA-Sebium-Hydra-Moisturising-Compensating-Care-40ml

I also use a hyaluronic acid on damp skin in the morning.

I'd maybe try increasing frequency given you've been at it so long (wouldn't suggest this to someone just starting out). I often think doing it less frequently means the skin doesn't ever quite adjust and you get caught in a catch 22.

I use 0.1 every night and just sort of went for it after building over a year or two from 0.025 and 0.05. I still get peeling from time to time but nothing I can't deal with.

I would stop buffering it .

See if that stops as I weirdly found more irritation from the mix with the buffer

Interested in your experience on 0.1 . How does your face look?

Do you have the tret glow / shine ?

Make sure your skin is totally dry before applying it, so cleanse and wait 20 mins

@stevalnamechanger Ha yes I guess! It's definitely been worth it for me but also a lot of effort getting here.