Still can't tolerate tret despite trying for years. Switch to a retinol?

[pharmachameleon]

My skin is still peeling with tret even after 5-6 years of trying to use it. I do like the glow I get from it just before it starts peeling but the dryness is just a nightmare! I'm on tretinoin 0.05%/niacinamide 4%/azaleic acid 4% from Dermatica. I have had lower strength tret 0.015% IIRC and it makes no difference though I will contact Dermatica to ask for a lower strength.
I have used tret just on its own either from Dermatica or bought in Spain but still causes peeling.
I've tried only applying once a week.
I've tried buffering it.
I've tried 'slugging' on the nights I don't wear tret.
I have tried applying Vaseline before I apply tret on the areas that are more prone to peeling around my nose, my nose to mouth lines and under my mouth on my chin area but no difference!
I've tried using no other actives for a few months while using tret but again no difference. The only other active I'm using at the moment is Geek and Gorgeous Vit C in the morning.
I'm currently applying tretinoin maybe 2 or 3 times weekly and it's awful when I try and apply foundation as it sticks on all the dry, flaky skin.
I think I need to give up don't I?
Could anyone recommend a retinoid cream that might give me the tret glow but will be gentler on my skin? I'd rather use a strong one as my skin is used to tret so I don't want to waste money on a weak one. Help!

Medik8 20 is lovely

Thanks. That looks kind of perfect apart from the price!

I'm the same, I use Dermatica and the smoothness and glow I get is amazing. But the peeling is awful, I use good quality moisturiser but it doesn't help.

My make up looks awful, so I'm going to give up or try The Ordinary.

I know @DumpedByText. My foundation looks crap as my skin is peeling so much. I CANNOT go out without foundation so it's a real pain the the neck.

Urgh I’m sad to read this, started using tret a couple of weeks ago and the peeling was awful! I planned to have a break and start again next week but this thread doesn’t make me feel hopeful 😞

Most people are fine with it if they start slowly and can work up to applying every night @LilLilLi. You'll probably be fine and I think I'm just unlucky.

Unfortunately, some people just never tolerate it. You could try the Geek and Gorgeous Retinal 1.0 - it's a retinaldehyde cream, which is slightly stronger than retinol but nowhere near as strong as tretinoin.

If you use a retinol product consistently over time you will still get good benefits from it, tretinoin is not the only way to achieve good results it's just the strongest I guess.

I have been using it for about 4 years and still get occasional peeling around my chin, but not bed enough to put me off. But if it's really bad there's no point in putting yourself through that.

Of you could try switching instead to something like Differin/ Adapelene - it's a third (?) generation retinoid, and was formulated to be more gentle on the skin, although it is more often used for acne, it should do the same thing (increase cellular turnover etc.)
It may be gentler and therefore less peeling. Also I think you can get it over the counter.

I used dermatica tret for a long time and never stopped peeling and found my hormonal acne was coming back (the reason I was using it) so they changed my prescription to adapalene and the peeling is minimal compared to tret

I gave up on tret after 7 months. I ended up looking even older because my skin was so dry and burnt. I tried all the things you did too but my skin would just not tolerate it, even at the lowest dose. I decided I wasn't willing to look awful for the foreseeable future just for a possible benefit later down the line.

Honestly my skin never looked better after giving it up. I exfoliate with microdermbrasion vitamin C scrub and use mandelic acid once a week and my skin has a lovely shine. But I've given up hope that there's going to be an anti ageing holy grail skincare product.

Thanks everyone. I'll maybe give adapalene a try then as a last ditch attempt to get the tret glow with no peel.

I can’t use it either 🤷🏻‍♀️

Really @FormerlyPathologicallyHappy? What do you use instead?

@CamoFlamingo I think I'll need to do the same as you. My skin is great with acids (glycolic, salicylic etc) so I may need to just stick to these. Thanks

I had the azaelic acid taken out of my dermatica and no more peeling

I buy salicylic acid peels off eBay & use dermalogicas daily microfoliant once a week.

I wear sunblock daily & drink a lot of water

OK so I was thinking of giving it a go but I have sensitive skin and can't get on with retinol even at low levels. So maybe I should give Tret a miss.

I am using CeraVe face wash, Ordinary Glycolic toner along with a good Vit C/Hyaluronic acid cream and pleasantly pleased with results. I don't look 25 any more, but my skin is in good condition and not permanently peeling or feeling sore. Don't know if that is any help. But I can't imagine any product leaving you with permanently peeling skin is good in the long run

@

Sorry sent too soon! I would imagine if you can't tolerate retinol there's absolutely no way your skin would get on with tretinoin.

That sounds really bad for your skin!

I've tried a lot of things but, boring though it is, when I did the low carb bootcamp I drank 3l of water a day and my skin literally glowed.

@Salverus yes it's probably bad for me personally but there's loads of research into tretinoin and it is the gold standard for skin ageing.
I should definitely up my fluid intake too so I'm going to really try that thanks. I already eat very little carbs.

Does tret reduce age spots? I have three on my face and hate them.

@Salverus yes and Dermatica would add other actives to your prescription to reduce pigmentation too. However I think lasers are faster and more effective than creams. I had laser treatment for pigmentation on my cheek and it was clear after 4 sessions.

I’m on Tret 0.015%, with niacinamide and AA (both 4%) from Dermatica and I still get the odd bout of peeling, though not as bad as at the beginning. I’ve tried a few times increasing the Tret strength but cannot go past the 0.015%. I also used Differin from the doctor for years before this and it helped my ance. It don’t think it’s as good as Tret for ‘the glow’ but that’s on my skin and everyone’s different so it’s definitely worth trying. Mind I don’t actually get a glow from my Tret either but it’s marginally brighter!😂

Good luck.

@BeretRaspberry thanks for the info. I've emailed Dermatica and sent photos so I'll see what they suggest.