How do I use Tretinoin

[shadylane]

Hello,
I have purchased my first tube of 0.05% Tretinoin as read about it here- from Tretinoin world. Ok skin for my age (38) but crows feet, one eleven, slight fine lines and visible pores. Use a nice cleanser and moisturiser so want to know how to best incorporate it in to my routine and how often etc.
Thanks.

0.05% is a fairly high starting dose (although it's what I started on). I think Skin&me and Dermetica usually start on 0.025% or less. So, with that in mind, I'd start using it a couple of nights a week to begin with. It can cause redness and flaking otherwise (yep, been there, got the t-shirt 😬). After a couple of months if no reaction, up it to 3 nights then every other night.

Wash your face, make sure it's completely dry then apply a thin layer of the tret. Wait 10 mins + before applying serum/moisturiser. Just use very bland, no actives skincare after applying - I use hyaluronic acid serum and cerave dry skin moisturiser. I'd also cut out any acid toners, Vit c etc till your skin gets used to the tret. Just use very plain and simple skincare and then you can add things in slowly. Otherwise you risk damaging your skin barrier which can take a while to get sorted. You also really need to be vigilant with factor 50 on your face as it can make it more susceptible to the sun. It is worth it though, I'm 43 and have always had slightly shit skin but think it's better than it has been in ages.

I would start with every 3 nights. Use evening only. Later of moisturiser underneath, leave it for 20 mins or so to soak in, then use one pump of tretinoin. Avoid eye area, sides of nose and mouth. Leave for 20 mins or so. You may need another later of moisture on top before bed. All going well, increase use by one night every 2-3 weeks. Don't forget high factor SPF every day

Thank you so much. So I can’t put under my eyes? It goes all over the face?

I take it as far as the eye socket but not up to lash line. Some people are fine with using it on eyes but I would avoid, at least to start with. Avoid your neck too

No, it can't go directly under your eyes.

You might want to buffer as that might be too strong initially, in which case

Cleanse
Moisturiser
Tret
Moisturiser

I think the Illiyoon ceramide cream or the La Roche Posay baume are excellent.

Just out of interest. What are the added benefits of cleanse, moisturise, tret, moisturise? I have been doing, cleanse, tret and then moisturise.

It just adds a protective layer if you find Tret sensitive. I don't do this as I used Retinol a lot before building slowly through Tret but the group I'm on always recommends this

OK ,thanks.

I used retinol for years too, so am not sensitive to the Tret. It has transformed my skin too. I have the best skin of my life now.

Which tret do you use?

Skin & Me.

I’ve always had very average skin, combo of oily and dry and very spotty. Now people can’t believe I’m not wearing foundation!

1. that’s a high dose for a beginner
2. under the eyes? No no. On completely dry skin. But Vaseline or something similar around the eye area (at least in the beginning)
3. Have you tried OTC Retinol before? You could start with the 0.2 % ordinary retinol, the geek and gorgeous retinal etc. I would never ever use this as a first time user / unless prescribed by a derm.
4. Don’t forget to go slow. E.g., once or twice a week in the beginning…

Moisturising before tret means that you have a buffer between your skin and the tret, it’s a way to decrease the potential irritation.

Moisturise, wait (water/fluid on the skin isn’t the best idea, IIRC), apply tret.

Just a note. The reason you avoid it in the eye area is not because it may cause dryness there, but because it can cause irreversible damage to the glands in the eyes that keep them lubricated. So don’t ignore this advice :) and use Vaseline as a PP has recommended

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry to be dense- so apply Vaseline under the eyes as a barrier?
I have used retinol and also vitamin c etc so hoping skin will be ok but def going to take all this advice on board and will just use once or twice a week with moisturiser underneath at first.
I wanted it to help the fine lines around my eyes- guessing that’s not gonna happen. So is it in general skin condition that I am going to see a difference?

If you have used retinol, the irritation should be short lived and only a little. I had mildly irritated skin for a couple of weeks.

I wash face, then let dry for 10+ minutes, then I apply eye cream all round my eyes, basically all up to the eye bone above and below. Then I apply the tret up to the edge of the eye cream. I avoid corners of mouth and top of nose. I do rub it into the sides of my nostrils as I had blackheads and red veins here, which have now subsided.

I was on the Skin & Me forum and had a whinge about it not working, not doing much, and they told me to stick with it, and I did and I can now say you would have to wrestle it off me. I look in the mirror and say "bloody hell love, you've got gorgeous skin" 😁Obviously, when no one is looking.