Tretinoin Dermatica

[coffeeandteav]

Started the first prescription with Dermatica low dose and my skin is dry and peeling as anything? Its a bit tight and uncomfortable.

I do have sensitive skin but I didn't realise it was this bad. Is this normal or shall I give up?

Are you wearing SPF sun cream in the day time?
You're meant to.
SPF makeup isn't strong enough.

What's the rest of your routine? This is usually quite normal but you need to adapt the moisturiser you use. I use vaseline over the top as well

Yes I wear spf Suncream but as soon as I put anything in it feels like it's burning. I use the tret ar night after cleansing and leave a while and moisturise before bed.

Vaseline maybe a good idea. How long does it take to get used to it?

I'd reduce the use until your skin gets used to it.

This. I used it every third day to start then every second day.

Thanks I will try that.

It takes a while for your skin to adjust and can be normal. You could reduce to every second or third day and build up. And moisturise morning and night. More often if needed. Plus wear SPF at least factor 30 but preferably 50.

You shouldn't start evey night. You need to build up. Start with every third night. Sandwich it between a moisturiser and another moisturiser

So moisturise then use tret after that?

Yes then again on top. It buffering the tret

This helped me.
https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb1AJE5zgrh9MjyMwPMaDHtj0RxmW7qaP

I use a thin layer moisturiser before my dermatica and used every other day. I couldn’t use my normal moisturiser, I see looks of people recommend cerave.

I also use moisturiser in the morning, which I didn’t need to before. I needed to do that for 6ish months.

I used Dr Jart when I was on Dermatica and it really helped with dryness. The Dermatica formula I had made no difference to my hyperpigmentation despite persevering for 18 months.

I find coconut oil on a cloth is great for the Tret peeling. I would give your skin a break of a few days and try again with moisturiser underneath.

Can I ask you what percentage of Tret is in the prescription? I’ve just ordered some from Dermatica (haven’t received it yet) and was told the percentage is 0.015% Tret, and 4% niacinamide, which seems quite low. Would be interested to know how strong your % is to get a reaction like that.

Thanks all.

I will look when I get in. I think its a low one. I do have really sensitive skin. Sometimes my sweat causes a rash.

I use tret from skinorac and I know what purging and peeling is. This is more of skin irritation, I would suggest to stop applying tret for now

Start every few days to begin with, regardless of how ‘low’ the prescription is. It takes ages to get used to it (or it did for me). I have used some form of prescription vitamin A for over a decade (maybe almost 15 years?) - it’s important to remember it’s a long haul thing.

It minimised my dark spots but only that. I get laser done every 2 or 3 years to attack pigmentation. But my skin looks so much better than my peers that haven’t done anything, I regularly get compliments on my skin tone. I’m almost 50.

This was the strength. Quite low I think.

I am 43 maybe I just embrace old age.
Everyone has been starting at me head all day.

Also name change fail but doesn't really matter.

Tret is a long game and it's not for everyone. Plenty of people have great skin without going anywhere near it.

It took my skin a year to start adjusting and about two to settle completely. Its not worth it for some people.

I think it's about finding the right regime, whether that is buffering before, after or both, or finding a more occlusive moisturiser. Or dropping frequency of use, especially if there is cold weather. Make sure your cleanser is moisturising, it not drying, too.

Personally when I had Azelaic Acid added to try and speed up pigmentation reduction, my dryness really kicked off (this was three years in) so one option would be to ask for that to be removed as I find that quite a harsh active.

I have really sensitive skin and prefer Skin and Me over Dermatica. They seem to start you off much lower and build up more slowly. I have been able to use my formulation from Skin and Me every night since the beginning, but had lots of sensitivity problems with Dermatica. I always moisturise before and after.

Just received my first tube yesterday and tried it last night. It’s the same strength as yours but without any Azaloic acid. The blurb says moisturise before and after, so I did that. It feels tingly this morning, particularly on my neck. If it peels as badly as yours OP, I don’t think I’ll continue with it. I don’t have the staying power to put up with severe peeling in the hope of something better further along the line. For now tingly is ok, so we’ll have to see.

I feel they are quite costly, I used to order from them but then I shifted to skinorac and it quite economical but takes time to arrive