Help! Blisters from retinol!

[SassyPants87]

I used 0.3% only once a week (used it twice in total). The second time I even did retinol sandwich with moisturiser.
But since using it my skin is soooo irritated and has started to blister! Some of the blisters have popped and won’t stop weeping!

I’ve stopped the retinol and just using mild non fragranced cleanser and moisturiser but what else can I do!? :(

Didn’t want to read and run, hope someone else can comment and help you.
It’s good you’ve stopped the retinol, I wouldn’t try it again as it doesn’t agree with your skin. I would try keep your skin clean and free of products for a few days until it’s calmed down. Wash with a gentle antibacterial soap and pat dry. Once the blisters have healed then I’d suggest a water based moisturiser to help your skin recover .
Retinol felt like it really dried up my skin after only using it a handful of times over a few weeks. I used Sinple’s skin quenching moisturiser and hydrating booster for a little while as my skin reacts well to the brand and it felt very gentle.

What else is in your routine? (The cleanser, moisturizer etc) That's a very aggressive reaction to using a 0.3 only twice. Which brand was it?

In the meantime use a Cica product to soothe and calm and repair your skin. La Roche Posay Cicaplast baume is excellent.

Oh ouch OP. Use as mild a cleanser as you can. Weleda do a wound salve if you think it’s that bad or like PP suggest something with cica/centella in would be good for healing. Use some high factor SPF as soon as you feel able because your skin is going to be fragile.

Basically there’s nothing you can do, it’ll heal on its own. Blisters weeping are normal healing, if it’s painful red or hot or the fluid becomes thick go to the gp.

Avoid using any other actives for a while especially acids/exfoliants.

I get blistering with contact dermatitis, don't use it again, it should heal ok though, you must be allergic to one of the ingredients in it.

Yikes! Agree you must be allergic? Out of curiosity was.it prescribed in the UK or ordered from an overseas pharmacy?

If it's a 0.3 I'm guessing it was just a mild entry grade cream with retinol rather than Tret.

Thank you for responses everyone! There’s one particular blister that’s weeping and just looks like it’s spreading :( will keep it clean and dry and hope it starts to heal and stop weeping soon!

@CheeseSandwichRiskAssessment it was just the Paula’s choice 0.3% that I used, so not prescription strength at all

@BlindurErBóklausMaður ive just picked up the La Roche posay Cica balm to use on the rest of my face

i’m so gutted I’ve ruined my skin

It's just temporary so don't worry, have you seen the GP though? I had a reaction to skin cream once and I got antihistamine pills for it.