Skin dry months after starting Tretinoin

[CeciliaMars]

I started Dermatica Tretinoin about 3-4 months ago. My skin didn't react to it a bit at the start, so I started using it every day. Now months later, my skin feels a bit sore, like mild sunburn, and is getting a bit dry and flaky. Do I press on - is this a good thing?! Or do I need to stop / scale back? Thanks for advice!

I’d scale back to at least every other night or it might help to mix with hylauronic acid until the peeling subsides

I got this at the very start of using it. I'm 3 months in and just getting over the stingy phase. I still get peeling of I don't use enough moisturiser.

I used to just skip a night and slather on the moisture when it got bad.

What moisturiser are you using? And I assume you're using SPF everyday? I've actually found the best moisturiser to be my DDs child's farm one. I used it when my own ones were nipping my skin and realised it's actually a really good moisturiser. I wouldn't use it in the day as it's a bit heavy but perfect for nighttime.

You need to moisturise a lot more and maybe add a layer of vaseline. I like Illiyoon ceramide one and I add tallow too but realise that's not for everyone. Are you using a non irritating Spf too?

I wouldn’t use Vaseline. Are you applying moisturiser 10mins after applying tretinoin? This can help or try applying moisturiser first, then tretinoin and moisturiser again after 10mins.

I’ve been using tret from Skin+Me since Jan so similar to you. I’m now on their highest advertised dose and haven’t had any side effects and they’ve said they will increase up to 0.027%. I use vitamin c serum in mornings and SPF 50 moisturiser religiously.

You can also try applying less frequently and I’d probably stop for a bit until your skin calms.

As an aside, have you seen any benefits? I haven’t despite nearly 4mths of treatment. My skin was pretty good to start with so maybe the reason why as I’m taking it mainly to treat/prevent lines.

Was going to add I use CeraVe moisturiser with spf50 for the day, Revolution vitamin c serum and at night, either CeraVe moisturiser for pm or any random night moisturiser without spf or retinol - currently using Q+A night cream with chamomile but I don’t always bother.

Obviously wait for your skin to calm down first

Then apply as normal and stop using each time your skin feels sore

I only apply my Tret twice a week and use other serums in between

No way do I want dry, sore crusty skin that's insane

Just don't use it every day because you know that clearly doesn't work for you

Use your common sense

Vaseline is great when you use Tret - people call it slugging. I've used Tret 0.1 for five years 😊

Have you noticed a difference in fine lines? I've only been using it a few months and my skin feels a lot better but no noticeable difference in fine lines although I've heard people say it takes around a year to notice a difference.

I’m nearly 2 years into using tret and with much patience and reducing to a lower dose my skin is happy with it every other day.

On tret nights I moisturise with LRP cicaplast + slugging with Vaseline on the bits that are prone to peeling.

If you skin is feeling sunburnt then it’s telling you it’s sad and aggravated and you need to step back with either the strength or the frequency or both as well as increasing your moisturiser.

I started young so it's more preventative! I will say I'm very happy with my skin and it's often commented upon and that I look younger than I am. (I am mid 30s)

I use Tret regularly (every other day) and I still go stages of my skin being a bit more reactive than on others - wind burn is the one that often ends up getting me for some reason - or if I end up using slightly more tret than normal one night.

I just ease off the tret and use very gentle hyrating products until my skin is feeling less stressed, then reintroduce the tret gradually.