Tretinoin

[Dreaddy]

Started tret on 3rd July. Applying every night, 0.5%. Slight sting when I use it for a few mins then nothing. Tiny bit of dry skin but no redness or breakouts. My sebaceous filaments on my chin that I've spent years trying to get rid of have almost disappeared in less than 10 days. Is it too good to be true? Still time for bad side effects? Or is it really as good as the Internet says?

Also, if you use tret does it mean makeup is out the window? I spend a lot of time outside and not sure how to reapply sun cream with a full face of makeup!

I use tret have done for about a year. I just put factor 50 on once in the morning.

I stop the tret if I go on holiday though when it’s very hot and sunny

I was under the impression that sun cream only lasts a couple of hours though? I have just stopped using foundation and have been reapplying every 2-3 hours (constantly shiny!)

Have you tried using a sunblock stick? They're pretty matt

With makeup I use an Amber Solaire over-makeup spray which means you can reapply.

For SPF I mean

Tret sorted out my persistent adult acne around my chin and jawline. It was always so painful and swollen. Tret has completely cleared it. I wear factor 30 face cream and powder only.

Are you sure the cream you’re using is 0.5%? That’s really strong!

re sunscreen, I think it breaks down in relation to sun exposure. So if you put it on in the morning but don’t go outside or sit near a window, you shouldn’t need to reapply if you go out at lunchtime.

Love tretinoin. It cleared my skin and gave me a glow within 3 months.

Not sure re your spf question but where are you all getting your tretinoin?

OP I'd be careful in case you get some really bad irritation, there might just be a delayed reaction.
There's really no need to apply it every night, you can still get good results applying a few times a week. It took me months of use to build up to 0.05%, and after a few years of using it I still wouldn't apply it every night.

Waterlogged If you're in the UK you can get it through a subscription service - either Skin & Me or Dermatica. I'm not in the UK, so I get it from an online pharmacy in europe. If you know anyone living in Spain or Greece I believe you can get it over the counter without prescription there.

Tret cleared my acne and reduced my sebaceous filaments massively on my nose

No idea. But I don’t apply sun cream more than once and have been fine

Mine is 0.5% I think that’s pretty standard

After you’ve been using it a while, yes, but I’ve not heard of anyone starting on 0.5%. Unless OP meant 0.05%? With Skin + Me I started low and worked my way up to 0.3% over several months, but found that too strong and had to drop down again. But maybe my skin is overly sensitive!

I use 0.1% just checked my prescription

Actually, I tell a lie. I looked at my Skin + Me prescription and I started on 0.005 and worked up to 0.03 before it got too harsh. 0.1 is apparently as strong as it gets.

I use mineral spf, I think it’s longer lasting than chemical block. I don’t reapply.

I don't reapply suncream and am fine. If you have your eyebrows/face waxed op you need to stop the tret for a bit before as it can cause irritation or rip a bit of your skin off! That does seem a high dose to start on, my skin would be really flaking off.

It doesn't come in 0.5% - the strongest available is 0.1%, unless you mean 0.05%.

0.5% strength would burn your face off...

I found that applying Vaseline around my eyebrows each night also helped with this - it forms a barrier to stop the tret from “migrating”.

I started Tret on 0.025 then 0.05 then I used 0.1 but it meant I need to moisturise so much I requested to go back to 0.05 and that suits me best. I didn't think they did stronger than 0.1. I think people might mean they are on 0.05?

Tretinoin is cumulative so yes, you could run into side effects. Generally people's tart on 0.025 not 0.05.
It's no more effective to use everyday as I understand it, every other day is sufficient.
On other days focused on barrier support and Hydration. To top up spf there are a few over makeup sprays around. I used ultrasun or garnier sprays.

You can use the moisturiser in sandwich method and it would be fine.
Here is my routine that I follow to use tret and keep my skin normal:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
la roche posay spf
Evening:
la roche posay moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel

Hi. I have ordered this but imagine it will take awhile. Just a few questions. Is it best to use once a week to start? I ordered a low strength and a medium strength to build up. Which serums do you use alongside to use in the morning and can you use any at night safely when not using this? Thanks in advance. I have ordered cerave to sandwich with it after reading it's a good one to moisturise with. Thank you.

Also will I be ok do do a aha bha peel once a week (the ordinary) thank you :)