Tretinoin 0.006 - I think I can see an improvement already!! (Pic)

[menohnopausal]

I've been using skin + me for the last month, and am on an incredibly low dose of tret (0.006), but I think I can see an improvement!! My skin has been feeling softer and more "elastic" somehow (although I thought that might be due to slathering in moisturiser to soothe the dryness I experienced for a couple of weeks). I feel like my face just looks a bit brighter. I took a pic before starting and another one a couple of days ago. I've put them together and I think I can see a little softening of my (intense) frown lines. I'm so pleased! Can you see it too? (first pic on the left, new pic on the right). I'm annoyed that I didn't get the lighting the same, so I look more pink in the recent photo.

Okay so it's been a while, but I thought I'd pop in with an update! I've noticed that a scar that I've had on my upper lip since childhood seems to have reduced a bit, which is interesting! I'm now on 0.03% tret. Keep meaning to ask them to move up percentages again.

It certainly looks it in this comparison pic but there's no real way to tell, as the lighting is so vastly different. If you see an improvement irl though, then that's great for you.

Can’t tell as lighting is so different

You're right. It's annoying as I took the initial photos in a hurry - didn't realise I'd want to use them for comparison! I tried to take the photo in exactly the same location/position, but it's next to a window at a different time of year. I've made a note to take a photo on exactly the same day and time later this year (September!).

I completed the Skin + Me questionaire on Saturday and have just received the email with my treatment plan.

Month 1: Tretinoin 0.006%, Niacinamide 4%, Azelaic Acid 4%
Month 2: Tretinoin 0.009%, Niacinamide 4%, Azelaic Acid 4%
Month 3: Tretinoin 0.012%, Niacinamide 4%, Azelaic Acid 4%
Month 4: Tretinoin 0.015%, Niacinamide 4%, Azelaic Acid 4%

not sure what I am expecting but a trip to Sephora/John Lewis/Selfridges on Saturday left me completely lost as to what I needed.

That's the same treatment plan as I had - I think that's how they start pretty much everyone off of using tret. What are you feeling lost with? Or are you feeling unlost now you've got a treatment plan?

I was getting some skin reaction from the tret, sadly, and still getting red spots on/around my nose which the people at skin&me said was likely because I’ve got a combo of acne and rosacea?! So I’m now off the tret and on azelaic acid instead.
it’s not supposed to be as good for acne and fine lines but I think my skin looks better….who knows?

Those doses of tret are very low. I started off on 0.025, am now on 0.1