Tret newbie - dos & don'ts advice please

[happy2025]

After years of battling acne I have finally decided to take the plunge and start Tret. I've been with Dermatica for a while but they did not give me Tret. The old combination is no longer working so I have asked them for Tret,

The new formula is Tret 0.05%, niacinamide 4% & Clindamycin 1%. Is this too strong to start Tret? I've read here that most people start with 0.025% Tret. Not sure why I'm starting higher except that my acne is getting quite bad - maybe that's why?

Can you share your tips & tricks of how do I start without getting to a place where I'm scared to continue? Alternate days? Sandwich?

I have been using a high frequency wand at home (at a low setting) anyone know if it's safe to continue or should I stop that?

Lower strength tret every night is usually preferable to higher strength every other. I believe it goes up to 0.1% but anything above 0.05% is considered high. Most people I know use 0.01 to 0.025% to good effect.

The vaseline on the corners of the eyes trick is amazing my the way. Thanks for whoever posted that.

This is a good idea

Thank you everyone. I have now graduated to Tret 0.05% every night using sandwich but only a light layer of moisturiser before Tret. This is causing mild peeling but nothing uncomfortable. I 'think' my acne is calming down after just week1. fingers crossed!

If you start to get a reaction to it, please be VERY wary of just assuming it's your skin purging and continuing to use it. Tret has given me Perioral Dermatitis. I assumed it was my skin purging, as it looks much like acne, and continued to use it and now I am really battling to get rid of it. It's a fucking nightmare and I believe more common than some of these companies would lead you to believe - it absolutely wasn't something I was warned about before starting to use it.

However, before my dose was upped and my skin reacted, I will say that my skin looked the best it ever has, so used sparingly I still think it's good stuff. I'd opt for as low a dose as possible initially, though, to allow your skin to get used to it. I saw great results on the lowest dose of Tret.

@Questioningnamechange - thank you for that warning and advice. Will go slow and stay careful. My face needs a lot of rescuing (acne, acne scars, pigmentation/melasma) I'd prefer not adding more problems...

Have you tried hydroquinone to lighten your hyperpigmentation and melasma? Usually 2-4% does it.

@pinkhimalayan - thank you, can that be used alongside Tret? Am or Pm?

I was thinking of trying a hydroquinone, can you recommend one?

Yes hydroquinone and tretinoin go together, usually PM

You can order it as a single tube from United Pharmacies (India) etc, but I'm not sure if they're UK regulated. It's hard to order in the UK

Dermatica, Skin and Me and Monderma sell hydroquinone. I'm not sure dermatologists or the NHS prescribe it because it requires compounding.

Allure sells it as well but it costs £192 for 28g of hydroquinone 4%.

Agreed, at the start I didn't use mine every night because it would make my whole face peel, and I hated it. But now my prescription is lower, I use it every night and can genuinely see a difference. I've also found it helps to 'moisturiser sandwich' as everyone calls it, if my skin is feeling sensitive.

I have tret, azelaic acid and niacinamide in my Monderma formula, but did have some hydroquinone on a previous with Skin and Me I believe, what do you find the best combination? Mine does seem to be working perfectly for me, but who knows could be even better?!

I would suggest dermatica or skinorac

Can I use a bit of Benzyl peroxide along with Tret? Some of the acne is horrible and I need fast action else I can't go in to work!

Hmm not sure on that. You could try a bit and see if you hit the roof with the stinging. If it's only on a little bit of your face I think I'd risk it and see

@twiddlingthumbs69 thanks, I tried it and the combination sped up the process. No stinging.

Update: last 3 nights I have tried Dermatica Tret-clindamycin-niacinamide without the sandwich. So I put it on bare skin and follow up with moisturiser after couple hours. I can see the difference. I think I needed it. Anyway the amount of Tret is tiny but it's getting in there now.

@happy2025 woohoo!! Good progress then.

Amazing! I do find that a lower dose so that you can definitely do it every night is better than a higher dose that you end up skipping days. Consistency is key I think

Thank you @GFlower @twiddlingthumbs69

All the info and support here has been encouraging!

Yes clindamycin is great for 3-4 months.

@rumanah - are the effects long lasting or is it back to square 1 with acne at the end of 3-4 months?