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?

I 100% agree.

@UmberMoose you too? Do you persistently peel after years as well? I have never met anyone else who does!!!

What are you doing to work around it?

Try moisturising before and after, or consider a lower strength? It also depends on the quality of the tretinoin. Compounding pharmacies like Monderma, Skin+Me and Dermatica add other actives and ingredients to help absorption and are gentler on the skin. The pharmaceutical tubes are full of preservatives to last years.

Ok so the mahoosive cystic spots seem to have calmed down but I now have incredibly sore, swollen and peeling lips! I did try and create a barrier with lip balm but this is obviously not working.

Anyone else had this? Did it resolve or did you have to stop with the tret for a bit?

Are you using a high level of strength? And are there any other actives?

O.006 and Azelaic acid (Skin &Me) I should probably just go back to my prescriber about it! Slathering on the vaseline seems to be helping a bit.

That's relatively low strength but it's probably still stronger than most retinol. Vaseline can help, though I've only needed to use moisturiser.