Struggling with Tretinoin?

[Arraminta]

Decided to give Tretinoin a whirl recently and used Skin + Me. They prescribed me 0.012% based on me having slightly dry and slightly sensitive skin and the instructions told me to apply every night.

But after just 3 days in a row ouch, ouch, ouch! Skin felt tight and stingy despite using lots of moisturiser. Gave my skin a rest for 3 days but just used it again and my skin is stinging and red.

Is it just that even a super low dose is still too strong, but I really didn't think my skin was that sensitive?

Any clever ideas or tips & tricks? Thank you.

You have to go gradually with it as it is strong stuff. Start off every other day or every two days to start with and build up gradually.

Apply a layer of moisturiser first and then the tret on top

When your skin can tolerate that gradually introduce just tret every other night

I've been on it for years and still only use it every other night

I put moisturiser on my lips and around my eyes and then apply tret to the rest of my face

I use Cetaphil night Rich moisturiser which has been great

That's really useful advice, thank you. Knowing that my skin is a bit sensitive, I'm really surprised Skin + Me told me to apply every night?

Yes, that is strange that they said to use it every night, especially at first

I remember it taking a real long slow process to get my skin to accept it without the layer of moisturiser underneath first

My skin is also very dry and sensitive and I found the Cetaphil Rich night moisturiser did an amazing job but keeping it moisturised

Just let your skin recover first and then try again with a layer of moisturiser underneath first - just do that every couple of nights to start with

It's a long slow process, but will be really worth it in the end

It will literally take months and months to see any difference

Oh, and wait for the moisturiser to soak in before applying the tret on top. I'd wait a good 30 minutes or so.

Skin and me is designed to be used every night. I use them too and you should let them know and they will adjust their prescription for you. There is no point paying for it otherwise. They are dermatologists and should have recommendations. I have been using it for two years, gradually increasing but in the last two month - probs the peri menopause- my skin started peeling and I got terrible acne. I went back to them with photos and they adjusted my prescription accordingly. Skin and me are great. I’m a big fan. Use them as a resource .

When I first started on it I was prescribed 0.006%! And I don't have sensitive skin! Definitely work your way up starting at 2 times a week to 3 etc, and sandwich with moisturiser as well. If you message them they might send you a lower strength for free. They did for me when they upped my strength and I had peeling and sensitivity. It is worth sticking to in the long term.

Please use the tretinoin or retinol in sandwich method and it should be good. Here goes my routine if you would be interested:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
Garnier spf
Cicaplast
Evening:
LRP moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel