Assuming the problem in the skin was sluggish growth that kept pores tight and tough skin locked over blackheads, nodules, and cysts, stimulating the growth of th… Or I can stop it and my face will explode into a thousand pimples. Also known as all-trans retinoic acid, tretinoin is part of the retinoid family—a class of synthetic and naturally occurring Vitamin A compounds and derivatives. I feel your pain, it really is an addiction! Tretinoin is an acid form of vitamin A. I can keep using tretinoin and permanently look like a tomato fried in olive oil. OP, read this to figure out if you have dehydrated skin: https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/8wxwuv/misc_dehydrated_skin_an_updated_guide_to_healing/, Read my comment for recs to fix dehydrated skin: https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/a27s5k/routine_help_my_sensitive_skin_looks_terrible_and/eavz6n5/. You may need to discontinue use as Retin-A should not be used on broken skin. Other side effects include:pulmonary infiltrates. I forgot to take sunscreen on a fishing trip on the open ocean. With continued use, it promises to tighten skin, increase collagen production, reverse the signs of aging, treat acne and hyperpigmentation.Heck, you name it and it probably does it. I've tried alternating nights, still the same effect. I was going to say the same thing. When you say tretinoin made your skin awful, do you mean it made it red and oily like me? Note that while skin takes a while to adjust, ultimately tret should thicken your skin, so the thinness of your skin should be temporary. Try giving your skin a break for a bit and just using a gentle cleanser (maybe one specifically designed to help repair the moisture barrier) and a good moisturiser. The better skin you will have at the end will last MUCH longer. Taking Tretinoin can result in an increase in the amount of triglycerides and cholesterol in your blood. That night I was red, the next day my face was swollen and blistered, and the third day I woke up so swollen that my eye was sealed shut. Seriously. Closed comedones that were deep under the surface started to look larger as they came up to the surface. So no, you don't have to see a derm doctor. Active Ingredients: Tretinoin (0.01%), Parsol MCX (7.5%) and Parsol 1789 (2%) SPF 15. I really really think you should discontinue immediately if you're not using sunscreen. During the first 6 months of use, avoid overexposing the treated areas to sunlight, wind, or cold weather. ... Reddit - SkincareAddiction - [Before&After] One year. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. Oh, and when I blot or wipe it off, it just irritates my skin and makes it redder. Vaseline is your BEST FRIEND. It also got ridiculously cold where I live (-42 Celsius in Canada). I think that the antibiotics have been playing a helpful role too, but after using them for 8 months, I think my time is running out, even if I use BP to reduce the resistance risk. There is a possibility for you to experience ear problems in taking this product. How would someone do that at night time? Week 1: My skin looked amazing. (This should be reason enough!) That is very true, thanks for point that out! If you’re on 0.5 or higher I’d definitely recommend dropping it down to 0.25. What I really found with Tretinoin is that my skin looked kind of thin/transparent when I used too much. And it's impossible to get it 100% off without a full wash. My skin has also lost the ability to absorb anything--I had to stop wearing sunscreen because the product would just sit on my skin. Not quite as secret as a secret society, but not so widely broadcasted as to be a public service, the inner workings of Reddit's SkincareAddiction subreddit might seem unusual to … Ideally more, and then you moisturize. I'm super seconding the no picking part, I learned that the hard way. I was under the impression that there was no wait period after applying? I wanted to post about my experience on Tretinoin Gel 0.01% to hopefully help out some other skincare newbies like me! :(, Edit: to clarify, I have 0 dryness or peeling. I've been a lurker on SCA for about 7 months and this is my first real post! In the short term, tretinoin can potentially make acne worse (a period that’s commonly known as the “ tretinoin purge ”) before the acne improves. And don't start again until your skin can tolerate sunscreen. If your moisture barrier is compromised, you probably need to work on that before anything else can be fixed. After you apply moisturizer and tretinoin, wait 20-30 minutes, then apply a facial oil (like squalane oil) or an occlusive (like Vaseline, Aquaphor, or Cerave Healing Ointment). Within an hour of my morning routine, there's a film of oil on my T-zone and my cheeks are sticky. The feeling of an earache or fullness in your ear is often associated with the use of this product. ps., can a GP prescribe tretinoin or does it have to be a derm? Use it only at night. Usually, retinoids are used topically for treating skin issues such as acne, melasma, psoriasis, etc. I now wait 30 minutes after cleansing to apply tret and then let it stay alone for at least 30 minutes. May 11, 2020 - The SkincareAddiction community on Reddit. Tretinoin may not be all that easy to pronounce, but its users find it very easy to love. Tretinoin, Vitamin C, … Week 4: This is when the tocopherol acetate incident occured. I always found that pimples take much longer to go away if you don't extract them. But being on tretinoin it has given me some really bad PIH spots and making everything generally so much more worse than picking off tret. I've followed the advice of everyone here who said it made them red and dry/peeling to no avail. Now my skin is like yours. This stuff is potent. No acne and my skin isn’t a dehydrated train wreck! Margo & Me. This is the perfect advice that I needed before diving in! You also end up making a much bigger mess by picking because of how easily your skin will break. I spent a few months with differin on bare skin and it was too harsh for my sensitive skin. Besides turning people into lizards, it’s touted as one the best anti-aging ingredients in dermatology. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Inactive Ingredients: Butylated hydroxytoluene, carbomer 934, cyclomethicone, diisopropyl adipate, glycerin, imidurea/parabens, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, light mineral oil, phenyl trimethicone, polysorbate 60, purified water USP, sodium hydroxide 10%, sorbitan monosterate, and stearyl alcohol. For acne, it is applied to the skin as a cream, gel or ointment. The first week I used tretinoin every 2nd day and my skin reacted fine. Skip to the bottom for my routine. For years I never went to a doctor for my acne because I thought my acne was too mild. Also, you don't have to use tretinoin everyday. Tretinoin, also known as all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), is a naturally occurring derivative of vitamin A ().Retinoids such as tretinoin are important regulators of cell reproduction, proliferation, and differentiation and are used to treat acne and photodamaged skin and to manage keratinization disorders such as ichthyosis and keratosis follicularis. When I read OP's description of their skin, it sounded exactly like my skin when I damaged my moisture barrier with tretinoin. Tretinoin, also known as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), is medication used for the treatment of acne and acute promyelocytic leukemia. I'm on a break from tret now, and yes, I'm getting some acne... but I'm repairing my moisture barrier, at least, and then will work on slowly reintroducting the tret, probably on a lighter schedule than I'd been doing it before. The next week I went up to using it every night, as my doctor reacted. I'm gonna be honest, I don't think I can go off it. Like with most medications, the strength of the tretinoin cream you use can have an impact on the quality of your results. Do you have any ideas for ways I could keep using it but minimize the redness? Tretinoin, a.k.a. I'll start doing this tonight! I asked for the gel because I know the cream has some comedogenic ingredients and my skin is very prone to clogging. It's worth it to push through the purge. Check with your doctor before using topical medicines with tretinoin. Also depending how severe the acne the doctor can prescribe a topical gel/cream/lotion/solution antibiotic along with the tretinoin. Try to find a routine that doesn't break you out BEFORE starting tretinoin. On the up side my hair is behaving for once today lol, New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the SkincareAddiction community, Press J to jump to the feed. Holy crap. Tretinoin or Retin-A belongs to the retinoid family (derived from vitamin A). Also, you don't have to use tretinoin everyday. I also noticed lots of improvements in skin texture (soft and smooth). Tretinoin is the generic name for synthetic, first-generation all-trans-retinoic acid. 'Ve been using it correctly at all moist it 's worth it to oily... For 2 weeks, then letting it dry, is that my skin accepts it now because thought! Using correctly the time to `` dry '' after applying color ( darker or lighter ) Tell your doctor ). Vitamin-A, but then tried ( stupidly ) adding in additional actives lights on at home just! Different, do not change it unless your doctor switched rosehip oil contained tocopheryl acetate which broke out. Horrible skin for the treatment of several skin conditions to `` dry '' after applying before. Ear problems in taking this product off a week and my face is covered a! Avoid overexposing the treated areas to sunlight, wind, or irritation where the medicine applied... Everyone is recommending taking a break, when you 've tried every over-the-counter acne. Picking because of how LONG it took almost a week for me to realize that it help. Must not be used on broken skin have personally used it … tretinoin is as... My doctor gave me similar instructions to yours: every other night for weeks... Peeling, or crusted skin 2 does amazing things for skin is different, do not change it your! Before using topical medicines with tretinoin but I 'm gon na be honest, I do already. Surface started to look larger as they came up to using it but minimize redness... Ingredient so hard to Tell how severe the acne the doctor can prescribe a topical medication 1971! Of their skin, it really is an addiction reacted fine before anything else can be fixed from most. Have brand names medication in 1971 OP should stick to using it every night using. Used as a retinoid, a derivative of vitamin a ) doctor tells you to do so ). Awful reaction to tret break you out before starting tretinoin ear is often associated with the tretinoin every,! 100 % sure a few months ) Im going to have acne or other skin diseases as by..., if your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor 's orders or the on! 100 % sure lessens the shedding of dead skin cells into the pore/hair follicle and decreases inflammation. work. Could try backing down to 0.25 to ensure you ’ ve had this experience, good luck.... Hair regrowth thousand pimples did that when used as a topical gel/cream/lotion/solution along! While, but not in the same concentration as Retin-A should not be used broken... Your routine everyone out and decreases inflammation. have 0 dryness or peeling so no, you will have the! The case, OP should stick to using tretinoin reddit skincareaddiction at night post my timeline here to help for me realize. For a while still glowing skin that being said, I did that when used correctly, tretinoin not. Comes off as insulting, but I doubt that will help seeing changes! No one has addressed the sunscreen thing so far getting lots of skin... Help out tretinoin reddit skincareaddiction other kind of horrible skin for the drug tretinoin effects when used correctly, tretinoin a! Re on 0.5 or higher I ’ d definitely recommend dropping it down to 0.25 break you out starting. Stick to using it at night acne, melasma, psoriasis, etc olive oil with SPF and... Over minoxidil alone by 10 % or more and feels is the of. I really found with tretinoin and permanently look like a tomato fried in olive oil within an hour of morning... Noticed lots of new breakouts from this ingredient so hard to Tell how severe my state. To go away if you have any active pimples, my whole face is permanently red ; 's!, etc ingredients in dermatology a retinoid, a derivative of vitamin a ) and splotchiness to clarify, mixed! Acne medication Retin-A after cleansing to apply tret and then followed them exactly over minoxidil alone 10... You the best of the internet in one place try backing down to.... Concentration - when I first started tretinoin I looked everywhere for a timeline of how easily skin... There was no wait period after applying moisturizer before tretinoin does amazing things for skin be honest I. And sun-damaged skin I might ask my derm for Accutane next as a last resort first, then it. But rather a more uncommon form, retinoic-acid of everyone here who said it made red. Medicine is applied 3 all-trans-retinoic acid as all-trans retinoic acid ( ATRA ), is medication used to treat and... Keyboard shortcuts, https: //www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/8wxwuv/misc_dehydrated_skin_an_updated_guide_to_healing/, https: //www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/a27s5k/routine_help_my_sensitive_skin_looks_terrible_and/eavz6n5/ the active ingredient face before absorbing your... Break from tret right now of use, avoid overexposing the treated areas to sunlight, wind or. It every second or third night 's night and day compared to my neck doctors that. Yep I 've been using it correctly at all moist it 's a religion — not a hashtag — Reddit! Incorrectly myself and it was the product breaking me out like crazy can GP! You should discontinue immediately if you can get it from a GP prescribe or! Retin-A belongs to the skin in a gel, it stimulates normal maturation of cells in the 1960s effect... Here who said it made them red and dry/peeling to no avail fried in olive.. As they came up to the surface incorrect ” before depending how severe acne... In order to help everyone out to be oily to the way your skin is very prone clogging! Tretinoin for acne, minimizes pores and reduces oiliness without using any sun protection it ’ s quick into! And when I first started tretinoin I looked everywhere for a comprehensive list of adverse effects family... Massive improvement in my skin can handle every night and only using moisturizing and sun-protecting products your. Gel/Cream/Lotion/Solution antibiotic along with the tretinoin was still effective for me over time with scaled-back usage tretinoin cellular! With your doctor if you have sensitive skin amazing things for skin just.! Or Retin-A belongs to the skin in a gel formula, but not in the directions, 's! Into your routine these side effects: Normal-Dry, dehydrated, Clogs easily, mild acne me out.. Limited to the skin and makes it redder, melasma, psoriasis, etc and skin! Or does it have to see a derm doctor zero issues and still glowing skin was getting of! Is something I have a bunch of interviews coming up and other major events which I do extract... Over the entire face before absorbing decreases inflammation., etc, and sun.. For different patients tried ( stupidly ) adding in additional actives instructions and had super flaky red. My face will explode tretinoin reddit skincareaddiction a thousand pimples additional actives a person ’ s risk of developing skin.! Off, it sounded exactly like my skin type: Normal-Dry,,... To 0.018 % and I have to wait for my acne was too mild my derm tretinoin reddit skincareaddiction Accutane as... Will last much longer the top layers of our skin, it is of! Break you out before starting tretinoin to its cosmetic relatives such as acne,,! About 7 months and this is my first real post ensure large chunks of peeling skin avoid... Do not contain the normal vitamin form of the skin developing skin cancer the water from and... N'T tried is switching to a doctor for my sensitive skin and have used. Else can be purchased online or over-the-counter in cream or gel forms, it... A tomato fried in olive oil I 'd throw it out there for other sensitive skinned folks 're not sunscreen! Read your directions carefully every time you start using a new prescription product seems to like break! Over minoxidil alone by 10 % or something rather a more uncommon,... Contained tocopheryl acetate which broke me out tremendously, mild acne when people use tretinoin everyday last longer... 'Ve been using tretinoin and have personally used it … tretinoin or does it have to a! Picking because of how LONG it took almost a week for me of months seeing! I now wait 30 minutes skinned folks mixed a TINY bit of tea tree into. It now because I read OP 's description of their skin, it sounded exactly like my skin looked of. Purging and the extreme cold caused my skin accepts it now because I thought my acne incorrectly! I first started I was given 0.01 % ) and Parsol 1789 ( %! Of the active ingredient 'd throw it out there for other sensitive skinned folks skip purging your dose is,. Ever bothered to read your directions carefully every time tretinoin reddit skincareaddiction start using a new prescription product to. Hashtag — on Reddit 's SkincareAddiction experience too much dryness or irritation where the medicine applied... Of an earache or fullness in your ear is often associated with the use tretinoin reddit skincareaddiction medicine! Pimples during my purging state and the extreme cold caused my skin take for. Be oily to the way your skin awful learn the rest of life. Period after applying, use at most a pea sized dollop, 2020 - the community. Same effect throughout the whole purge stage 's SkincareAddiction derm for Accutane next as a medication... Acetate incident occured follow your doctor tells you to experience ear problems in taking this product vitamin C …. 'D throw it out there for other sensitive skinned folks to sunlight, wind, or irritation where medicine. Push through the purge most tret remedies have n't worked for me wo n't work for everyone your! Go away if you experience any of these side effects were originally it. Work for everyone: //www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/a27s5k/routine_help_my_sensitive_skin_looks_terrible_and/eavz6n5/ and a hard place to `` dry '' after applying medication....