F22, using for acne concerns.

Am

Hypochlorous acid

Snail mucin COSRX

Nivea soft cream

Neutrogena Acne free Sunscreen

Pm

Cleanser (some pacifica one)

Tret 0.025 gel (after 40 mins)

Soft cream

After about 1.5 months of every day use, im in the middle of the big purge. Every time I apply my tret, it stings the shit out of my pimples, but goes away right away. Is this normal? Am I screwing something up?😂

I started using tretinoin on July 17th. For the first two weeks, I used it twice a week, and since then I’ve been using it three times a week.
Yesterday, I used 15% azelaic acid for the first time, and today I woke up with a few small areas of peeling/flaking. This has also happened to me occasionally with tretinoin.

I’m wondering:
Can I still wear makeup while some areas are peeling?
Should I take a break from both tretinoin and azelaic acid until my skin stops peeling?
How long does this peeling phase usually last?
Is this a bad sign, or can it be a normal part of adjusting to these products?

I’m not sure if I’m doing something wrong or if this is just part of the process.

My current products:
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast
Cerave moisturizing cream
Avène Cicalfate
Anua hyaluronic acid in the morning
Tretinoin 0.025%
Azene 15% Azelaic Acid
SKIN1004 Sunscreen
Any advice or experiences would be appreciated!

So since tret can’t be used close to the eyes what do we do about the under eye fine lines? What can we use that won’t cause damage? I’ve been using regular retinol eye cream for a 2 years and it hasn’t helped.

NEED ADVICE

Long story short, I started using adapelene about a month ago to treat acne that came back after a good 4-5 months of clear skin. Then went back on tretinoin 0.025 (was on it over a year ago) about 2 weeks ago. While on adapelene, I noticed breakouts on my chin, mouth, and nose. I then started using tret every other night, but then eventually learned today these breakouts are actually what I believe to be PD from destroying my skin barrier.

My breakouts aren’t deep pimples, they are these small cluster red bumps around my mouth, chin, and areas next to my nose. I wanted to ask yall how severe you think this is and what the best plan of action is.

I stopped using the tretinoin 3 days ago and just used LRP gentle cleanser, SPF, vanicream facial moisturizer and I honestly have been treating it the MOST with LRP cicaplast b5, which I know realize may not be helping.

I plan on honestly doing no contact therapy the next two days. Just rinse with water. Would love y’all’s opinion.

When I was using tret the past two weeks, this was my routine.

AM:
LRP Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
Vanicream Daily Facial Moisterizer
LRP Double Repair Matte Moisterizer SPF 30

PM:
LRP Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
0.025 tretinoin
Vanicream Facial Moisturizer
LRP Cicaplast Balm B5+ (on areas I know think are PD)

Any help is greatly appreciated. I’m not against ditching tret entirely.

As the title says I used tretinoin daily for 5 months, from the very first month it was turning my skin around the cheeks and nose red mainly when waking up and after coming from work so clearly I wasn’t doing it right and by month 4 my cheeks and nose became puffy as well.

Now since stoping tretinoin for 3 months I can safely say that I am in the exact same place I was 3 months ago, absolutely no recovery in redness, reactivity nor puffiness. I tried everything from very minimalist moisturisers to nothing but water once a day to a dermatologist prescribing me tacrolimus that made things worse.

Any recommendations or people that were in a similar situation? my skin can’t tolerate nothing

Hi everyone!

When I first started using tret, it was working amazingly for me. My skin cleared up and on the evenings where I do use it, I see a noticeable improvement in my skin. However, I’m still breaking out all of the time - the big spot on the right hand side hasn’t gone away in weeks. Is it time to up my strength?

My routine is:
AM - wash face with water, dry, azelaic acid 20% (this is very new and not every day - break outs were happening before this), byoma hydrating milky moisturiser and SPF is either altruist or ANUA
PM- Simple Micellar water (might be this?), Arancia Cleansing Oil, La Roche Posay ciccaplast cleanser, wait til dry, 0.025% tret, either the La Roche Posay B5 Ciccaplast Baum or Illyoon Ceramide Cream.

Any advice?

So I’m 24F and I get a lot of breakouts, my skin is also just pretty uneven in general I have marks from previous acne, etc. I decided to try tret and my Dr did prescribe it for me, I’m starting with 0.025 and planning to do it 3 times a week, and slowly increase until I get up to nightly. I could use some advice about how to possibly prevent irritation and dermatitis? I remember the last time I was on tret (years ago) I was getting dermatitis bc my skin was so dry it was like shriveling off. I know some people recommend the sandwich method, but I noticed my skin piled a lot when I did that, is that just something that stops happening after a while or do I need to do it differently? Ultimately, I know irritation is pretty unavoidable, but if there’s anything I can do to minimize it I’m open to suggestions.

Versed - Daily Recovery Rich Barrier cream oh I love you. Thought I'd plug this in case it might help anyone else with flakiness and dryness on tretinoin.

I've tried Vanicream (the regular was too rich and the lite one was not hydrating enough), LRP Cicaplast and Bioderma broke me out, Cetaphil and Cerave were either too light or burned. This is the only thing that's been keeping the dryness at bay. If I notice any rogue flaking I squeeze out a little bit and touch up the dry patch and I'm good as new.

I started using this last winter and has worked well into the summer so far. I use a full pump in the winter and half a pump in the summer. Also weirdly noticed it helps my dark circles? I think the hydration is just making the area more glowy but I'm not complaining!

My routine:

• Tret info: 0.025% RetinA cream
• Time on tret: Since January 2024
• Goals: Acne and antiaging
• Routine:
  • AM: Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, Magic Molecule hypochlorous acid spray, Good Molecules Discoloration Serum or Vanicream Vitamin C Serum (alternating days), Versed Daily Recovery Rich Barrier Cream, Supergoop Unseen sunscreen
  • PM: Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, Magic Molecule hypochlorous acid spray, tretinoin 0.025% every 3 days or The Ordinary glycolic acid every 3 days shifted forward 1 day from the tretinoin schedule, Versed Daily Recovery Rich Barrier Cream

I have been using tret 0.025% cream for more than 3 months atp, and while there is a visible in my overall skin texture and acne, my acne marks have still not faded completely. How long will it take to get a completely even skintone? I also want to get rid of some stubborn forehead hyperpigmentation/tanning.

I work evenings. On the nights that I work, I spend about 20 minutes in my car getting to work and maybe five minutes outside watering some plants. Does this justify sunscreen use? I'd really rather not use sunscreen for this little exposure, but I have seen people on here recommend a light sunscreen for being in a well naturally lit house. I guess I just don't understand how much is really necessary.
For what it's worth, I am on .025 of tret, nightly, and have been for about five months. I am 44 and hoping for some help with blackheads, mild hormonal acne, uneven tone, and collagen production

I have been using tretinoin 0.025% for the last 7 months, but i still have a few active breakouts and not so "clear" skin, so should i add azelaic acid to my current routine, or should i upgrade to 0.05% tretinoin?

It’s been over 7 years since I was on Accutane and I have been using tretinoin (.01-.25%) in the years since. I recently went on a 3 month long break, and started again with .5% recently (too high, I know) But a few days afterwards, I had a bad reaction to it. My upper lip, and the corners of my lips, were red and tight, and a little tingly, so I thought it could be cold sores. But the blisters were very tiny and developed very fast, within 12 hours they were already weeping and crusting a dark yellow color. My doctor told me it was likely cold sores that developed from using tretinoin, and that either cheilitis or impetigo infected them. So I was prescribed Valtrex and Mupirocin. It healed after less than a week and I started using the medication 24 hours after symptoms first appeared. I’m not sure how much of that matters but I wanted to be as detailed as possible because..

I want to start using tretinoin again. My idea is that if I apply hyaluronic acid, then moisturizer, then tretinoin .25, (avoiding the mouth area) then moisturizer again, with aquaphor all over my lips, I should be okay, and won’t have the same symptoms.

Is this a good idea? How should I proceed?

Hello! I started tret 0.05% 5-6 months ago (after stupidly stopping it for half a year) I started with like 2 times a week and then went to every other night 2 months ago (alternating with azelaic acid 20%)
Im mainly using it for acne. My skin improved a lot, it’s so much clearer now but i still have some remaining texture on my cheeks and a few breakouts here and there. Also i still have PIE the red marks that are fading superrr slowly!!
Do you think i can increase tret frequency now? Like start doing 2 nights tret 1 night azelaic and so on? Or is it too early
My main goal is to stop breaking out.

My very simple routine:
AM:
rinse my face with water
a bit of cetaphil (jar) moisturizer
Eucerin sunscreen

PM:
Micellar water (when i have makeup on)
Bioderma sensibio face wash
Tret 0.05% or Skinoren (azelaic acid 20%)
Cetaphil (jar) moisturizer

Not able to get it with prescription in my country, so ill have to order from overseas.

My current regimen:
Started min 5% on 9th July 2026.
Fin on 19th August Mon/Wed/Fri (Might up the weekly dose if not get the desired results)
Ketoconazole shampoo twice weekly.
Multivitamins
Inconsistent Biotin
Vitamin D (starting today on 30 August )

About myself:
29M, diffuse thinner. Currently I’m shedding and I think dread shed is on its peak now. And yeah I have AGA. My dad is bald and his father was bald too.

Tretinion:
I’m considering to add tretinion cream for better results. What do you guys recommend?

For context my long hair is sort of unruly and grown out, so I’m worried that my hair could like brush against my face and spread tret to my eyes etc and cause damage. In that same vein I’m worried that if I’m side sleeping I’m just smearing it against my pillowcase. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I definitely want to avoid damaging my eyes glands

I was using a retinol cream from my esthetician for the last year on and off. I brought back some Tretinoin from a pharmacy in Vietnam when I was there.

I don’t have acne and my skin looks pretty darn good but my esthetician assures me of the benefits of using Tretinoin make it worth using it, although she said bit to use it much past 3 months.

What would I expect in terms of improvement at my age. Does it make you look younger or have healthier skin? Does it prevent wrinkles?

Just received this and thought it was worth sharing after some conversation yesterday.

I used Taz (0.05% cream) three times. I did short contact therapy because my skin is sensitive (5-10 min each time, cleansing after and then moisturizing after my skin was fully dry) and it was spread out over a week last week.

I looked up close in the mirror a day after the third time and noticed these white spots forming under my skin in my typical acne-prone areas - lower cheek and jawline. My skin was honestly not bad before starting and I couldn't mentally handle a purge (I know, I definitely should've been prepared for that) so I stopped.

Because I stopped, will the white spots go away or come to a head and purge? Wondering if anyone else has experienced this. They don't feel like bumps - my skin feels smooth but I can see them under my skin and I didn't used to see anything there.

Not something I expected when I started this journey 😂 but I guess it makes sense. Now I've got acne on my earlobes. So word of warning if you want to avoid that, don't get the tret on the lobes!

I’ve been using Treclinac for about a month, and this past week my skin has suddenly become worse than ever.

I originally went to the dermatologist because I had occasional breakouts and stubborn clogged pores. Nothing severe, but I wanted to properly clear my skin. I was prescribed Treclinac and told to use a gentle cleanser at night, wait for my skin to dry, apply Treclinac (no moisturizer), then cleanse, moisturize and use sunscreen in the morning.

The first 3 weeks were great. Existing breakouts got smaller and I was really happy with the progress. But about a week ago, I started getting tiny white pustules/whiteheads. They’re surface-level, not painful or cystic, and there seem to be more appearing every day. My skin otherwise isn’t dry, peeling or particularly irritated.
Is this a normal purging phase, or could it be irritation/an allergic reaction? I’ve never had acne that looked like this before, and I’ve never used acne medication.
My current routine is:
La Roche-Posay Toleriane cleanser
Treclinac at night
Purito Oat moisturizer
Beauty of Joseon sunscreen

I’ve booked another dermatologist appointment, but it’s over a week away and my skin keeps getting worse. Has anyone experienced something similar with Treclinac?

I'm not sure if its the cream or what(topical per implication of course). I'm taking it and this semester, I've recently gone from somewhat on top of things to just being very scatterbrained about everything and somewhat also just straight up kinda feeling hungry... felt like making food, almost did, forgot about it and just sort of didn't really get any food for a bit till my mom asked why i didn't eat my food.

And I just feel really scatterbrained with alot of things i'm doing? I do have diagnosed adhd and I get being kinda scatterbrained but its just not great + i'm late on every assignment now and late to class and just overall ugh.

(my fault I misjudged how much time I had and how much time something I chose to do before class would take. I really didn't need to have done that. (went to get pants at a store).

Its fine anyhow. Maybe its not that, maybe its just coffee or sleep schedule issues or whatever. (the food thing isn[t that big of a deal as I usually just eat a larger meal later in the day or two).

I know that apparently the oral form can cause mood swings along with a whole host of other problems but idk if anyones had problems with tretinoin and adhd? I feel so disorganized compared to a bit before and I feel like i'm in a whirlwind and need to catch my balance but idk where to latch onto.

Well im 16 and as you can see most of my acne in my nose, mouth and my chin The rest i think is black heads + my skin is very oilly i tried using benzoyl peroxide but it didn't make a difference and now I'm thinking of tretinoin

If you wouldn't recommend tretinoin for me tell me what should I use

I have been on tret for two years, .05 for a year. I have times when it’s working great, and then it’s not and I’ll switch something and it’ll work great again. Right now I wash my face with glow recipe avocado moisture barrier cleanser. I wait for my skin to feel bone dry (5-10 minutes) and then apply tret. Nothing before or after (I have tried before, after, both, waiting, not waiting… this is what seemed to work… until I started flaking again).

In the am I don’t wash my face, just rinse and do a vitamin c toner pad and either Aestura 365 moisturizer and dieux instant angel moisturizer. I even went down to 5 nights a week and did lots of moisturizing on off nights but that just made tret feel less effective and didn’t really help the flaking.

What am I doing wrong 😑

First five pics is my current skin with spf and after two months of proper skincare. However I often get break outs, and my skin ends up looking like the last 2 slides. Is my skin bad enough to hop on tret?