Tretinoin and other topical retinoids should be replaced every 5-6 months. Even if the expiration date is well in the future, once the tube is opened it will begin to lose potency. Hot tip: Use a sharpie to write the date you opened the tube directly on the packaging.
On the other hand, classic tretinoin creams and gels can usually retain their effectiveness for about six months, provided they are stored properly and the container is tightly closed after each use.
Tretinoin expiration
If you are wondering if tretinoin expires, tretinoin products typically have an expiration date of two years after the manufacturing date. After this time, the product may become less effective or even cause skin irritation or other side effects.
Many people wonder if the benefits of tretinoin persist in the long term. The answer is yes, but it requires the consistent use of tretinoin. Since your skin renews itself every month, discontinuing tretinoin for a month will require an adjustment period when you resume its use.
Can Skin Become Resistant to Tretinoin? The notion that skin might become 'used' to Tretinoin and its effects diminish over time is a common misconception. In reality, what happens is that the skin develops a tolerance to Tretinoin's initial side effects, such as redness and peeling, as it adjusts to the treatment.
Your Retinoid is Being Inactivated
Retinoids are inactivated by UV light, so must be applied at night. Additionally, retinoids can be inactivated by other topical skin care ingredients, most commonly salicylic acid. Avoid using products which contain salicylic acid in your night-time skin care routine.
Start with application once a week and build up to 3/4 nights a week as your skin improves tolerance. Tretinoin is most certainly a journey, but the benefits are definitely worth the initial irritation when used long-term.
Dr. Mohta says that tretinoin can be used long term, even your entire life, as tretinoin is commonly used for the treatment of acne, fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Dr. Mohta, also says that it may be necessary to use tretinoin for a few weeks before you can notice changes in your skin.
The skin will be more prone to sunburn, dryness, or irritation, especially during the first 2 or 3 weeks. However, you should not stop using this medicine unless the skin irritation becomes too severe.
Retinoids have been implicated in causing mild-to-moderate elevations in routine liver tests, but these elevations are usually asymptomatic and transient, resolving spontaneously even with continued therapy.
The tretinoin in Retin A cream is very prone to break down by exposure to light. UVA breaks down tretinoin the most but the peak wavelength that does this is 420nm, which is just into the visible light spectrum right outside of the UVA wavelength spectrum.
“The symptoms related to tretinoin purging typically involve acne breakouts, severe skin dryness and peeling, redness and irritation, but it is important to know that this phase is temporary and once it's over, the skin will generally begin to improve, and you will be able to see the positive effects.
Common tretinoin side effects include skin irritation, sun sensitivity, and skin discoloration. These are typically mild effects, and you can manage several of them by applying tretinoin properly and protecting your skin from the sun.
When you open an OTC or prescription retinol product like Tretinoin or Retin-A, its effectiveness begins to diminish as time passes. Generally, the retinol expiration date will fall between 6 to 12 months after opening, although this can vary depending on the formulation, packaging, and storage conditions.
If your skin is irritated, buffer with moisturizer
This generally doesn't reduce the effectiveness of the medication, but can help to soothe and moisturize the skin.
The degradation of tretinoin 0.025% in the conventional gel was greater than 83 percent within two hours. In the second light exposure study, in vitro exposure to simulated solar light provided a gradual dose-response effect with tretinoin 0.05% formulated as the micronized tretinoin gel.
AFTER ONE YEAR AND BEYOND
Many wonder if the benefits of Tretinoin persist long term. The answer is yes, Tretinoin use benefits the skin in the long run, but that requires persistent and ongoing Tretinoin use.
Treatment with this drug may lead to higher cholesterol and triglycerides. The effect of these changes on heart health is not known. Talk with the doctor.
Signs you should stop using tretinoin
It's normal to experience some dryness, peeling, and irritation—maybe even some purging—as you adjust to using tretinoin. But if the side effects become severe or don't go away, it might be time to hit pause and give your skin a breather.
Unlike over-the-counter anti-aging products, tretinoin has anti-aging ingredients that go deep beneath the outer portion of the skin to the epidermis. It boosts the production of new collagen in around six months, resulting in smoother, younger-looking skin.
Another method is called the sandwich technique. Apply a base layer of your favourite moisturizer, then apply tretinoin. Studies have shown that the base layer does not dilute or reduce the efficacy of the retinoid, in fact it helps with tolerability.
Conclusion: After 48 weeks of once-daily treatment, the continued use of tretinoin emollient cream 0.05% at a dose of three times per week maintains and, in some cases, may further enhance improvement in photodamage.
In general a lower tretinoin strength (0.025%) may be used for mild to moderate acne, while higher strengths (0.05% or 0.1%) may be used for more severe or stubborn acne,” says Dr. Anna Chacon, dermatologist.
If it IS tretinoin you have, then it's not possible to become resistent to it but it IS possible to develop an allergy or irritant reaction to something, usually in the base cream that it's put into.
Peptides. These are a group of amino acids that play a crucial role in skin repair and collagen production. When compounded with Tretinoin, peptides may enhance its anti-ageing benefits by helping to improve skin firmness and elasticity. They can also help reinforce the skin's barrier and improve skin texture.