The first 2 weeks apply it 2 to 3 nights per week, after that try applying it every other day, and then if your skin can handle it, apply it every night. However, skip a night or two if your skin is irritated, because it will make it worse.
It can often lead to redness and breakouts and can be mistaken for acne. Using tretinoin when you have rosacea is not always going to lead to problems (and in fact, it can be helpful in certain situations), but the inflammation in rosacea needs to be controlled first before any tretinoin is applied.
Retinol can cause a side effect called a retinol burn. Retinol burns can cause skin redness, irritation, and flaking. But it's not an allergy. You should stop using retinol if you develop a retinol burn.
Can you use tretinoin if you have sensitive skin? Yes, if you have sensitive skin, you can still use micronized tretinoin or Altreno, but follow the advice given by Dr. Chacon to minimize irritation.
Regular use of oil-based creams or lotions helps to reduce skin irritation or dryness caused by the use of tretinoin.
Weeks 4-8. By this time, some of the initial irritation should start to subside. You might notice a reduction in acne breakouts and an improvement in skin texture.
When you first start tretinoin, you may notice that your skin appears dry, flaky, or red. And if you have sensitive skin, these effects may appear stronger. Your acne may even get worse in the beginning.
Tretinoin must not be used by women who are pregnant, nursing or wish to become pregnant. In addition to that, tretinoin should also not be used by children under 12 years of age (this depends on the brand and product concentration) or by individuals with active flare of rosacea.
Apply the Moisturizer First
It's also soothing. Choose a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturizer made for sensitive skin. 2 These products will be less irritating. Make sure the product is also labeled non-comedogenic.
“However, it is important to consider that tretinoin can cause skin irritation especially when you first start your treatment. Therefore, it is best to start with a lower strength and slowly increase, if necessary.
Stop using the product until all of the irritation resolves. Moisturize the skin with a thin coat of Vaseline daily until the irritation resolves. You can use a gentle moisturizing cream, but Vaseline is safer and works better. An alternative is Aquaphor Ointment.
Retinization is something everyone who uses retinol—more specifically and more commonly, prescription-grade retinoids—goes through when they first begin using their product. While some may experience very mild symptoms, others might go through something unflatteringly known as the “retinol uglies.”
Generally speaking, let tretinoin absorb and fully dry before applying moisturizer.
“During the skin purge, your skin speeds up the cell turnover faster than it's used to so the substances clogging your pores get pushed to the surface of your skin faster, so you may experience slight inflammation, contributing to additional breakouts,” says Dr. Fernandez.
How long does a tretinoin purge last? Results will vary from person to person. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends waiting four to six weeks for any new skin care treatment to start clearing up skin. If you are experiencing purge symptoms after six weeks, talk to your provider.
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.
Option one: The sandwich technique
After washing your face, apply a layer of moisturiser. Allow it to dry down for 5-10 minutes. Then, apply a pea-sized amount of tretinoin to your entire face. Allow this to dry down for 5-10 minutes.
The next most important tip is to use a moisturizer with your application. There are many ways to do this — you can apply your moisturizer before tretinoin; after tretinoin; before AND after tretinoin (the “sandwich method”); or you can mix the tretinoin into your moisturizer.
Signs you should stop using tretinoin
“If your face is red, tender, or very parched and peeling, these are signs you're overusing your retinoid,” Dr. Ansell says—either you're applying too much, or too frequently.
Topical tretinoin can cause your skin to become dry, red, swollen, blistered, or flaky. It may also cause your skin to itch, be painful, or feel like it is burning. Stop using topical tretinoin and call your healthcare provider if these symptoms become worse or do not go away.
While you may have experienced initial sensitivity and redness during the first few weeks, after 6 weeks, your skin often becomes less sensitive to tretinoin. It is important to continue using a gentle skincare routine and sunscreen to minimize potential irritation.
The skin purging from tretinoin usually lasts for anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months. It can range in severity from a few minor pimples, to major breakouts, skin dryness, flaking, peeling and other skin irritation.
After 4-6 weeks, your skin will get used to Tretinoin and will begin to be noticeably smoother and more even. Depending on how often you use Tretinoin, you may begin to see full benefits by this point. A lot of the initial irritation will settle down and true “retinization” of your skin is in full force.
"I can't use tretinoin because my skin feels too dry."
For many of our patients, we recommend applying a thick layer of moisturizer before using tretinoin to help with dryness and skin sensitivity OR mixing moisturizer and a lentil-sized amount of tretinoin together to apply at the same time.