The typical skin cycling routine is this: Day 1: exfoliate with an AHA like lactic or glycolic, or a BHA like salicylic acid. The idea behind skin cycling is to reduce irritation, so if you are already using tretinoin or retinol multiple times a week with no irritation, then there's no need to add in rest days.
Skipping days gives your skin a rest. Once it starts feeling better, slowly work up to using it every day (or as directed by your healthcare provider). Don't stop using your treatment altogether. As your skin adjusts, dryness and peeling will taper off.
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.
Tretinoin helps remove dead skin cells, allowing new cells to rise to the surface more efficiently. This stimulates collagen production and helps to reverse the effects of long-term sun exposure1. Tretinoin should be used for at least 6 months for maximum effect.
It's true that some people with persistent acne use tretinoin for years, but generally speaking, most stop once they have clearer skin or if they're no longer seeing results. Other people may continue to use tretinoin after their breakouts subside for the most part for maintenance therapy.
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.
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.
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.
Topical tretinoin stimulates epidermal proliferation and differentiation by upregulating heparin binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), which causes increased exfoliation and thickening of the epidermis.
With regard to efficacy, all studies consistently reported that topical tretinoin was efficacious in improving clinical appearance of photoaging in terms of wrinkling, mottled hyperpigmentation, sallowness, and lentigines as early as 1 month and lasted after 24 months.
When you first start using tretinoin, you may start with a lower percentage that you apply just two or three times a week. After two weeks, if your skin is adjusting well to the tretinoin, you can consider increasing use to every night as tolerated.
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.
According to Dr. Mohta, to maintain the benefits you achieved over the past year, it is crucial to continue using tretinoin as part of your long-term skincare routine. You can safely use tretinoin long-term. Research has shown no negative effects even with 2-4 years of usage.
Prescription retinoids like tretinoin are extremely powerful. This means you must use them properly under the guidance of your dermatologist or doctor — or you could risk some unpleasant reactions like burning skin or a damaged skin barrier.
On the other hand, an opened tretinoin tube that has not expired may be less effective than an unopened but expired tube of tretinoin. This can happen due to the chemical composition of tretinoin degrading, which can lead to a reduction in its potency and effectiveness over time.
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.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever; weight gain; swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; shortness of breath; labored breathing; wheezing; chest pain; or cough.
Dr Kiran acknowledges some evidence that suggests tretinoin may aid in hair growth: Tretinoin promotes cell turnover, which can help rejuvenate hair follicles. It may enhance the absorption of other hair growth treatments, such as minoxidil.
A tretinoin purge is a phenomenon that affects some people when they start using a retinoid skin product like tretinoin. For some users, acne will flare up within the first few weeks of using tretinoin before it starts to reduce acne. Tretinoin purge is also referred to as “acne flaring.”
A tretinoin purge, also referred to as “tretinoin uglies” is a common skin reaction that occurs when a patient uses tretinoin (Retin-A or Tretin-X) for the first time.
Three inexpensive moisturizers that our physicians love are Vanicream Daily Facial Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid, Neutrogena Hydroboost Gel, and The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum. All three of these are affordable, non-comedogenic,and blend well with tretinoin.
After your skin is used to the Tretinoin, you may apply a bit more to areas with more wrinkles. 6. After your desired concentration is achieved, you may taper the Tretinoin: Apply only 3 times per week for 2 weeks, then 2 times per week for 2 weeks, then stop.