What are the mistakes with tretinoin?

Author: Miss Vida Pollich III  |  Last update: Tuesday, June 3, 2025

For most people, the skin around the eyes is extra-sensitive, and they won't be able to use retinoids too close to the eyes or the mouth. Your dermatologist may recommend a different product to use next to the eye area. This product may contain a lower strength of retinoids, or may not contain any retinoids at all.

What are the mistakes while using tretinoin?

Overusing. More is not necessarily better when it comes to Tretinoin. In fact, using too much, too soon can lead to increased skin irritation without enhancing the benefits. It can even set you back as you will likely need to stop using it for a while or reduce the frequency.

What not to do when using tretinoin?

You should avoid washing the skin treated with tretinoin for at least 1 hour after applying it. Avoid using any topical medicine on the same area within 1 hour before or after using tretinoin. Otherwise, tretinoin may not work properly or skin irritation might occur.

What causes tretinoin to not work?

Inconsistent use will not produce results. Period. 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.

What is bad about tretinoin?

According to the FDA drug labeled guidelines, the most common adverse effects in topically administered tretinoin are the following: pruritus, skin pain, skin/subcutaneous irritation, erythema, and pharyngitis.

6 Month Tretinoin/Retin-A Update: Before & After + My Current Skincare Routine!

Why does my skin look so bad on tretinoin?

Tretinoin peeling is a side effect many people experience, especially in the first few weeks of using this medication. Tretinoin (Retin-A) can help reduce acne and brighten skin, but it also speeds up the skin's natural exfoliation process, resulting in dry and flaky skin.

What moisturizer goes well with tretinoin?

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.

How can I make tretinoin more effective?

How do you maximize tretinoin results? To maximize the results of tretinoin, start slowly, apply tretinoin at night on perfectly dry skin and between two layers of moisturizer, wear sunscreen with SPF 50 every morning, and combine with niacinamide or hyaluronic acid to minimize irritation.

How to tell if tretinoin is working?

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.

What does tretinoin purge look like?

Skin purging is common, but doesn't necessarily happen to everyone. In fact some people don't experience it at all. For those of us who do suffer from purging, it can look like: breaking out in pustules (pimples), the appearance of flaky, peeling skin, irritation and dry patches.

Is tretinoin 3 times a week enough?

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.

What is the sandwich method for tretinoin?

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.

What can tretinoin not be mixed with?

Avoid other topical retinoids, and skin care products containing retinol, with tretinoin. You may also want to avoid salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and erythromycin gel (Erthygel), as these ingredients and products can cause dryness.

What happens if I put too much tretinoin on my face?

Applying excessive amounts of tretinoin onto the skin to make acne go away faster will not work. This can make the skin worse by causing extreme dryness, peeling, or redness. It may take up to six weeks of tretinoin treatment to see results. Make sure to use sunscreen, especially in the summertime.

What strength of tretinoin cream is best for wrinkles?

“The strength of tretinoin prescribed for anti-aging will depend on multiple factors. However, in general, a low to moderate strength of tretinoin (0.025% to 0.05%) is often recommended for anti-aging purposes, because it tends to be effective while minimizing the risk of irritation,” she added.

When is tretinoin purge the worst?

Many tretinoin users experience a “purge” during the first several weeks of treatment. During this period, acne — the very problem tretinoin is supposed to treat — often gets worse, resulting in everything from the occasional whitehead to severe breakouts.

What are the negative long-term effects of tretinoin?

What harm does Tretinoin do to the skin?
  • It makes the skin significantly more vulnerable to UV damage.
  • It causes contact irritant and photosensitivity reactions.
  • It damages the skin's barrier.
  • It increases chronic inflammation which in turn disrupts barrier function.
  • Its use in one study has been linked to premature death.

What serums are good with tretinoin?

Which skin products are compatible with tretinoin? Hyaluronic acid is the standout topical compatible with virtually everything, followed by niacinamide. Some prescription formulations combine retinoids with other ingredients such as hydroquinone.

How to increase the efficacy of tretinoin?

You can further boost the efficacy of both retinol and tretinoin by exfoliating for better penetration. Treatments featuring the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), glycolic acid, can be great for unblocking the skin's surface by removing dead cells.

Does anything work better than tretinoin?

Another randomized vehicle controlled parallel comparison trial of tazarotene cream at various strengths compared to tretinoin 0.05% cream and found tazarotene at higher concentrations (0.1%) was associated with improved mottled hyperpigmentation and fine wrinkles compared to the tretinoin 0.05% group.

Can I use tretinoin on my neck?

Yes you can apply tretinoin on your face, neck, chest and hands if you want to combat signs of anti-aging in those areas. However, you should only apply a very thin layer of the product to clean, dry skin to avoid irritation. If your neck becomes more sensitive, skip the application for one or two days.

How to apply tretinoin under eyes?

– Wash your face with warm water and a gentle cleanser. Next, pat it dry with a clean towel. – Apply a pea-sized amount of tretinoin on your face, avoiding your eyes and mouth (more about this later). – Once it has fully absorbed into your skin, you can follow up with a layer of moisturiser.

Can I use hyaluronic acid with tretinoin?

Hyaluronic acid can also be used in combination with Clindamycin gel and Tretinoin when treating acne because it helps moisturize the skin. Hyaluronic acid can be combined with almost all other skin care ingredients because it helps to hydrate, plump, and protect the skin.

Does tretinoin peeling ever stop?

Tretinoin skin peeling is usually temporary and only lasts for a few months for most people, meaning patience is normally an effective approach. Use a moisturizer. It's totally okay to use a moisturizer with tretinoin. Apply the moisturizer first before tretinoin if you have skin dryness.

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