However, it is best to not mix or use Vitamin C at the same time as Tretinoin. This will avoid causing irritation. If you have sensitive skin opt for forms of Vitamin C that are less irritating. In any case, if you're starting out opt for lower strengths of Vitamin C.
Both vitamin C and tretinoin can be irritating to the skin, especially for those with sensitive skin or when introduced too quickly. Using them simultaneously could exacerbate redness, dryness, or peeling, which are common side effects of both ingredients.
Retinol and Vitamin C don't actually mix well and can degrade each other making them at best inert, at worst capable of causing a chemical burns or damage. Products like these use extremely low concentrations of actives to keep the products stable.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is especially important to avoid using the following skin products on the same area as tretinoin: Any other topical acne product or skin product containing a peeling agent (eg, benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, or sulfur).
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.
Tretinoin counteracts the destruction of collagen and elastic fibers by inhibiting the regulation of MMPs.
This medicine may increase pressure in the head, especially in children, which may lead to vision loss or serious brain problems.
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.
Dr Malvina Cunningham: Retinoids like tretinoin and vitamin C work well together as they both promote collagen production and enhance each other's effect.
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.
Start Slow (2-3 Nights a Week)
To minimize potential side effects, it's best to go slowly and carefully with tretinoin. Begin by applying it twice a week or every other day and gradually work your way up. Daily tretinoin use is an ideal target for many people, but some may find that excessive.
It's perfectly safe and very effective to incorporate both retinol and vitamin C into your skincare routine, as long as you use them at different times of the day.
What happens if you stop using tretinoin for acne? For many, tretinoin is highly effective at treating acne, but it's still possible to experience breakouts once you stop using it.
Moisturizing: Applying a light moisturizer can benefit individuals with sensitive skin. Some doctors may recommend moisturizing as the last step in a tretinoin skincare routine. However, some research shows that using a hydrating, non-comedogenic moisturizer before medication application may prevent skin irritation.
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.
USE EACH INGREDIENT AT SEPARATE TIMES OF THE DAY
The first option you have to combine vitamin C and retinol is to use them at separate times of the day. Specifically, it's best to use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night. The reason for that has a lot to do with how each ingredient works.
Retinaldehyde is considered the closest over-the-counter alternative to tretinoin and is suitable for all skin types. It provides comparable skin renewing benefits while being less irritating, making it a suitable choice for those looking for effective yet gentle retinoid options.
You should not combine tretinoin with any other retinoid. Unless indicated by your dermatologist, you should avoid using these ingredients at the same time or on the same day as tretinoin: benzoyl peroxide, lactic acid, salicylic acid, and physical exfoliants.
Do you have to wash tretinoin off in the morning? Yes, it's advisable to cleanse your face in the morning to remove the tretinoin before applying your morning skincare products and sunscreen.
Some people may notice that this side effect goes away within a few weeks of use, while others may have flaky skin for up to two months. Regardless of how long it takes to subside, tretinoin peeling is temporary and will go away once your skin gets used to the product.
Although some increase in histologic liver changes have been noted, most liver biopsy specimens showed no change or improvement. Retinoids do not appear to produce consistent toxic liver abnormalities.
studied tretinoin therapy for androgenetic alopecia. They reported an increase in terminal hair after using topical Tretinoin in 7 out of 12 individuals[18]. Hair growth cycle in animal studies demonstrated that retinoids might increase the anagen phase and decreased the telogen phase[19].
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.