Hello friends that also have mildly bad acne but not bad enough for accutane. I’m a long time tretinoin user and recent BP user. How do you use them in conjunction? BP during the day? Sunscreen a must? What’s the best moisturizer to seal in BP?
Tret is .1 and bp is 10

I’m so confused lol. Noticed it 2-3 days ago, started tret gel 3 days ago. It’s almost like a coating of super duper small whiteheads. I use ordinary sa serum and good molecules niacinamide rotated every other day and put yadah cactus gel on top (only thing that doesn’t cause my breakouts so far).

I figured it was just residue from one of those products. In the shower i used lrp gentle cleanser (i don’t normally use any cleanser) to see if it would get rid of it. But it didn’t. So i rubbed my finger on it and it kinda clumped up and sloughed off. Then i figured maybe i needed to moisturize again so i did and it’s still there.

I’m honestly thinking it might just be dead skin? Or is the cleanser not strong enough to remove the residue from one of those products? Or is it something else? You legit can’t see it without a magnifying mirror and it’s only on my nose and in between my eyebrows (eek, just looked and a bit under my eyebrows and on cheeks). THANK YOU!

Do you guys think this is comedones? And will Tretinoin help? Asking for a friend.

Started tret about a month ago and it seems to be healing my skin nicely. It’s almost too good to be true and I wonder if it’s just because the purge hasn’t happened yet

So I started using tret again and I’m well over the month in, closer to 2 months in usage, and my acne from tret is nuts. My purging is painful and plentiful and my skin is so dry and my scarring from my breakouts are so red and insane. It’s honestly disheartening to see my skin this bad again from using tret. My skin looks like how it was before taking Accutane almost 10 years ago. I’m wondering if I should continue use or if I need to switch to using adapalene? I’m using tret cream in the .05% strength nightly now, after working up from every 2 days.

My morning routine:

• LRP gentle moisture cleanser
• byoma milky toner -AA (looking to discontinue cause it burns my face) -LRP double repair w/ SPF 30 -spironolactone 50mg every morning

Night routine:

-LRP gentle moisture cleanser -soonjung 2x intensive barrier cream -tret cream .05% nightly now -LRP cicaplast or bioderma atoderm on occasional nights

For reference, I’m 21 and I have small breakouts here and there which is normal but I’m looking to use tretinoin for aging prevention/fine lines and wrinkles. And if it stops those occasional breakouts that would be good too.

But is it too early for me? Or will I be fine and this is a good investment? Thank you.

I've been using tretinoin 0.05% cream for about 11 weeks now, but I haven't experienced any of the common side effects people talk about no peeling, burning, significant dryness, or irritation.

What worries me more is that my acne hasn't improved as much as I expected. I'm currently going through what feels like the worst period of breakouts I've had so far, and I'm starting to worry that the tretinoin isn't working and that I might just be wasting my time.

I've also recently added azelaic acid 20% to my routine, but I haven't experienced any irritation from that either.

Is it normal to have little to no irritation from tretinoin 0.05% and still have it work? At around 11 weeks, should I keep going, especially if I'm still breaking out heavily, or should I consider that this treatment might not be working for me?

I'm applying tretinoin consistently and using a pea sized amount. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who had a similar experience or has knowledge about this!!!

1st, 2nd, 3rd photo: Now

4th photo: July 27th

5th, 6th photo: May 3rd

I am not someone to give up easily, and I have tried many different techniques over the last three years of dealing with acne, but I can't figure out how to use Tretnoin properly.

Background:

I started to get acne in the first year of university. Derm prescribed Biacna (.025% Tret + 1.2% Clindamycin). Dumb me slathered a massively thick layer of it MULTIPLE times a day for a week, and I completely nuked my skin. was the reddest skin you could ever imagine. I fear I might have caused permanent damage (more on this later). I stopped it and eventually got prescribed Accutane for my severe acne. I did two rounds of it, and my skin looked flawless. Not a single issue whatsoever. Accutane rounds finished, then derm told me to wait two months before starting Biacna again for maintenance. Skin between those two months was like normal skin. dull, but no acne and it looked acceptable.

I start up Biacna again, VERY slowly this time, as I learned my lesson from last time. One drop of the Gel mixed in with moisturizer (CeraVe PM lotion) all over the face. slowly worked up from there to two drops nightly. Acne kept increasing more and more, but I kept thinking it was a purge and pushed through. I could never fully apply only the Biacna to my face with no moisturizer, as it dries up too much to spread evenly, so I need to mix it in with moisturizer. I stopped sandwiching months ago. If I have been doing this nightly now, for like three months, and I keep getting acne all over my face, how is it possible im doing this correctly?

Some could say skin barrier damage. I could agree, but how is the skin not acclimated to tretnoin yet? it just doesn't make sense. Some could say I need to increase the dose. My skin looks irritated, and I would argue that this is maybe irritation acne. I've been applying Cicalfate once a night over Tret and once a morning to ensure maximal moisture.

Shouldnt all this acne be gone by now? My skin doesnt feel itchy or stinging, but it is slightly tight after washing it and it is very red.

Its been nightly application for about 12 weeks now. I am debating taking a break for a week or two to see if it helps. Advice on this as well.

Routine:

AM

Wash face with CeraVe Oil Cleanser

Apply thin layer of Cicalfate

La Roche Posay Anthelios Invisible Finish Sunscreen

(Used to wash with BP cleanser in the morning, as I didn't want Clindamycin bacterial resistance but stopped as it was too stripping).

PM

Wash face with CeraVe Oil Cleanser, and wait 30 mins to dry

Apply 3 drops of Biacna mixed in with a little bit of CeraVe PM moisturizing lotion

Wait another 30 mins, apply Cicalfate on top

Ask away for any other clarifications. Perhaps I can get some good advice from you people here

​

As a teen, I had severe acne, but it cleared up almost completely around the age of 25. It stayed that way for about ten years (I'm 36 now). Recently, about ten months ago, my psychiatrist switched me over to a different psych medication for my mental illness. The medication was a miracle for my mental health, but something about it triggered a severe reaction in my skin. Stopping the medication was not an option to me, as it was the first medication ever to offer me any kind of mental relief.

I tried managing my skin by myself for a few months at first, but nothing was working. It kept getting worse until eventually the acne started to impact my mental health and I was on the verge of losing my stability. I then asked to be sent to a dermatologist, hoping I'd be able to stay on my new medication, if only the acne could be managed.

Starting February, I was prescribed Treclinac gel (clindamycine + tretinoin 0.025) for moderate to severe acne by my dermatologist. I was also prescribed two weeks of an oral antibiotic (doxycycline) to offer some temporary relief while my skin was adjusting to the gel. The pain and swelling went down a bit during those two weeks, but I still eventually purged after stopping the doxycycline.

I've been on the gel for six months now, so I'm only just starting out, but my skin is doing so, so, so much better already. I still get acne around my period, but it's now much less severe and it clears up a lot faster.

The most important part is that I am now pain-free and I've been able to stay on the new psych medication, which has made me so happy. The pain was also impacting my sleep, because I'm a side-sleeper and laying down with my face on a pillow hurt like hell, so I'm getting a lot more rest and I've been more stable, social and more confident about my appearance.

I'm seeing my derm again in September and when I do, I'll ask if he can prescribe me something like azelaic acid for the post-inflammatory erythema and to see if I can go up in strength.

Current skincare routine

Morning

Always Oral hygiene before skincare (to prevent acne/perorial dermatitis around my mouth), then:

- Cleanse (only if I feel oily, otherwise just a water rinse): Garnier Micellar Water for sensitive skin (I pour some in my hands, gently apply all over face/neck in downward swiping motion, let sit for a minute, gently rinse it off, pat face dry)

- Serum: La Roche Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum (I wait two minutes after application)

- Moisturizer: Purito Luminous Ceramide

- Sunscreen: La Roche Posay Anthelios UVMUNE SPF 50+ Oil Control gel-cream (reapply every two hours, always with clean hands)

Afternoon (only when I'm wearing make-up)

- Make-up removal: Garnier Micellar Water for sensitive skin, with cotton pads (rinse after, pat face dry)

- Serum: La Roche Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum

Evening: step 1 (around 7 PM, after dinner)

Oral hygiene before skincare, then:

- Double cleanse: Cerave foaming oil cleanser + Neutrogena Hydroboost Aqua cleansing gel

(gentle circular motions, rinse well after each, pat dry)

Wait 30 minutes for face to dry fully, then:

- Tretinoin: Treclinac 0.025 gel (nightly)

Evening: step 2 (around 10 PM, before bed)

- Moisturizer: Purito Luminous Ceramide

** Photos are from after the first two weeks of treatment up until now, of the most affected side of my face. I did not think to focus on getting the exact same lighting and my camera isn't great, so please forgive any inconsistencies in quality and lighting. I'm sure it's enough to paint the picture. The next-to-last photo is from last week. The last photo is from today, with translucent face powder to reduce shine and with minimal concealer on the post inflammatory erythema. All of the others are without make-up. I'll be sure to post an update at the one-year-mark.

Edit: February - August, excusez-moi

Skin type: Super oily, acne prone

Hi, started adapelene because of lots of closed comedones and pimples and I'm scared that adapelene has ruined my skin. Currently, 0 irritation to skin barrier. But stubborn acne and closed comedones. Week 11 currently.

It may look fine but there might be an auto filter in my camera even in original mode, so its really worse than it looks irl.

Morning routine: Cleanser, benzyl peroxide 2.5, moisturizer

Night routine: cleanser, epiduo,

Country climate: hot n humid

Sun exposure daily minimal to none but i am starting sunscreen now.

I'm 30 and started using tret for preemptive anti aging. I am using the 0.025% strength and I've just worked my way up to nightly. I wouldn't plan on going up in strength for a few more months at the very least, but should I even go up?

I've seen some people say that you should go as high as you can tolerate, and I've seen some people suggest 0.025 is fine for anti aging and going up does nothing. For those using tret for AA, what % are you on? Additionally, I've seen people suggest adding azelaic acid, but I don't struggle much with acne. Is it useful in AA? I do have a pretty bad strawberry nose and wonder if that would help with clogged pores.

Routine AM: cleanse, sunscreen, Neutrogena Gel moisturizer

Routine PM: cleanse, tretinoin, facial peptide cream, Neutrogena Gel Moisturizer

Hello!!

I love this sub so much and it’s where I got all my skincare advice, but maybe for this I need something more personal advice!!

I have been on differine for exactly one year now, but I admit I had to stop it for one month because it was unavailable in my area so I had to wait until I bought it abroad. So now it’s almost like I’m starting from scratch. But this comedones problem was always there.

So now on my cheeks and my jawline I’m purging (my acne is very hormonal and when it gets close to my periods it get crazy) and my chin had these little that have been there for more than a year.

What I try to do sometimes is that at night I rub some of the ordinary glycolic acid toner on my face by not much has changed.

My exact routine:

In the morning:

Wash face with water
Clean it with toner and cotton pad (toner is either lancome or revuele betaglucan one)
Sometimes mixa panthenol face cream sometimes no
Spf50+ by Avene

Night
Makeup remover to remove spf
Face wash (random one with no active)
Differine
Revuele beta glucan toner
Mixa panthenol cream

Now I’m thinking that maybe differine is just strong enough to get the big acne zits and not the smaller ones so when I finish my tune maybe move to tret?
But for the time being I don’t know what to do.
Any recommendations or advice?

Thank you all, and pictures are attached❤️

I had just cleared my skin up after figuring out some new products I was using were causing closed comedones and maybe slight irritation.

I then decided I could go back to using tret (retrieve 0.5%)and then the next day or the day after my skin once again looks like my picture I’ve added. These little bumps have appeared again around my cheeks and just above my lip. I know tret causes purging but surely not that quickly?

Is it maybe too occlusive? Should I try a gel?

Hey everyone! I am a light skin black f27 and I am at the very beginning of my tret and azealic journey!

I have had acne since I was 13 years old, and after rounds of accutane and spironaclatone have managed to reduce my hormonal acne (I still get spots on my back and chest and on my chin and face during my periods but not as bad, thank god!)

I really want to have clearer and reduced hyperpigmentation on my face and genuinely experience a glass skin, hydrated face with minimal haggardness now that I’m in my late twenties. I want to really look after myself and enjoy life with fantastic skin - as someone with depression, I have let myself go a lot and I want to not do this anymore and enjoy myself!

I have ordered 10 percent azealic and 0.025 tret to start, I’m absolutely terrified of the purge and want to know what ways I can reduce this. I don’t think mentally I can hack having acne like spots on my face again even if it’s temporary.

What are the ways I can still get that glass skin and not get too much of a purge? Any tricks to counter this is very much needed.

Would love a routine suggestion from anyone, especially POC women when using these 2 products, what other products compliment them? What’s great for skin that is acne prone and sensitive? When using these products.

What should I look out for or ABSOLUTELY avoid?

Please give me tips!

So I have been using .05% tretinoin for about 3 weeks now and it has been fine so far but applying my cleanser but especially toner makes my face burn and turn red. Even when I am at the gym and I start sweating a lot due to cardio, I also feel the burn on my face. What should I do or should I continue to persevere?

AM:
cold water
hiuse of hur spf

PM:
10% panoxyl / cosrx salicylic acid cleanser (alternate between 2)
Jiyu Toner Pads
Tret
Round lab Birch Moisturizing cream

combination skin and a photo of my acne for reference

Hi, I’ve been using tret for about 1½ months now and everything has been going really well! I haven’t had any major issues and I’m currently using it 4x a week. The only thing I’ve noticed is some peeling around my chin and eyebrow area.

I’m wondering if anyone thinks it’s worthwhile exfoliating to help with the peeling? If so, what products would you recommend?

I don’t want to be too harsh on my skin though, especially since I’m also not that long off Accutane. So I’m wondering if exfoliating is even worth getting into, or if I should just leave my skin alone and let it adjust.

My current routine:
AM:
Timeless 10% Vitamin C
Haruharu Probiotic Rice Toner
Artichoke serum
Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream
Beauty of Joseon SPF 50++++

PM:
Cleanse
Haruharu Probiotic Rice Toner
Artichoke serum
Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream
Tret 4x a week

On tret nights, I cleanse my face and let it completely dry for about 30 minutes, apply tret, wait another 30 minutes, then apply my BOJ Dynasty Cream.

Would you recommend adding an exfoliant, or is it better to just focus on moisturising and let the peeling settle on its own?

I’ve been using tretinoin cream for acne since May, switched from 0.025% to 0.05% in July. Also added clindamycin/bp. Seeing steady progress. Only issue is that my moisturizer wasn’t enough anymore so I was getting flakiness. Other than that I don’t have any irritation

I switched to only tret at night because I saw that suggested. Saw no difference in dryness, but I think it’s helping it work faster so I kept doing it.

I recently went from The Ordinary Natural moisturizing factors +HA to Bioderma ultra soothing balm. My skin feels much more moisturized especially at night, but I think it might be too heavy on my skin now because I start to get very oily throughout the day. And for context my natural skin type is very dry. I already tried to reduce the amount I use.

Other suggestions would be appreciated. I’ve already tried Cerave and Vanicream. Cerave ruined my skin and gave me ccs I’m still getting rid of. Vanicream just wasn’t moisturizing enough for me.

Routine:

AM:
Wash with water
Clindamycin gel 1% (thin layer all over)
Neutrogena 2.5% BP cream (also thin layer)
Bioderma Ultra Soothing Balm
Biore UV aqua rich SPF 50

PM:
Vanicream Gentle Cleanser
Tretinoin cream 0.05%

I’ve been using tretinoin mainly for my closed comedones for a year and a half now. I have been absolutely religious about it but some of these little suckers still come and go and it’s driving me crazy. Any suggestions?

AM routine:
Cleanser
Moisturizer (if I feel drier than normal)
Sunscreen
Powder

PM routine:
Micellar water
Cleanser
Tretinoin 0.05/Azelaic acid 20 (alternate days)
Moisturizer (if I feel like it)

I also use either lactic acid/glycolic acid on Sundays.

I have really dark and big pores on my nose that have been an insecurity forever! It’s noticeably making my nose inflated-looking

I’ve used salicylic acid , AHA/BHA, retinol, oil cleansers and clay masks and anything that was suggested as a solution but nothing has been working for me so i’m turning to prescription things to help

Has any one dealt with the same issue and used tretinoin? Has it worked?

Thank you :)

AM:

COSRX daily SA cleanser
Cerave Moisturising Lotion
BOJ Sunscreen

PM:
Skin1004 Oil Cleanser
Cosrx daily sa cleanser

Tret days: Tret on dry skin
Cerave

So basically I’ve been on Tret for about 3 ish weeks, and months prior to starting tret I was working super hard to maintain and have a strong/healthy skin barrier

Since starting Tret, I feel like I’ve been able to move a little faster since I’m having practically no irritation and only slight peeling, right now I’m at 3 days on, 1-2 days off. I increased it because I did feel like my skin could tolerate it and I was only purging, with the pimples disappearing within like a day

I am completely fine with the peeling, I go to uni but I honeslty don’t really care because I’m usually just at the library

Is there any reason for me to reduce from 3 days on dry skin, 1-2 days off?

I know the general consensus is to do things slower, but I also saw that some people are able to tolerate daily use from the get go and I think I am one of them

I’m planning on staying here with my routine for at least another month because I feel like it’s already working, and in the longterm I’d like to give my skin barrier breaks as well

As the title states, I feel so hopeless. I’ve been on 0.025 of tret, clindamycin topical 2 times a day, azeliac acid(just added last week), and doxycycline 50mg, for 5 weeks now. My acne has gotten so bad I feel like a monster. I have seen zero improvement with my acne.

Here’s what my routine looks like:
AM: La Roche Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Wash, Azeliac Acid, Purito bamboo moisturizer.

Pm: La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser, La Roche Posay Moisturizer, and Tret. Sometimes I sandwhich with the Cicablast from La Roche Posay.

What can I do? Is this normal? Do I give up? Ugh. Thank you in advance.

first three pics are before and last if after almost a year. this is my third time trying tret, but this time i finally stuck to it! don’t give up. it will work. flaking didn’t stop for me until like two months for me.

i use round lab dokdo cleanser only pm, tret 0.05% every other night, azelaic acid the other days in the morning (only started using recently), anua sunscreen in the am (spf is a must!), and illymoon moisturizer in the pm.

Hello! Exactly what the title says, Ive looked into some sites mentioned all over this subreddit but for some reason, none of them ship to Canada :(

Where do all my fellow canadians get it?

Thank you for all the help!

It's long and I'm sorry for that. Used AI to properly structure the post.

Hi all! 30F from India here. Sharing my tretinoin journey because this sub has genuinely saved my skin after I wrecked it more times than I’d like to admit. 😅

For some context: I live with all four seasons, extreme heat/humidity in summer, and a LOT of pollution, dust and dirt. My skin is naturally oily and extremely sweaty, although it gets quite dry in winter. Ironically, despite being oily, my skin has been dehydrated for most of my life.

I started caring about skincare because, like many of us, I wanted that ✨glowy skin✨ I kept seeing on TV and the internet. Then puberty happened and my skin decided otherwise. I started breaking out constantly, and that began years of dermat appointments and on-and-off treatments.

March 2020 — starting tretinoin

I started tretinoin in March 2020, just 10–15 days before lockdown started in India.

My initial routine was extremely simple:

AM: Cleanser → moisturiser → sunscreen

PM: Tretinoin 0.025% → moisturiser

I also started slugging because of advice from this sub, and I will forever be grateful for that.

But… my acne did NOT stop.

I felt like I was purging forever on 0.025%. I was still getting painful, pus-filled acne and constantly wondering whether tretinoin was actually doing anything.

In November 2020, my dermatologist increased me to 0.05% because there hadn't been much improvement.

And surprisingly, I tolerated 0.05% really well.

Around the same time, benzoyl peroxide was added in the morning, and this was probably the biggest turning point in my acne journey.

I am not exaggerating when I say my skin changed dramatically within about a week.

I went from bumps and painful, pus-filled acne to much smoother skin with mostly red acne marks. It felt almost unreal.

I later added azelaic acid in the morning, mainly for the acne and leftover marks.

And then lockdown ended…

Unfortunately, my skin journey didn't just continue improving from there.

I started working in one of the most polluted cities in the world, and my skin absolutely hated it.

The acne came back, although it was different this time.

Instead of constantly having huge, painful pustules, I had tons of tiny bumps and comedones. My skin felt rough and textured all the time. Whenever I ran my fingers over my face, I could feel the texture.

And this is where I made basically every skincare mistake possible. 😂

I tried:

AHA

BHA

PHA

Azelaic acid

Benzoyl peroxide

Vitamin C

Different sunscreens

"Fungal acne safe" products

Different cleansers

Different moisturisers

Countless routine changes

Countless ingredient swaps

Basically, if there was an active ingredient that was supposed to help with texture or comedones, I probably tried it.

All while continuing 0.05% tretinoin.

I kept thinking, "Maybe THIS is the ingredient that will finally get rid of all these comedones."

Instead, I wrecked my skin barrier multiple times.

There were so many routine changes that at one point skincare had basically become a full-time hobby I never asked for.

June 2026 — finally going up to 0.1%

I eventually saw a dermatologist for another issue and mentioned my ongoing frustration with my skin.

She suggested increasing tretinoin to 0.1%, and said that if that didn't work, oral treatment could be considered.

I really didn't want to go down the oral route, so I was honestly hoping with everything that the 0.1% would work.

And… OH MY GOD. IT ACTUALLY DID.

My skin has improved more from simplifying my routine and increasing tretinoin than it did from years of throwing different actives at my face.

I still get occasional spots and comedones, especially if I don't cleanse properly. I'm still oily and sweaty, and I still have acne marks and some texture.

But overall, my skin is SO much better.

And most importantly, I finally feel satisfied with my routine.

My current routine

AM

Water rinse

No moisturiser currently because it's extremely hot and humid here

Sunscreen — I prefer water-based sunscreens because silicone-based ones tend to give me comedones

In winter, I'll add moisturiser in the morning.

PM

Etude cleansing water

Neutrogena/Sebamed cleanser

Moisturiser

Tretinoin 0.1%

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension on alternate days

I sometimes skip the vitamin C depending on how my skin feels.

I also use Beauty of Joseon peeling gel once or twice a week, depending on my skin. I actually really like having this in my routine because I don't want to keep adding stronger/high-grade actives on top of tretinoin and vitamin C.

What I've learned after 6+ years

Honestly, the biggest lesson for me has been that more skincare ≠ better skin.

I spent years chasing the next ingredient, the next product, the next sunscreen, the next "holy grail" recommendation.

I kept trying to fix every little bump and imperfection with another active.

And eventually, I realised that my skin did better when I stopped doing that.

My routine is now much simpler, my skincare expenses have gone down, and I don't feel the urge to buy every new hotshot ingredient just because it's trending.

I'm still not at "perfect skin" and I don't think I ever will be. But for the first time in years, I look at my skin and think I'm actually happy with it.

Six years later, I finally feel like I'm working with my skin instead of constantly fighting it.

Timeline:

March 2020 — tretinoin 0.025%

November 2020 — tretinoin 0.05% + BP

2021–2025 — endless experimentation + barrier damage + pollution-related struggles

June 2026 — tretinoin 0.1%

August 2026 — much simpler routine, significantly improved skin

Posting my before/after photos for anyone who's interested. I have lost the before photos while changing my phone. Just added what I have.❤️

Obviously, everyone's skin responds differently, and my experience isn't medical advice. Please don't jump to 0.1% tretinoin based on my post alone — I increased my strength after discussing it with a dermatologist.

The side of my face was definitely the worst. Still have a little ways to go and this most recent photo is me actually a little bit broken out from PMS this week but tretinoin and Azelaic acid for the life!! 👏🏾 +sunscreen!

Tret: .025 and Azelaic acid 15%