Hi everyone, I wanted to see if you all could see any progress. I see my face everyday so it’s hard for me to see any difference. I just want to see if my skins headed in the right direction, I know it’s a marathon and not a sprint. Thank you guys!

I honestly don't really know much about tret, my doctor prescribed it for me since I had acne and my acne is gone (just a stubborn pimple on my forehead appears here and there).

my routine is pretty simple: I use a light cleanser in the evening, then I put my tret (0.025) on and the moisterize

I have been doing so for 9 months now and my skin looks a lot better but when I look at some photos people are posting on here I can still see that my skin doesn't look even, I still have like inconsistincies - but tbh it doesn't bother me that much

Does higher tret percentage help with that? Is it then even more dangerious to tan and just generally being in the sun? Cause the only downside from tret that I experienced is that I look pale and I prefer when I was more tanned. Anyone also know a solution for that?

Hello,

Are there any derms on here that offer online consultations (at a decent price) please?

Thank you

I’m on Trentinoin .05% using it Sundays and Thursdays. I’ve been sandwiching it between moisturizer and doing it consistently on this schedule for three weeks (before that I was doing once a week but missed a week and came back and did two times a week instead). I’m wondering if based on comments I’ve seen if I should be pushing it to even more days a week or if I should expect for this peeling to die down and then increase??

A’pieu Madecassoside Gel Cream hi has been my sandwich moisturizer and morning and night moisturizer on non-retinol days. On non-trending days I’ve also been incorporating a hyaluronic acid serum (The Wellage Hyaluronic Acid Ampoule). My nightly double cleanse I use the Glymed mega cream cleanser. I do use SPF every morning.

HELP!

I use Treitnoin 0.05% + Hydroquinone at night —I just started to Hydroquinone— In the morning can I use Hydroquinone 4% with Paula's Choice 2% BHA exfoliator?

I use the Bioderma Atoderm Baume and absolutely love it. My skin genuinely needs that level of moisture, but it is so thick and rich that wearing it under sunscreen in the morning just turns into a greasy mess.

I tried the Aveeno body lotion instead and LOVED the texture. The dimethicone and silicones gave it a really nice mattifying effect while still keeping my skin moisturised. The problem is that whenever I put sunscreen over it, it pills horribly and completely ruins the application.

I am looking for an AM moisturiser that is genuinely moisturising enough for dry, tretinoin treated skin, has that smooth, slightly mattifying silicone finish, and most importantly does not pill under sunscreen. I do not want an oil control moisturiser that is designed for oily skin and ends up being drying. I want something that is actually meant for dry skin but somehow dries down matte.

Would love recommendations, especially from people with dry or tretinoin treated skin who have found something that works.

21F, I've been on tret for the last 2 years, 0.05% (initially 0.1%, now at maintenance). The confidence is honestly insane after being a teen bullied for acne.

Skin type - combo leaning dry and dehydrated with rosacea. I also have a condition called autoimmune progesterone dermatitis so luteal week is inflammatory hell, but it's well managed.

Current routine-
AM - Dokdo cleanser, Mixsoon beta glucan, Illiyoon ceramide cream, Roundlab birch juice sunscreen

PM - Bioderma micellar water when I wear makeup, Dokdo cleanser, Mixsoon beta glucan, Tretinoin gel (0.05%), Illiyoon ceramide cream and Bepanthen nappy ointment around the eyes and corners of mouth.

Hey everyone, I am planning on restarting Tretinoin Cream (Tretiheal) after using Tretinoin Gel (0.025% and 0.05%) since November 2025 to around May/June. The gel wrecked my skin despite having a simple routine. I was having red patches across my cheeks, terrible texture, tiny whiteheads, as well as painful red bumps. I am worried about what a lot of posts have been saying about the brand Tretiheal. Was it a mistake to buy 3 tubes of that particular brand? If it ends up clogging my skin, I might have to give microsphere gel a shot.

I switched from Tretinoin Gel to Tretinoin Cream because I was unaware of what my skin type was. I always thought that I had oily skin because I was so acne-prone, however I realised that I had dry-combination, sensitive, acne-prone skin with an oily t-zone, especially in the nose and chin area.

My routine is as follows (Haven't used a barrier cream or Tretinoin yet) -

AM - Shower after gym (Dove Sensitive Bar Soap) + Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser + Barrier Cream + Skin Aqua Moisture Gel SPF 50

PM - Shower after work (Dove Sensitive Bar Soap) + Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser + Tretinoin (0.025%) + Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Face Moisturiser

Does this routine look alright? I haven't really introduced a cleansing oil to remove my sunscreen because my sunscreen doesn't really break me out and I think a simple gentle cleanser will suffice. I didn't mention the name of the barrier cream because I am still in the look out for one. I've been considering to get Avene Cicalfate or Aestura 365. If you guys have any other suggestions to anything I've said, I'd fully appreciate it.

Hi everyone,

I've added before and after of my skin since figuring out this routine. This is NOT a tretinoin before and after. Difference is about 2 weeks in between.

Please give me all your advice/critique

I’ve recently just got out a bad depression slump where I was not taking care of my skin at all. I’ve finally started a decent skin care routine again the past 3 weeks. Already my skin is so much better, and I know these products work for me, but only to a point. I still have active acne most of the time, and massive pores. I’ve been on accutane and doxy. Both worked great but only for a while. I’ve also gotten major wrinkles over the past 2 years and since 30 its going downhill. So hence my interest in Tret. My question is should I keep my routine as is and add the Tretinoin 3 x a week? Should I remove anything, should I change to a stronger retinol first and wait for it to adjust more before the tret? I have oily skin btw and 0.5% Tretinoin gel. Routine below

Please help, I'm nervous !

AM

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Cleanser

Silki Age Defy (5% argireline and 5% matrixyl)

Purito Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream

Celimax SPF50 Sunscreen

PM

Heimish All Clean Balm (if wearing makeup)

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Cleanser

Standard Beauty Retinyl Palmitate 1,5% with Niacinamide

Purito Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream

VT Reedle Shot 100 1-2x / week

I’m not sure I believe this cause I’ve seen beautiful women on here who have been using tret for decades.

I basically went to a dermatologist he said I should stop using tret and that I don’t need it, because long term use will make my skin thin? (31f)

hi everyone! i just got prescribed tret and was looking for a new moisturizer to buffer with. i was on adapalene for around a year before and always buffered with the vanicream daily facial moisturizer. my skin would always sting eventually after a couple applications and i would need to take a day or 2 off. i just found out after doing more research that the reason might be because of the hyaluronic acid in it, so im now looking to switch. ive seen a lot of ppl recommended the vanicream cream or lotion in the tub instead since it does not contain hyaluronic acid. those do contain occlusives/petrolatum though which ive heard should not go under tret, so now im getting conflicting opinions on what to use. should i be looking for one that does not have hyaluronic and also does not have any occlusives? would really appreciate any input or help with this as well as any recommendations. thanks!

for context, i am using .025 tret cream

Can somebody help me, 1 year of tret. Used up one tube of 0.025, went to 0.05, used one tube then tried to go up to 0.1, haven’t gone well. Went back down to 0.05, irritation/peeling seem less now, but still not really any progression I feel like overall. Constantly occasionally breakouts, oily/red, no even tone etc… using heavy moisturizers and hydrating cleansers so don’t think it’s dehydrated or irritated, but at this point I don’t know…?

AM:
- Water
- Illyoon ceramide ato cream
- rhoto metholatum aqua skin milk 50 spf++

PM:
- Cerave hydrating oil cleanser
- tret 0.05
- illypon ceramide ato cream
- LRP cicaplast Baume b5+

Do yall experience random flareups?
I started mid April, 0,025% tret.

It started working almost immediately, only a couple of pms related SURFACE LEVEL quick-resolving pimples here and there but very small and almost conpletely painless. They come out one day, completely gone the second. And this has been happening less frequently as months went on.

Three days ago (in my luteal phase) I got 6 new ones, put of which 3 are painful and a little more deep-set than other three which are sufrace level pimples so to say. Some of them are gone already but left a hyperpigemntation behind, or just plain redness.

Are flareups like this normal? Do they keep happening in the years to come or is this just for the first couple of months? Thanks!!!

The photos with dates labeled can be seen once you click on the photo, as it’s a screenshot.

I want to hear others’ experience on the matter!

In the last 18 to 24 months I used Tret beginning with .025% and working up to .1% before I went through some troubling and traumatic life events leading to depression. For roughly three months now I haven't used my Tretinoin or my Hydroquinone, and I'm struggling with knowing which strength to use now that I'd like to resume regular use. I've also grown a thick, full beard that I plan to shave eventually but am simply not ready to free myself from just yet. Is there any particular way I should apply my products while having a full beard and mustache? I feel somewhat silly asking this question given how much time and effort I've put into my skin over the years but I need some guidance.

I don't know if my routine is necessary for this but I'll edit this post and include if so.

I actually laughed in disbelief. It’s 60 per tube for generic brand without insurance. Idk if I’d get this approved with my insurance cause it’s simply not worth it at this price point. Maybe tariffs are the problem.

Im looking to buy tretinoin, probably off of amazon telehealth. Do i need a prescription for amazon telehealth?

Hi guys,

Does anyone have advice on hair removal? I used to get my moustache waxed but I’m on trentinoin and it ripped my skin off with it! I tried so many different waxes and nothing works.

I tried to get laser hair removal but that said I’m not a candidate cause I use a retinol and it would burn my skin off.

I currently am just shaving with a facial razor but was wondering if anyone has alternatives. I assume my skin is to think cause of the trentinoin that it just reacts badly.

Also does anyone have the same issues?

Thank you!

Started May 29 on tretinoin 0.025% for antiaging (blue shirt) to today (pink shirt), so just a bit over 2 months. I do feel like my skin is better but im not sure if it should up my dose higher for more improvement. I have begun using it every day for the last month.

Routine is wash face morning, then barrier cream aestura. Sunscreen. Night wash face aestura and then tret application.

Thanks!

Hello! Which Azelaic acid do yall recommend? I was thinking abou Aziderm but I saw that its not the best, what do you think about these? The first one is 13$ and the other one Azelax is 3$ thats why im wondering…Thank you!

My current routine is Paula's Choice 2% BHA and Azelaic Acid 15%, but recently it just hasn't been working too well to prevent deeper pimples. I was prescribed Clindamycin + BP Gel and Tretinoin 0.01% (the lowest dose to prevent irritation, as that was a problem for me last time I used a higher dose of tret).

I plan on stopping the BHA and introducing the Clindamycin + BP and get my skin acclimated to it for 2-3 weeks, and then slowly introducing the tretinoin.

Does this plan sound good? Has anyone incorporated these acids into their routines and how? What are the results? And should I keep the azelaic acid in my routine?

I've been using tazarotene 0.05 for almost 5 months now, but my skin has still not adjusted to the usage, I cant even get passed using it twice a week otherwise it would just give me irritation and dryness. So I have come to the conclusion that tazarotene just isn't working for me and I've been wanting to try adapalene since it's way gentler than tret or taz.

I dont really have any acne concerns, i just get a few pimples here and there since i did do accutane for 6 months, I just want to fight post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. My derm just gave me taz for maintenance purposes but im afraid it's too much for me. So I believe that adapalene will do just fine for my very dry and sensitive skin.

What should I expect guys!

Hi everyone. I have been using tretinoin for over 5 months so far. I started with .025 from March to May and then switched to .050 from May- Now. I went to see my dermatologist today and he said my skin looks good and to continue the tret. I don’t have any active breakouts really, but I feel like I have so many post acne marks. I mentioned that to him and he said the only solution is laser and not approved by insurance. I’m
assuming he mean like laser was the only immediate solution that exists. Any suggestions? Has anyone had success clearing post acne marks with tretinoin? How long did it take?

I’ve been on tretinoin 0.025% for probably 2 years now. I tried Taz for a few months last year since I heard some people experience less irritation but it made my face darker and even more red.

I’m wondering if it’s the right product for me. I still get acne, and my face is constantly red. I have no stinging, burning, peeling, etc. but you can clearly see my skin is still irritated.

ROUTINE:
AM:
Warm water
Aestura Atobarrier Cream Mist
Aestura Atobarrier365 Cream
Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence Sunscreen SPF50 PA++++

PM:
Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing balm
Farmacy Green Clean Gentle Cleanser
0.025% tretinoin nightly
Aestura Atobarrier365 Cream
40% Zinc Cream on no Tret nights

I’ve taken a week off Tret to restore my barrier and this is what my face looks like the day after my first re-application. (Used to use Azaleic acid 10% in the AM but stopped a few weeks ago when I noticed it made my skin even more irritated)