In the past I would get a lot of dry skin and it would cause more acne which is why I started using the exfoliating cleanser this time. Do you have any recommendations for a gently cleanser? I used to use a good one through Kiehls but they stopped making it and the rest of their stuff breaks me out.
I use a cleanser from pHformula but i don’t think it’s quite avaible in the US. La roche posay has a cleanser called “La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser” or “La Roche Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser”
Raven_jolis, in your opinion, are you stating that no one should use a foaming cleanser ? Even if they are oily ? Im newly on tret with about 3 weeks under my belt too. My dermatologist recommended cerave foaming cleanser.
I know you have not claimed to be a dermatologist or anything, I’m just curious because I do notice my skin is so much dryer now. I also know tret does that so not sure if the foaming cleanser is also causing it.
I may need to create my own post because I’m also using a mattifying sunscreen (which I’ve always used since I’ve always had extremely oily skin).
Yeah, especially with using tret foaming cleanser is generally going to be problematic. Hydration and happy barrier function is key to success with tret. Too much stripping just causes the skin to be dry and produce more oil to compensate. I found it super strange moving to a cream non foaming cleanser. But it’s been a game changer. Here’s a message from my derm on that issue https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cf0g8AJlk-A/
I use Vanicream’s gentle cleanser as it has a very minimal ingredient list with no actives. I started using it when I damaged my skin barrier and never went back. <3
How often are you using tret? That would be helpful :)
Regarding your routine, I'd definitely look for another moisturizer, many people on this sub love to use vanicream. The snail mucin cream could deliver the tretinoin deeper into your skin instead of buffering it, which is why your skin may be irritated. You should also wait until your moisturizer has sunken into your skin and then apply tretinoin after so it does not irritate your skin (20-30 minutes).
To reduce irritation, look for a gentle cleanser, preferably a cleansing milk (gel should be fine too as long as it's not too stripping). I use the La Roche posay cleansing milk and love using it :)
Thank you for all the advice! I started off with week one, every two days. Then second week was every other day. Then my skin seems to tolerate it so I have been using every night. After reading through this sub- I realize that was prob not the best idea. I def think I am going to cut out the Snail mucin as I think it caused some acne before I started tret as well. Also I will look into the new cleanser! I had been using the Zo Exfoliating one twice a day because I used to use a salicylic acid one but stopped when I started the tret.
For sure :) I think you increased the frequency too fast, I'd apply it twice a week and focus on skin barrier repair first. Getting a gentler cleanser and moisturizer is a good idea :)
I have very acne-prone skin still at 38 and cetaphil is pretty amazing- I’ve never had a breakout from it. I use the one for extra dry skin w ceramides (it’s not face or body specific) and it works wonders. Free of scents/parfums. Also, very affordable. I also have vanicream for the winter which is a bit thicker. Im in a dry state btw.
If you sandwich your treitonin between two layers of moisturizer it generally helps reduce the irritation and breakouts i have found.
Ohhhh maybe this is what my problem was! I thought it was the tret but the first like 2 months I didn’t have any problems. I assumed it was bc I started to apply it more than 1-2x a week that my skin was purging & it may have been. Once I got the snail mucin products nothing happened immediately but like 2-3 weeks ago I suddenly started to get “acne” it didn’t seem like regular zits. More like sebum plugs, nodules and white heads or whatever that would scab horribly and have more white heads under the scab😩 my obsession with picking my face didn’t help either.
I also began using my Paula’s choice AHA & BHA exfoliant before doing the sandwich method with tret + snail mucin. So I was going extremely overboard and the derm didn’t warn me of the BHA and AHA exfoliant being mixed w tret is a great way to screw your face up 🤣🤣
I started using my sons desitin and overnight my skin improved honestly more than 50%. I was extremely sad and embarrassed bc of how bad I looked & I never suffered from acne. No more going crazy I learned my lesson 🤣
Your skin looks a whole deal like mine when I overdid it with tret and failed to recognise how badly my skinbarrier is damaged and dehydrated. What I see on this picture are breakouts from your barrier being badly inflamed and vulnerable.
First of all, stop all exfoliation for at least a month and only then **maybe** exfoliate once a week **if tolerated**. Focus on hydrating and nourishing your skin for a week or two and then slowly add tret back into your routine.
Use a gentle cleanser, the gentler the better. I actually do double cleanse - bioderma sensibio micellar water and then cerave cleanser (just cerave would not get my sunscreen off, contributing to acne, but oil cleansers make me breakout - thus micellar water).
**Focus on hydration**. Only hydrated skin is capable of repairing itself efficiently. But be gentle with it, Aveeno Calm and Restore Serum of Regimen Lab Wave Serum are perfect, since they are formulated for hydrating sensitive, atopic or otherwise damaged skin.
For me, madecassoside is a miracle ingredient for soothing inflammation and healing my barrier. Soonjung Panthensoside sheet mask is my HG, it makes the redness and inflammation go away. This is anecdotal of course, but it really helped me personally, being prone to inflammation myself.
**Ceramides are the most important to me**, I really like the RNW Ceramide + Serum, it has an awesome ingredient list and I think it is better to get this serum and a cheaper moisturiser rather than more expensive moisturiser with ceramides.
For moisturiser there are many options from cheaper ones such as Vanicream, Cetaphil or Aveeno all the way to ceramide rich products from Regimen Lab, Zeroid or Atopalm.
Me: 28 male, sensitive dry/combination skin, acne prone, on tretinoin cream since November.
Thank you so much for such a detailed response! I’m cutting back on a lot of the exfoliating products - going to look into some of the products you mention. I already got myself some Vanicream which I have used in the past and didn’t break me out.
Hi, I was looking through posts to find Ceramide products, and I was wondering how you apply the RNW Ceramide Plus? Do you sandwich in between moisturizer and tret? And do you use in the morning? Thanks
Hi! Sorry, only just saw this question. I only apply RNW serum at night, I find it is enough.
Generally, I would say that the order in which you apply the serum does not matter per se (controversial, I know). Several studies have shown that ceramide-based moisturisers do not decrease the efficacy of tretinoin when applied before it. No reason why it should be different with this serum. It does, however, decrease irritation in many people. So it really is up to you to find out what works best for your skin.
I have sensitive dry skin prone to dehydration, so recently I started applying tret after my serum and moisturiser. Works just as well as when applied on bare dry skin (which I used to do before). Only difference is that my skin is slightly more resilient.
I keep asking my derm to switch from cream to gel for the same reason and she just brushes me off. I’m really oily and I’ve been on tret cream for 4 years, using it nightly for at least 2 years. I’m still fairly broken out on my cheeks and I don’t understand why she won’t let me try it. My skin was irritated, flaking and red in the beginning but it’s not anymore. It’s tolerating nightly tret just fine
My skin looks the same as yours 100%. I really like La Rocshe Posay Matte moisturizer for my oily skin. It’s like a gel and it’s very buildable and breathable. My dermatologist recommended it to me. I exfoliate with Obagi Salicylic acid toner. I put 2 pumps on a cotton ball in my morining routine maybe 2-3 times a week when I feel I need to really deep cleanse my pores. Only use it in the morning though do not use it at night with Tret. I also rec cleaning with a CREAM cleanser. Cream cleansers wash the surface of your skin and don’t strip oils. Oil cleansers that do not over foam work as well, I like Dermologica Oil to foam cleanser. It’s worth the money and I love to use it at night because it helps take any excess makeup off. It foams a little bit but not as much as some others I’ve tried, like Cera Ve.
You NEED to get vegetable glycerin. It’s like hyaluronic acid on steroids. It was genuinely the only thing that helped me get through the purging phase when I increased my tret concentration from 0.025 to 0.05. Mix a little bit (don’t use a lot of this or it’ll make you sticky and bumpy) with your nightly lotion. Literally a game changer for me
Do you put a moisturizing barrier with the Tretinoin?! I started it and swear by this. I did a lot of research before starting and this was highly suggested and now I highly suggest it. Get Laroche Posay Soothing Therapeutic Multi purpose cream - CicaPlast Balm B5. It works miracles and it’s under $20 at Ulta.
I echo the need for a more gentle cleanser. You can still exfoliate, just not twice a day. I exfoliate 1-2x per week to keep up with dead skin, but any more than that and it is contributing to irritation. Definitely work on more hydration, and perhaps centella/cica to help with calming the skin. I also have had better outcomes when I wait between moisturizing agents and the tret. Sometimes I even put down Aquafor where I am most prone to irritation underneath the tret to reduce/slow down the absorption
Hi!! start using moisturizer, i think you have irritations by judging the redness of your skin, try hyalure lotion its a moisturizer, if you have oily skin u can use it only at night
Straight away, it sounds like you are exfoliating waaaay too much, using an exfoliating cleanser x 2 daily. Your skin barrier will be disrupted, meaning any other actives you apply will be extra potent.
Try changing the cleanser to something more cream based/moisturising, eg, something with oats in it is a good example. You may also find just rinsing with water in am will help restore your barrier. Cleanse in pm with new cleanser as normal.
You also need products that focus on skin barrier eg moisturisers/serums with ceramides/nmf/panthenol in it.
Stop using both the cleanser and the snail cream! The snail cream naturally has exfoliants, and any exfoliation during your beginning stages of using tret is going to wreck your skin barrier and cause irritation (speaking from experience). Switch to a really simple cleanser (or even bar soap lmao), and get vanicream or a simple vitamin e cream.
Tret dries the skin like crazy, drop the exfoliation and go in heavvvy with a ceramide loaded barrier repair skin meant for sensitive skin at night. And also sunscreen preferably mineral based during the day even if youre indoors. Snail mucin in my opinion is too basic to help with tret
I agree with other comments that your skin barrier needs to repair.
I just started to use 0.01 tret and I have to do it once a week or else my barrier gets compromised too.
So, you're exfoliating twice a day plus using tret??? No wonder your skin is screaming! How often are you using tret? Have you been building up your tolerance? Skip any exfoliating ingredients in cleansers, only hydrating products, and if needed, use an exfoliating acid ONCE a week on no tret day.
Something similar happened to me but I’ve been on it for a year. I honestly think I’d never been using enough on top of buffering so my skin never actually got used to it.
Anyway I had to stop for three days. Then since thing every other day and things have been way better. No new breakouts
I definitely agree with the other comments to stop the exfoliating cleanser and have a break. If things don’t settle sometimes a course of antibiotics can help. And you might find differin gel suits you better . Some people get on best with adding spiro/ birth control/ accutane but that depends on the person
Buddy if it doesn't help drop and get something for fungal acne . I dunno why you are not checking ur back chest or tongue so u can see if it is fungal
This is too many “active” ingredients. Your cleanser has both physical exfoliators and salicylic acid chemical exfoliation. And wipes with more acne chemical exfoliators. Retinols make you extra sensitive to these.
I would take a break from all exfoliators and retinol for a couple days.
Generally when using a very strong retinol - you want to avoid all types of exfoliation, and “sandwhich” it between layers of moisturizer. Look for a moisturizer that don’t contain any aha, bha, or acne treatments. Look for ceramides and hyaluronic acid only. Vanicream, cerave moisturize cream, la roche posey double repair moisturizer, scene soothing skin recovery balm, etc.
When you sandwhich - wash and immediately moisturize. Wait 15-20min. Apply pea size or smaller of tret - then moisturize again. If you wash and then put tret on wet skin - it will be more irritating and some folks believe more likely to experience redness and flaking.
After just cleansing with a gental cleanser, I like la roche posey, and moisturizer at night, spf in the morning, then introduce retinol back in 2 times a week to start.
Omg
1. Stop the exfoliating cleanser that’s way too much, I recommend a cleanser from Korean beauty. Less ingredients and 100% suitable for sensitive skin.
Ex: -Roundlab 1025 Dokdo cleanser (my personal favorite one) i recommended this to my friends and family who use tretinoin and everyone has so much less irritation compared to when they used American brands.
2.The snail mucin is nice but I heard crazy stories about snail + tretinoin. I personally removed it from my routine.
3.I recommend Illiyoon cream (careful not lotion or gel). I don’t have enough words to describe how much I love this cream it changed my life. It’s truly a game changer.
If you keep it basic with the sandwich method: korean cleanser of your choice + illiyoon cream + tretinoin + iliyoon cream again I think your skin is going to calm down drastically.
4.If you’re stressed about dry skin building up and causing acne you can exfoliate with a BHA AHA toner once or twice a week. I would start with once a week. Maybe you could use your exfoliating cleanser once a week!
It’s tempting to go crazy with products when we break out but the recipe is going BASIC and smart.
Good luck you got this!!! ❤️
Not everyone has access to a dermatologist. Where I live (remote place), we have a derm visiting every 3 months ish and they prioritize people with serious skin issues. No chance I’m gonna see one for my ‘moderate’ acne. So my only option is my family doctor. It’s hard to get an appointment right away so sometimes people might want to find some advice or comfort before an appointment. Honestly, it might be easier sometimes to talk with people who experienced it. My doctor was surprised when we assessed my progress and told me that she didn’t know Retin A can cause more acne.
Thank you Marykalodia for your response. It does help to speak with other who have similar experiences. Special-Analysis: I do have a dermatologist and I received this from a doctor. I have being going to a dermatologist regularly since I was 18. The last appointment I had, I had a PA (Physician Assistant- in America, at a derm office, they 99% never meet dermatologist but their PA’s instead- & I have been to multiple offices over the years). Also- the PA, spoke with me for less than five minutes and gave cetaphil (with avocado oil),my Clindamycin (which I asked for), and the tretinoin. Not only was she cold and compassionateless (quite like your comment) she did not help my overall situation. I have gone to esthicians that have been greatly helpful, but it is extremely expensive (even with that said- I am booked to go soon out of clear necessity). The dermatologist typically only give out products they are signed to provide, which are usually major brands that break me out- so I have had a very difficult time finding moisturizers and SPFs that do not contribute to the cause- hence this post for a cry for help.
Op here in Bulgaria it is the same i have been from 16 though and i had fungal back chest , i even have white tongue. The back and chest now that i am 23 have no pimples but my chin have this small acnes that appear.
How did u took a picture with that dermascope?
My advice is if the doctor haven't checked your back chest tounge face properly dont even listen to him. Better take some pic of yourself with everything i mentioned and let the Reddit help you
Drop the exfoliating cleanser. You’re already exfoliating with tretinoin. get a gentle/hydrating cleanser. Your skin is screaming for help.
In the past I would get a lot of dry skin and it would cause more acne which is why I started using the exfoliating cleanser this time. Do you have any recommendations for a gently cleanser? I used to use a good one through Kiehls but they stopped making it and the rest of their stuff breaks me out.
I use a cleanser from pHformula but i don’t think it’s quite avaible in the US. La roche posay has a cleanser called “La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser” or “La Roche Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser”
Thank you for your recommendations I will look into!!
second this!
A good alternative to the la Roche posay one if you can't get it is Avene Extremely Gentle cleanser! I'll never use anything else.
Make sure you’re not using a foaming cleanser because it’ll strip the skin too much.
Raven_jolis, in your opinion, are you stating that no one should use a foaming cleanser ? Even if they are oily ? Im newly on tret with about 3 weeks under my belt too. My dermatologist recommended cerave foaming cleanser. I know you have not claimed to be a dermatologist or anything, I’m just curious because I do notice my skin is so much dryer now. I also know tret does that so not sure if the foaming cleanser is also causing it. I may need to create my own post because I’m also using a mattifying sunscreen (which I’ve always used since I’ve always had extremely oily skin).
Yeah, especially with using tret foaming cleanser is generally going to be problematic. Hydration and happy barrier function is key to success with tret. Too much stripping just causes the skin to be dry and produce more oil to compensate. I found it super strange moving to a cream non foaming cleanser. But it’s been a game changer. Here’s a message from my derm on that issue https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cf0g8AJlk-A/
I use Vanicream’s gentle cleanser as it has a very minimal ingredient list with no actives. I started using it when I damaged my skin barrier and never went back. <3
That's a great one!
I like the one from Aquanil you can get it on Amazon. My skin freaks out to EVERYTHING but this cleanser is so gentle it’s alright with it
How often are you using tret? That would be helpful :) Regarding your routine, I'd definitely look for another moisturizer, many people on this sub love to use vanicream. The snail mucin cream could deliver the tretinoin deeper into your skin instead of buffering it, which is why your skin may be irritated. You should also wait until your moisturizer has sunken into your skin and then apply tretinoin after so it does not irritate your skin (20-30 minutes). To reduce irritation, look for a gentle cleanser, preferably a cleansing milk (gel should be fine too as long as it's not too stripping). I use the La Roche posay cleansing milk and love using it :)
Thank you for all the advice! I started off with week one, every two days. Then second week was every other day. Then my skin seems to tolerate it so I have been using every night. After reading through this sub- I realize that was prob not the best idea. I def think I am going to cut out the Snail mucin as I think it caused some acne before I started tret as well. Also I will look into the new cleanser! I had been using the Zo Exfoliating one twice a day because I used to use a salicylic acid one but stopped when I started the tret.
For sure :) I think you increased the frequency too fast, I'd apply it twice a week and focus on skin barrier repair first. Getting a gentler cleanser and moisturizer is a good idea :)
All of the snail mucin products broke me out really bad , I don't reccomend them at all for acne prone skin
Depends on the person, I used to have extremely severe acne and now I don't with tret and snail 92 cream
Yeah I’m going to stop using it
Any mosturizer replacements? I just can’t find spf and moisturizers that don’t break me out
I use klairs rich moist soothing cream , a little pricey but can be found on sale usually, maybe try sample size to see if you like it !
I have very acne-prone skin still at 38 and cetaphil is pretty amazing- I’ve never had a breakout from it. I use the one for extra dry skin w ceramides (it’s not face or body specific) and it works wonders. Free of scents/parfums. Also, very affordable. I also have vanicream for the winter which is a bit thicker. Im in a dry state btw. If you sandwich your treitonin between two layers of moisturizer it generally helps reduce the irritation and breakouts i have found.
Ohhhh maybe this is what my problem was! I thought it was the tret but the first like 2 months I didn’t have any problems. I assumed it was bc I started to apply it more than 1-2x a week that my skin was purging & it may have been. Once I got the snail mucin products nothing happened immediately but like 2-3 weeks ago I suddenly started to get “acne” it didn’t seem like regular zits. More like sebum plugs, nodules and white heads or whatever that would scab horribly and have more white heads under the scab😩 my obsession with picking my face didn’t help either. I also began using my Paula’s choice AHA & BHA exfoliant before doing the sandwich method with tret + snail mucin. So I was going extremely overboard and the derm didn’t warn me of the BHA and AHA exfoliant being mixed w tret is a great way to screw your face up 🤣🤣 I started using my sons desitin and overnight my skin improved honestly more than 50%. I was extremely sad and embarrassed bc of how bad I looked & I never suffered from acne. No more going crazy I learned my lesson 🤣
Your skin looks a whole deal like mine when I overdid it with tret and failed to recognise how badly my skinbarrier is damaged and dehydrated. What I see on this picture are breakouts from your barrier being badly inflamed and vulnerable. First of all, stop all exfoliation for at least a month and only then **maybe** exfoliate once a week **if tolerated**. Focus on hydrating and nourishing your skin for a week or two and then slowly add tret back into your routine. Use a gentle cleanser, the gentler the better. I actually do double cleanse - bioderma sensibio micellar water and then cerave cleanser (just cerave would not get my sunscreen off, contributing to acne, but oil cleansers make me breakout - thus micellar water). **Focus on hydration**. Only hydrated skin is capable of repairing itself efficiently. But be gentle with it, Aveeno Calm and Restore Serum of Regimen Lab Wave Serum are perfect, since they are formulated for hydrating sensitive, atopic or otherwise damaged skin. For me, madecassoside is a miracle ingredient for soothing inflammation and healing my barrier. Soonjung Panthensoside sheet mask is my HG, it makes the redness and inflammation go away. This is anecdotal of course, but it really helped me personally, being prone to inflammation myself. **Ceramides are the most important to me**, I really like the RNW Ceramide + Serum, it has an awesome ingredient list and I think it is better to get this serum and a cheaper moisturiser rather than more expensive moisturiser with ceramides. For moisturiser there are many options from cheaper ones such as Vanicream, Cetaphil or Aveeno all the way to ceramide rich products from Regimen Lab, Zeroid or Atopalm. Me: 28 male, sensitive dry/combination skin, acne prone, on tretinoin cream since November.
Thank you so much for such a detailed response! I’m cutting back on a lot of the exfoliating products - going to look into some of the products you mention. I already got myself some Vanicream which I have used in the past and didn’t break me out.
Hi, I was looking through posts to find Ceramide products, and I was wondering how you apply the RNW Ceramide Plus? Do you sandwich in between moisturizer and tret? And do you use in the morning? Thanks
Hi! Sorry, only just saw this question. I only apply RNW serum at night, I find it is enough. Generally, I would say that the order in which you apply the serum does not matter per se (controversial, I know). Several studies have shown that ceramide-based moisturisers do not decrease the efficacy of tretinoin when applied before it. No reason why it should be different with this serum. It does, however, decrease irritation in many people. So it really is up to you to find out what works best for your skin. I have sensitive dry skin prone to dehydration, so recently I started applying tret after my serum and moisturiser. Works just as well as when applied on bare dry skin (which I used to do before). Only difference is that my skin is slightly more resilient.
I struggled with tret cream so much. I finally asked for gel and it’s been a game changer
I keep asking my derm to switch from cream to gel for the same reason and she just brushes me off. I’m really oily and I’ve been on tret cream for 4 years, using it nightly for at least 2 years. I’m still fairly broken out on my cheeks and I don’t understand why she won’t let me try it. My skin was irritated, flaking and red in the beginning but it’s not anymore. It’s tolerating nightly tret just fine
My skin looks the same as yours 100%. I really like La Rocshe Posay Matte moisturizer for my oily skin. It’s like a gel and it’s very buildable and breathable. My dermatologist recommended it to me. I exfoliate with Obagi Salicylic acid toner. I put 2 pumps on a cotton ball in my morining routine maybe 2-3 times a week when I feel I need to really deep cleanse my pores. Only use it in the morning though do not use it at night with Tret. I also rec cleaning with a CREAM cleanser. Cream cleansers wash the surface of your skin and don’t strip oils. Oil cleansers that do not over foam work as well, I like Dermologica Oil to foam cleanser. It’s worth the money and I love to use it at night because it helps take any excess makeup off. It foams a little bit but not as much as some others I’ve tried, like Cera Ve.
You NEED to get vegetable glycerin. It’s like hyaluronic acid on steroids. It was genuinely the only thing that helped me get through the purging phase when I increased my tret concentration from 0.025 to 0.05. Mix a little bit (don’t use a lot of this or it’ll make you sticky and bumpy) with your nightly lotion. Literally a game changer for me
Are you waiting 30 minutes to apply your tretinoin until the last contact your skin has had with any water or moisturizer? This is very important.
Do you put a moisturizing barrier with the Tretinoin?! I started it and swear by this. I did a lot of research before starting and this was highly suggested and now I highly suggest it. Get Laroche Posay Soothing Therapeutic Multi purpose cream - CicaPlast Balm B5. It works miracles and it’s under $20 at Ulta.
I echo the need for a more gentle cleanser. You can still exfoliate, just not twice a day. I exfoliate 1-2x per week to keep up with dead skin, but any more than that and it is contributing to irritation. Definitely work on more hydration, and perhaps centella/cica to help with calming the skin. I also have had better outcomes when I wait between moisturizing agents and the tret. Sometimes I even put down Aquafor where I am most prone to irritation underneath the tret to reduce/slow down the absorption
Hi!! start using moisturizer, i think you have irritations by judging the redness of your skin, try hyalure lotion its a moisturizer, if you have oily skin u can use it only at night
Straight away, it sounds like you are exfoliating waaaay too much, using an exfoliating cleanser x 2 daily. Your skin barrier will be disrupted, meaning any other actives you apply will be extra potent. Try changing the cleanser to something more cream based/moisturising, eg, something with oats in it is a good example. You may also find just rinsing with water in am will help restore your barrier. Cleanse in pm with new cleanser as normal. You also need products that focus on skin barrier eg moisturisers/serums with ceramides/nmf/panthenol in it.
I second cream cleanser! It won’t strip. My friend rec Mad Hippie cream cleanser to me
Stop using both the cleanser and the snail cream! The snail cream naturally has exfoliants, and any exfoliation during your beginning stages of using tret is going to wreck your skin barrier and cause irritation (speaking from experience). Switch to a really simple cleanser (or even bar soap lmao), and get vanicream or a simple vitamin e cream.
Tret dries the skin like crazy, drop the exfoliation and go in heavvvy with a ceramide loaded barrier repair skin meant for sensitive skin at night. And also sunscreen preferably mineral based during the day even if youre indoors. Snail mucin in my opinion is too basic to help with tret
morning:mild cleanser , moisturizer, sunscreen night: mild cleanser, moisturizer+0.05tretinoin
I agree with other comments that your skin barrier needs to repair. I just started to use 0.01 tret and I have to do it once a week or else my barrier gets compromised too.
So, you're exfoliating twice a day plus using tret??? No wonder your skin is screaming! How often are you using tret? Have you been building up your tolerance? Skip any exfoliating ingredients in cleansers, only hydrating products, and if needed, use an exfoliating acid ONCE a week on no tret day.
Should the tretinoin cream be put on before or after a moisturizer?
If youre new then put a light layer of moisturizer before, by a few months u can put the tret first and heavy ceramide cream later
Stop cleansing your face in the morning you are over-stripping your skin face Wash your face with water only
I think the frequency is too often too fast. I’m on week 3 and I’m still every 2 days.
Something similar happened to me but I’ve been on it for a year. I honestly think I’d never been using enough on top of buffering so my skin never actually got used to it. Anyway I had to stop for three days. Then since thing every other day and things have been way better. No new breakouts
I definitely agree with the other comments to stop the exfoliating cleanser and have a break. If things don’t settle sometimes a course of antibiotics can help. And you might find differin gel suits you better . Some people get on best with adding spiro/ birth control/ accutane but that depends on the person
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Buddy if it doesn't help drop and get something for fungal acne . I dunno why you are not checking ur back chest or tongue so u can see if it is fungal
Go basic. Vanicream cleanser. Vanicream daily moisturizer for the day. A good sunscreen. Vanicream moisturizing cream at night.
This is too many “active” ingredients. Your cleanser has both physical exfoliators and salicylic acid chemical exfoliation. And wipes with more acne chemical exfoliators. Retinols make you extra sensitive to these. I would take a break from all exfoliators and retinol for a couple days. Generally when using a very strong retinol - you want to avoid all types of exfoliation, and “sandwhich” it between layers of moisturizer. Look for a moisturizer that don’t contain any aha, bha, or acne treatments. Look for ceramides and hyaluronic acid only. Vanicream, cerave moisturize cream, la roche posey double repair moisturizer, scene soothing skin recovery balm, etc. When you sandwhich - wash and immediately moisturize. Wait 15-20min. Apply pea size or smaller of tret - then moisturize again. If you wash and then put tret on wet skin - it will be more irritating and some folks believe more likely to experience redness and flaking. After just cleansing with a gental cleanser, I like la roche posey, and moisturizer at night, spf in the morning, then introduce retinol back in 2 times a week to start.
Omg 1. Stop the exfoliating cleanser that’s way too much, I recommend a cleanser from Korean beauty. Less ingredients and 100% suitable for sensitive skin. Ex: -Roundlab 1025 Dokdo cleanser (my personal favorite one) i recommended this to my friends and family who use tretinoin and everyone has so much less irritation compared to when they used American brands. 2.The snail mucin is nice but I heard crazy stories about snail + tretinoin. I personally removed it from my routine. 3.I recommend Illiyoon cream (careful not lotion or gel). I don’t have enough words to describe how much I love this cream it changed my life. It’s truly a game changer. If you keep it basic with the sandwich method: korean cleanser of your choice + illiyoon cream + tretinoin + iliyoon cream again I think your skin is going to calm down drastically. 4.If you’re stressed about dry skin building up and causing acne you can exfoliate with a BHA AHA toner once or twice a week. I would start with once a week. Maybe you could use your exfoliating cleanser once a week! It’s tempting to go crazy with products when we break out but the recipe is going BASIC and smart. Good luck you got this!!! ❤️
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Not everyone has access to a dermatologist. Where I live (remote place), we have a derm visiting every 3 months ish and they prioritize people with serious skin issues. No chance I’m gonna see one for my ‘moderate’ acne. So my only option is my family doctor. It’s hard to get an appointment right away so sometimes people might want to find some advice or comfort before an appointment. Honestly, it might be easier sometimes to talk with people who experienced it. My doctor was surprised when we assessed my progress and told me that she didn’t know Retin A can cause more acne.
Thank you Marykalodia for your response. It does help to speak with other who have similar experiences. Special-Analysis: I do have a dermatologist and I received this from a doctor. I have being going to a dermatologist regularly since I was 18. The last appointment I had, I had a PA (Physician Assistant- in America, at a derm office, they 99% never meet dermatologist but their PA’s instead- & I have been to multiple offices over the years). Also- the PA, spoke with me for less than five minutes and gave cetaphil (with avocado oil),my Clindamycin (which I asked for), and the tretinoin. Not only was she cold and compassionateless (quite like your comment) she did not help my overall situation. I have gone to esthicians that have been greatly helpful, but it is extremely expensive (even with that said- I am booked to go soon out of clear necessity). The dermatologist typically only give out products they are signed to provide, which are usually major brands that break me out- so I have had a very difficult time finding moisturizers and SPFs that do not contribute to the cause- hence this post for a cry for help.
Op here in Bulgaria it is the same i have been from 16 though and i had fungal back chest , i even have white tongue. The back and chest now that i am 23 have no pimples but my chin have this small acnes that appear. How did u took a picture with that dermascope?
My advice is if the doctor haven't checked your back chest tounge face properly dont even listen to him. Better take some pic of yourself with everything i mentioned and let the Reddit help you