Beauty

[monicakm]

Ladies, I have now used tretinoin 3x.  I apply it Sunday and Wed.  I apply my normal skincare an hour or two prior and apply Tatcha Dewy Night Cream after the Tret.  So far not a single issue.  Do you think if I was going to have a problem using it this often to start with, I would have had some redness, flaking or burning by now?  I used it Sunday before last, last Wed and two days ago on Sunday.  

Thanks

[Foxxee]

I'll let others chime in, but I don't use anything before or after application until the next morning.

I flaked, reddened, and burned, a lot when I first started at .5%.  Used it every 3 or so days because it was too much.  Now using 1% every other day or two and still flake.

I wonder if the reason you are not flaking is because you are using facial creams before and too soon after application.  It may not be able to soak in.  

[monicakm]

@Foxxee 

Thank you.  I'm starting at .025mg.  The advice I got here was to apply my nightly skincare earlier in the evening on the nights I'm using Tret.  Advice I got on YT was to apply moisturizer after tret (may have been told that here as well).  I'll watch more videos to confirm.

[SilleeMee]

Flaking and dryness is a side-effect from using tret. It is not an indication of how the tret is working or not. Flaking isn't necessary for it to work. The anti-aging effects happen beneath the surface in the dermis, not on the surface. Just b/c there is no flaking doesn't mean it's not working. It just means the skin is not experiencing that side-effect.

[bmorechick]

I never experienced that burning and redness, but I did have some dryness way back when I started. I have used the 0.1% for past 10 years and no issues.  I never put anything on my face before retin a...typically nothing after either. Sometimes in the winter, I may get a little dry and I will put a night moisturizer over it but the retin a is always first.  

@monicakm  you will find what works best for you...good luck with it and be patient😉

[monicakm]

@SilleeMee 

Flaking and dryness is a side-effect from using tret.

Yes, I'm aware of that.  My question was if I've used it three times (Sun, Wed, Sun) and it's now Tues and I've not had any unwanted side effects so far, is this a good indication that I might not have any unwanted side effects?  I've been using Retinol for two years, I "sandwich" the Tret between lots of hydration and moisture an hour or two prior and moisture after.  Or, maybe the unwanted side effects come after more than using it 3x?

[SilleeMee]

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@monicakm wrote:

@SilleeMee 

Flaking and dryness is a side-effect from using tret.

Yes, I'm aware of that.  My question was if I've used it three times (Sun, Wed, Sun) and it's now Tues and I've not had any unwanted side effects so far, is this a good indication that I might not have any unwanted side effects?  I've been using Retinol for two years, I "sandwich" the Tret between lots of hydration and moisture an hour or two prior and moisture after.  Or, maybe the unwanted side effects come after more than using it 3x?

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@monicakm 

I wouldn't think about it too much. When or if you start experiencing extreme side-effects then you might have to cut back. But for now things for you appear to be fine.

When you apply moisturizers b/a tret that just slows down the efficacy of the tret but it does not change what it does. The tret will still go from point A to point B but just a little slower. 

A runner can run fast to get somewhere but if the runner runs through a foot of water on the ground that will slow the runner down.

[Sunshine Kate]

I apply tret on a clean, dry, bare face.  If you have other product(s) on your clean face before applying tret, I would say that's why you have no irritation or redness.

Just my experience.

[monicakm]

Thank you for your words of wisdom ladies. I think for now I'll keep using my usual skin care earlier in the day on the days I'm using tret and moisturizer maybe 15 minutes afterwards. I don't have any wrinkles, this is more or less a preventative measure so I don't mind going slower if it means less visible irritation.  I discovered one product I'm going to have to stop completely and that is glycolic acid. It has burned the last two times I've used it and last night was painful enough to decide this is a no-no product while using tret.

ps... just found out I've been approved for my second knee surgery. Round two 🤪🥴

[monicakm]

I guess I'm just going to have faith and trust the process.  No adverse reactions as of yet and I'm applying it every evening.  Should I buy another .025% tube when I'm out of this one or go up a step?