TRETINOIN TIPS IN A GLANCE FROM RU-vid AND MY EXPERIENCE. 1. Ease into it. Start with a low dosage. Twice a week to three times to five times to daily. This last stage of applying tretinoin daily should be in your second month. 2. Moisturize before tretinoin if your skin is getting dry and flaky. Definitely Moisturize after. And moisturize well. 3. Sunscreen is the key. Always always always use sunscreen even if you’re planning to stay locked inside. 4. Wash your face with a non drying cleanser. Try washing it with plain water in the morning. And a cleanser only in the evening. I’ve crazy oily skin too but my oil production has actually decreased after this. 5. Don’t use toners. Don’t use scrubs. You can use a washcloth but no other exfoliants. 6. Keep your skincare routine really simple. 7. Don’t wax or do any peeling or facials. Just don’t. Your skin will peel. 8. Don’t pick your skin no matter how tempting. Don’t touch those whiteheads. They’ll go on their own. 9. You can apply makeup. But only if you really really have to. It’s not going to be a smooth application anyway. 10. Also, you’re definitely going to be dealing with purging and dryness. You might deal with this for anywhere between 2 weeks to 3-4 months. Also, the purge might start immediately or after 1-2 months but don’t give up. It’ll pass. 11. Don’t stop tretinoin once you get clear skin. The acne will come back. Trust me, that was my worst mistake. And then you’ll have to start tretinoin again and then there will be another purge and you don’t want that. Reduce the frequency. Use it twice or thrice a week. But keep using it for as long as you want clear skin. 12. Also, you’re not going to be completely clear ever. You might get one or two zits every month. But they’ll be tiny. So don’t worry. 13. The purge can be frustrating. Dryness and redness can be very painful. Looking in the mirror would make you cry. It’ll be bad. You’ll mostly be cursing your skin during the initial months but don’t give up. It does get better. It really does. And you’ll have the skin you’ve always wanted. Sending you all lots of love and good skin for your journey. We’re in this together!!
I had decent skin most of my life, but my nose was always so oily and full of pores. I'm on the second month of tretinoin and it's now so smooth and even in tone and not oily at all, it's just miraculous.
Yeap. Although they say that 3 or 4 times a week is enough, I'm a perfectionist. Almost 7 months later and my skin has never looked healthier, smoother and softer. Just don't forget to put a very strong deeply hydrating mosturizer or lotion after the tretinoin. Something suitable for dry or very dry skin.
I'm using just the simplest cheapest retin-a 0.5%. I have a whole ass routine now with serums and shit. Niacinamide is good, vitamin c as well. My skin is so soft and fresh and smooth.
I’ve been getting strange acne and red burn looking marks. I’m happy to hear that this is normal purging. I was thinking maybe I was having a bad reaction which would be really disappointing. I will back off though and just use it a couple nights a week for a while.
Hi this was so informative . I will soon be 56 and have suffered with acne prone sensitive skin all my life . I have tried Retinols in the past with no luck . This was so helpful I will be trying again .
Same! I’m 28, hispanic, have super oily skin and started using the .05% right off the bat & haven’t experienced peeling or purging..I’ve only been using it constantly for 2 weeks though, I mix it with Vitamin E oil, I think that’s why my skin stays moisturized & doesn’t peel
This video comes in very handy as I'm about to start incorporating Retinol into my skincare routine. Thank you, I got all hooked up now! New subscriber here!
How old should I be when I start? Not for acne as although I’m 23 and almost always slightly spotty, but for aging. I did have some bad life habits that aren’t good for skin , but have been thorough and consistent with skincare for 7 years
what can I say. I just neared the whole redness, peeling and pain and after 4 weeks, there is no peeling. I said to myself, moisturizer will just water the 0.05% retin a and I did it every day and put on sunscreen every day while I ues retin a every night.it was night easy but am now in 5 weeks today.
Very informative. A trio of questions, please..... What is your take on short contact therapy to help with retinization in sensitive/rosaic patients? Secondly, what do you think of the role of topical dapsone for sensitive skinned individuals with acne/rosacea and aging skin. Lastly, for postmenopausal clients who are normoandrogenic, but have evidence of androgenic hypersensitivity physiologically (acne, excess hair, scalp hair issues) what oral treatment options are there beyond spironolactone? The latter would not be suitable due to medical contraindications and oral contraceptives with cyproterone acetate are too high risk for DVT in this older population. Thanks
Thank you so much for a very informative video! When is it good time add my vitamin C serum back into my rutine after i have started using retinol? Could I use it on the days I am not using the Retinol?
Hi. I am on my second week of using retinol. I apply it on my skin every other night (along with a light moisturizer). Since then, I did not ever experience purging and/or abnormalities on my skin. My questions are: Do all people experience purging? When do people usually start purging? Can I safely say that the product is not working on my skin because of the absence of a purging stage? PS: I have combination skin. Oily on the t zone, but dry on the cheek area. Also, I get occasional pimples whenever my schedule gets hectic.
Yes! These are great questions I’m curious too! I’m about to start retinol for the first time and want to know if it will cause purging even tho I just got done purging from azelaic acid and SA. I have sensitive, dry, acne-prone skin.
It is unfortunate that nobody talks about what moisturizers are great to use and what is good to be in it and what not. I always keep wondering how to choose after listening
A lot of people really like CeraVe moisturizing cream in the jar. Unfortunately it irritates my skin. I use Vaseline intensive care advanced repair unscented lotion. It's light weight and moistures well without being greasy
Hi Dr. Sam! Thank you for all this great info on retinoids. If I were new to using a retinoid, would it be ok to start a retinoid program at the beginning of summer or would you hold off until autumn? I feel like I hear mixed messages on this. I’m loyal follower and love learning all that you share.
Sarah Henderson I just stared also and is late July. I use a sunblock and is all good. Wear hats and keep the spf with you at all time. Hope you are liking the journey. I totally I’m.
Please consider sharing your thoughts on proper use of Niacinamide. What season best to use in and what time of the day or night ? If there are other ingredients it does not go well with. That would be really helpful.
I love your videos. Got a prescription today and the doctor said nothing on how to apply. Just a handout. If I wasn't for you; I wouldn't of known what to do.
Dr. Sam, I'm 49. I used Accutane in my early 20s but didn't follow up with Retinol afterwards. I have scars that are getting worse with menopause. What do you suggest to improve my skin and remove scars as much as possible?
Thanks a ton for all the information. Amazing videos, Dr Sam. I have a question. I am a beginner with retinol and a resident. So I have a lot of screen time, especially at night. Can I apply retinol and then sit at my laptop? Coz later I get so tired, I just skip the night skin routine after studying.
Hope you don't mind my hopping in here, but you need to be extremely careful with what you put on your neck. The neck skin is more thin and has less sebaceous glands than the skin on your face, so it is even more prone to the severe drying effects of retinoids.
I wouldn’t recommend it either. I get eczema just from whatever migrates from my face down. On retinol nights I have to slather my neck in a thick moisturizer to combat the irritation I get from facial retinol use. But everyone has different skin!
Good day everyone. Please I have a very vital question. I’m currently using adapalene and my current routine is to use it after moisturizing my skin. I currently use E45 cream as a moisturiser as my skin is very sensitive. I have acne-prone/oily skin however but the cream has worked well for me for over a year. But now, I’m starting to fear that using the E45 before the adapalene will reduce adapalene’s ability to reach my skin. I’m considering using the following routine Cleanse- niacinamide serum- adapalene- E45. Please is this okay? I would love to get advice. Thank you!
Thank you so much for all of your videos. I am 48 years old and I'm just starting retin a. I have always been kind of simple and wash my face with coconut oil. Can I use coconut oil and wait awhile and be able to put Retin A on. Is it just as effective as putting moisturizer on and then Retin A?
@@theimpishscribe7868 Honestly, my skin has never looked so good. Does not clog my pores and is ranked medium on the scale. May not work for some. I used two oil ranked 0 and they dried me out. It could also have a lot to do with skin type and melanin. My friends that have darker skin love it. My friends that are white get break outs. 🤷🏽♀️
Whats wrong with spf tinted moisturizer? Isn’t spf the same regardless of vehicle? Why would i put additional sunscreen on top of spf30 or 50 moisturizer in the morning?
with a RETINOID once a week I can only use salicylic acid twice a week max on thicker skin blackhead prone areas. I use ascorbic acid only twice a week as well. but Niacinamide morning and night!
when I use them more often my starts to feel tight, which is the first indication of teaching my skin's threshold. remember skin care is a marathon, as doctor emma said.
I hope this response isnt too late, but I remember Dr. Sam (in a diff video) and my derm recommending cutting out all other actives when you first start a retinoid. After a few months of usage (or even sooner, if your skin adjusts quickly), then its worth slowly reintroducing other actives back in on your alternate non-retinoid nights or in the mornings.
Yes. Please watch the video from Dr Dray. Sunscreen to be applied and reapplied 3 times a day even if indoors. If outdoors then do the same but with water resistant sunscreens and wear hats and sunglasses and long sleeves.
Hi Dra! I see your posts very reliable and educational. May I ask you if it is safe to drink Vitamin A supplement with 5,000 IU while applying Tretinoic Acid every night? I've been using Tretinoic Acid for 2 weeks and I am considering to take Vitamin A supplement. I am really looking forward to your reply. Thank you ans good day! 🤗 -From Philippines
Mary Kay just came out with Clinical Solutions Retinol treatment 0.5. Do you have any thoughts on this product? Can I use it with your products? I love your sets! Thanks!
I’m using retinol serum by Inkey List and I haven’t seen any purging but I see the benefits of retinol on my skin. Is that a good thing? I’ve been using this product for 2 months
Always Smile my dermatologist prescribed .06% I put it on my forehead everyday because my forehead doesn’t get as much irritation as around my mouth, but I do every other day everywhere else on my face (oh and I might not get as much irritation because I used over the counter retinol for a while before I started)
People say that its such a patience game with tretinoin. I didnt get too much acnes form tretinoin . Now in my fourth week. my face itchy like crazy , swollen , numb and peeling yes. I text to the company in my country ( asian ) . They say have 2 opption, : 1 i give up and stop ,2 i use everynight to shorten the purging process and stop what i have to handle now and they also say it may get more sensitive. Now its more swollen. Really worry about what should i do. Feel really stress about swollen
I use the weakest retinoid the ordinary has to offer but I notice my Nivea night creme doesn't spread properly, even after an hour waiting. It just globs and has trouble spreading. Any tips?
Hi Dr! I have bn using tretinoin 0.05% for 5 weeks but my face is now so shiny looking. It has this unnatural shine. Is this normal as I haven't read this as a common side effect.
Can I use an occlusive (like Vaseline, Aquapor, Squalane) as the last step over the Tretinoin? Will it help with dryness or will it increase irritation and dryness since the tretinoin would be trapped underneath (and by this maybe increasing its efficacy)? Or should I only use an occlusive on non Tretinoin nights? It'll be great if you can do a video on this
I just used an Aloe stem and wiped it on, kept it in the fridge wrapped in cling film to store it. It worked well but then I dont get too much drying as Ive used it for so long.I also mix it with hydroquinone cream which might be acting as a slight moisturiser. I buy both from PulsarMeds.com
Hello Dr. Sam, thank you so much for this info. I hope you could answer my question. Would it be better to use retinoid in the morning as I am working durinh night shift? Would there be a difference? Thank you.
PLEASE ANSWER THIS I WOULD APPRECIATE IT! So I’ve started differin 5 days ago and I’ve been using it everyday and I guess it is working because I have a new whitehead every morning. Should I start using it every other day instead or is there no point?
It's normal to experience retinization and irritation in the beginning. With Differin, your skin gets worse before it gets better. In the beginning, you should use it every other day to minimize irritation. Watch Dr. Sam's and/or Dr. Dray's videos on tips for using Differin.
I bought a Doliva intensive cream without being quite aware it had retinyl palmitate in it. Maybe it's because I started using a cleanser with salicylic acid about the same time, maybe it's not, but I've been seeing redness in the areas where I am acne-prone when I apply that cream (this is literally the first I'm using salicylic acid and any form of retinol). The first day I used it, when I woke up I was a little surprised to find that my skin was a little dried up though not parched (not sure if I saw any improvement in acne tho but it was only the first day). It's red now that I have applied it on my face and maybe I'll go add another layer of Bioderma moisturizer just in case. I'm going to give the product 2 weeks or so and see if it's fine with me. Hope it is because this cream is decently affordable and feels nice on my skin.
Every other night? Every other night with 0.01 and i have horrible retinization... redness acne and peeling. And just swollen inflamed skin in general... my skin has never been sensitive before so i dont understand why i am reacting so badly.... Not to mention i was using differin adapalene 0.1% for already 4 months before i switched to Tretinoin 0.01%
I have started to use the kiehls micro dose retinol , I use it every night . Been 2 days and my skin looks so dull than normal. Is it normal? Or retinol is not for me ? Pls advise
Hello! You say to avoid your eyes when using retinols but why are retinol eye creams made? Iv been using a very gentle retinol on my face around my eyes and lips and had no problems. I used on my lips as I have faint scaring from biting them? Is this right or is there no way of getting rid of this?
I love .05 retin-a rice grain amount once a week mixed into my moisturizer applied not too close the mouth nose and eyes. I'll still feel some skin tightness on the 3rd-4th day and maybe dryer than usual lips. once a week is great!
guys but i want to know that the premature lines start from or near the eye region.. and if we shouldn't h apply it near eye area then what shall we do?
@@mairmanaisha4029 the nature of tretinoin is that it affects nearby skin as well. my lips get dry because of tret occasionally and I don't apply it anywhere near there. 🤔apply a very small amount on the cheek bone and brow bone skin area and the thinner eye skin will improve as well.
@@dekalogue you only use a "rice grain" amount of tretinoin once per week??!! That little amount wouldn't even cover my nose. Why do you use so little only once a week? 💞
@@mave143 that's my threshold before I compromise my skin barrier and get dehydrated skin. I use AHA, PHA, Ascorbic Acid a few times a week and Azelaic Acid + Niacinamide every day
Plz reply 🙏I have been using 0.025% tretinoin cream and clindamycin & nicotinamide gel for the last 1 month. At first my face was a little dry, but then nothing happened. Others said that their skin would come out but nothing happened to me. Instead, There is also tiny bumps pimples n blackheads. Did it work on my face? What should i do??? I am 21 some people said me in this age this cream should not use, is it right
I'm not a doctor but my daughter went through bad acne at 17. She started with the 0.025% then moved up to the stronger strength and it took months to clear her skin. She stood on it and until age 20 then stopped. She will be 21 and is back on it. She got off because it made her skin very light. Her doctor said that she could stay on it as long as she wanted to. Her skin was light but absolutely beautiful and she should have never stopped using it.
PLEASE ADVICE!!! Hello, I just want a little piece of ADVICE here. I've been useing tretinoin 0.025 for about 2 months, once a week with the sandwich method. As cleanser I use a mild one from Cerave and as moisturizer La Roche Posay cicaplast balm b5. I didn't experience at all redness or excesive dayness BUT... my skin gone crazy... I used to have oily skin, some black heads and sometime breakouts. The last month for me is the worst, i have a lot o texture, more black heads and acnee, i don't know where it came from... I don't know if it need to wait a couple of weeks or this produc isn't the right one for me... My skin instead to become better it goes to worst...
You might be experiencing purging. You can find more information on this topic here: drsambunting.com/blogs/sam-bunting/purging-irritation-how-to-handle-the-challenges ❤
Is it possible to use less sunscreen in the winter? On the rare sunny days we have about 6 hours of sunlight and the UV index is always low. Would it be ok to use less than a teaspoon? Or skip if Im only out for like 10 min? just wondering since sunscreen can be kind of expensive
Hi Dr. Sam. I am using Retin A 500mcg or 0.05% and I have oily face. I am using it for a week and I am applying it everyday. I didn't got any irritation or flaking or purging. Is it normal? or the Retin A is not working? Thank you.
Hi, thanks for all your helpful info! just wandering if you could advise on any products that would be suitable for scar removal/reduction? 3months ago I used haloderm to remove a couple of ‘safe’ but large moles on my chest. As expected they have scarred with hyper pigmentation and are slightly raised. Have been looking at rentinol and rentinaldrahyde products but I baffled! I’m UK based. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks
I had a tummy tuck last year and the scar was a reddish brown and a little raised. I used a small amount of Retin A once a day and a dollop of hydroquinone 4% cream twice a day and it looks a lot better. When the colour is right I may start using a steroid cream to help with the fact it is raised a bit. I bought everything from PulsarMeds.com and the stuff arrived i about 4 days. I also use these crams for my acne scarring.
I used sunbeds a lot through my early 20s stopped at 25, im now 30, will retin a help reverse this or am I doomed because of my sunbed use? Any replies would be so appreciated
I have very sensitive skin and I use vitamin c in the AM and retinol at night and everything’s going fine :) just my experience though! Try introducing the products gradually and adapt!
At least Dr. Dray answers her subbies questions. Going back to her channel. You aren't connected at all to your subs. They are your channel. You'd do well to remember that.
The Ordinary’s 0,2% Retinol in Squalane is not on your recommendation list and I don’t understand why. Could you please tell me why? I find it a super great product and it really helped my complexion.
WInnie Pauly nope, it’s retinol because a PhD Chemist student told me that the granactive retinoids haven’t been studied enough to know the long term effects they have on your face.
@@wap9137 The Ordinary line contains RETINOL in Squalane - 0.2, 0.5 and 1% and GRANATIVE RETINOID in Squalane - 2 and 5%. Granactive Retinoids are supposedly good because they need only one step to be converted on skin to a Retinoic Acid (Retin A) and Retinol needs 2 step conversion. But on the other hand, Retinol has been proven and supported by many years of studies, while GR are relatively new and not studied enough, just as @poweredman said.
I am in the UK too. I started by using Obagi which was about £85 a tube and I just couldnt afford it, but loved it. Then I started ordering from PulsarMeds.com and it is wayyyy cheaper.
Try to do it every two weeks at first then after some days try every week and after a month or so go for every other day and stick on that one for a few months and after ur skin gradually gets used to it u can start to use it every day (it usually takes a whole year to see drastic changes)
I imagine you may have already increase strength but if not my advice is 😂 to get in a routine with your current tretinoin where you can use it every night. Once you got to that stage use consistently for about 2 - 3 months then consider increasing strength if you feel necessary
I'm not an expert by any means but I use tretinoin and vitamin c to help fade acne scars. I mine on opposite days. The particular vitamin c cream I use is a morning one so on those days I'll use the cream and put my spf over it and at night I'll just do basics. Then the next day I'll skip the vitamin c in the morning and then at night I'll use my tretinoin. I hope this makes sense. Some people can actually use one active ingredient in the morning and a different one at night everyday but for my skin its too much. Really it depends on your skin's tolerance... Good luck finding your routine!
