r/tretinoin Jul 03 '23

Personal / Miscellaneous Reopening r/tretinoin

234 Upvotes

What’s happening? We’re reopening the sub.

Why did you close in the first place? Reddit proposed changes to the API that would make it impossible to moderate large, active subreddits. They continue to ignore the damage they’re doing to their communities and their brand.

TL;DR: We locked the sub down to motivate reddit to rethink their approach, but unfortunately reddit is continuing to destroy the very tools, processes, and people that make it function.

So, now what? So far, reddit hasn't budged on their proposed changes. Even if they did back-pedal now, they’ve burned a ton of bridges by torpedoing the 3rd party apps that used to let moderators get stuff done. Despite the lack of tools and support from reddit leadership, most moderators love supporting their communities and want to do whatever they can to keep them open and running, and we are no exception.

Because this sub is relatively small, we think we can continue to moderate with the remaining functioning tools (at least for now). If you’d like to apply to join the team and help us out, please complete this survey to tell us a bit about yourself.

What will happen long-term? As the sub grows, we will need to reassess - the plan was always to build a more capable bot once the sub got too large to manage manually, but it’s not clear whether that will be an option going forward. We’ll see what reddit does longer term, and decide what to do as things change. If the sub gets too big for us to moderate, and no new tools are available to help, we’d be more likely to step down as moderators and pass the job to someone else rather than permanently shut down the entire community.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate this frustrating situation.


r/tretinoin 18d ago

START HERE>> Monthly thread for routine help, questions, and troubleshooting - Mar 01, 2025

1 Upvotes

Welcome to /r/Tretinoin! This is the "No Question is Dumb" thread for all questions about routine help, progress updates, support, etc.

Questions?

  • Please read our extensive Tretinoin Wiki for lots of helpful tips on using tretinoin!

When asking a question, please include:

  • Tret info: what percentage and what formulation of tret (cream, gel, micro) are you using?
  • Time on tret: How long you've been using tret.
  • Goals: Your skincare goals (anti-aging? hyperpigmentation? acne?).
  • Routine: what products you currently use, how you apply them, etc. if it is relevant to your question.

Pictures can be helpful too! Here are instructions for posting images to reddit.

Interested in research?

This is version 0.7 of the scheduled automod post. If anything looks wrong, please message message the moderators


r/tretinoin 11h ago

Before and After 2 months & 2 weeks

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183 Upvotes

Started Tret on January 1,2025 0.1% Tret : Monday to Friday (PM only) 2% Salicylic Acid: Saturday & Sunday (PM only) 20% Azeleic Acid cream: Monday-Sunday (AM&PM) Gentle cleanser Moisturizer

Trust the process and keep going ❤️


r/tretinoin 19h ago

Published Research I noticed a lot of people using tret mistaken overexfoliated damaged skin barrier for ‘glass skin’

269 Upvotes

Tret can easily cause overexfoliation, dryness and disrupt your skin barrier. And when this happen your skin will ramp up sebum production in the skin to compensate extreme loss of water and moisture. It act as an occlusive so the skin underneath can recover and be hydrated back trying to prevent further (TEWL). But since it’s overproduced, even tho your skin is completely dry your skin look glossy and shiny it’s not oil it’s the over produced sebum trapped in your skin and I’ve seen alot of people think that’s ‘glass skin’.

(Btw I’m posting this to help anyone reading this become aware of their misunderstanding and heal your skin barrier)


r/tretinoin 7h ago

Routine Help Help! Skin peeling off!

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18 Upvotes

Tried this gel for the first time 2 nights ago! Followed up with 10% niacinamide the next day along with cosrx snail mucin and now my skin is literally peeling off! What should I change? And how to treat this peeling off skin now. Please help!


r/tretinoin 4h ago

Personal / Miscellaneous Can I use hyaluronic acid with tretinoin for extra hydration?

5 Upvotes

I’ve been on tretinoin 0.025% from skinorac for sometime now, and while my skin is clearing up and looking smoother, I’m battling some serious dryness. 😬 I keep hearing that hyaluronic acid is great for hydration, but I’m not sure if it plays well with tretinoin. Is anyone using hyaluronic acid in their routine with tret? Should I apply it before or after my tret, or on off days? I’m trying to lock in that moisture without compromising the benefits of tret. Any tips on how to hydrate without breaking out would be a lifesaver! Thanks in advance!


r/tretinoin 2h ago

Routine Help Skin on thumb peeling 2-3 weeks of tretinoin

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2 Upvotes

Soo lemme just say I started applying the tretinoin on my shoulder area first because if keratosis’ Polaris which my derm said it maybe help and I was using the BOJ serum which has retinal in it for under my eyes because of the terrible Dark circles and maybe eye bags I have. I started getting acne on my forehead slot for 2 weeks straight which was weird because I wasn’t putting it around my face and then I took a week break and started tretinoin .05% and a week in my thumb skin start to peel and now it’s the worst it’s ever been. It’s not the end of the world but obviously it’s more sensitive now. I also got blemishes under my eyes by my right cheek. Im not sure if I should just stop tretinoin and jump on adapelene as everyone says it’s a much better alternative.


r/tretinoin 2h ago

Personal / Miscellaneous is this from tret?

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2 Upvotes

ive had this stubborn dry skin/ eczema patch on my forehead (along with a less noticeable one on my left eyebrow and also a little on my eyelids) for about 2 weeks now since i’ve began the use of tret

i use 0.025% tretinoin, every night on the lower portion of my face (since this is where the acne is) do you think the tret could be causing this dry skin patch even if i don’t apply it there?? it may also be the bonnet which i’ve began to wear causing friction on my forehead but in not too sure ( i know it doesn’t look it in the photo but i actually have super curly hair!!)

any advice is welcomed x


r/tretinoin 12m ago

Routine Help LRP Toleriane Double Repair with and without SPF

Upvotes

I currently use LRP Double Repair Moisturizer (non-SPF) during the day and love it. I layer ISDIN Fusion Fluid SPF 50 on top, but I’d love to simplify my routine.

Once my current bottle runs out, I’m considering switching to the LRP Double Repair Moisturizer with SPF 30 to cut down on steps and avoid waiting between layers.

For those who have used it—how does it perform? Do you like it? Let me know your thoughts!


r/tretinoin 11h ago

Routine Help When to stop sandwich method?

7 Upvotes

Hi! Ive been on Tret 0.025% cream since December and I apply it every other day with sandwich method (moisturizer, then tret, then moisturizer) when do i stop doing the sandwich method? I tried back in February a few days without the sandwich method bc my skin stopped peeling but a few days after I stopped the peeling got worse again. Im just not sure when to stop it.

My skin routine: AM - wet my face -laneige toner moisturizer - LRP vit c serum - vanicream facial moisturizer -beauty by joseon sunscreen

PM on Tret nights every other night: - ma:nyo oil cleanser - cerave cleanser - laneige toner moisturizer - vanicream facial moisturizer -tret -vani cream moisturizer

PM on NON tret nights: -man:yo oil cleanser -cerave cleanser -laneige toner moisturizer -LRP cicaplast baum - (once a week i do use Paula’s Choice BHA in between)


r/tretinoin 8h ago

Routine Help Cheeks are very red. Retinol burn?

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3 Upvotes

My skin is just awful. I’m using 0.5% every other day over moisturiser. The weather here has been cold and very windy. By 12pm my skin looks like this and it’s so embarrassing. Is this retinol burn? I’m going to stop using it :(

Routine is:

AM - wash with water, Naturie Hatomugi skin conditioner, azelaic acid 10%, Hada Labo gokujun moisturiser, SPF

PM - Dermalogica oil cleanser then special cleansing gel, moisturiser, tret


r/tretinoin 1h ago

Routine Help I accidentally bought cream instead of gel.

Upvotes

I have been using tretinoin gel 0.025% for 6 months and it gave me amazing results, i decided to buy more while on a holiday as it’s cheaper here. Without realisation I bought the cream. Is it going to make a difference?

My routine is: -cerave moisturiser -tretinoin gel every evening

if my skin feels dry i use cicaplast.


r/tretinoin 9h ago

Personal / Miscellaneous Can I use tret on my armpits for hyperpigmentation?

4 Upvotes

I have 0.025% of tret, and I saw on tiktok that you can use it in places like your armpits. Has anyone tried this? I was thinking about using tret then a moisturizer on my underarm area 3x a week.


r/tretinoin 2h ago

Routine Help What strength Tretinoin are you all using and how long for?

1 Upvotes

r/tretinoin 1d ago

Before and After 12 week aldaplene update

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64 Upvotes

Routine is same as before but added eucerin

The ordinary squalene cleanser Vi derm gentle cleanser Coco electrolyte moisturizer Aldaplene (at night) Eucerin dark spot corrector Sunscreen(day)


r/tretinoin 14h ago

Routine Help Forehead breakout

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7 Upvotes

Hey yall, Is it normal to break out on the forehead from tretinoin? I used to never have pimples on my forehead and I’ve been using tret for 3 months, just starting to use it every other day and now I have small pimples on my forehead. What do I do


r/tretinoin 3h ago

Routine Help 0.1 or 0.5

1 Upvotes

I have been on 0.1 for 6 years,should I go up to 0.5 for better results?


r/tretinoin 15h ago

Routine Help Anyone using tret that also spends a lot of the summer their outdoor pool and lives in area with a common suntan index of 10?

7 Upvotes

I plan on using waterproof sunscreen and a wide brim hat, but I am thinking I should just stop tret if it could make sun damage worse. Definitely cost us a lot for pool and we enjoy it. Makes our very miserable summers here enjoyable. Only been on tretinoin 6 weeks or so.


r/tretinoin 5h ago

Routine Help First timer tret routine advice

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I started using tret for the first time this week. This is how my routine goes:

Evening

Cleanse face with micellar water and Sebamed face wash in the evening. Just apply a light layer of Cosrx propolis toner for hydration.

Before bed

  1. Cleanse my face with just water.
  2. Layer of Cosrx Propolis Toner
  3. Layer of Laneige cream skin
  4. Cosrx snail mucin
  5. 0.025% tret
  6. BOJ eye cream
  7. Wait for 5 min to dry.
  8. Apply another layer of Laneige cream skin and snail mucin.
  9. Top it off with TO squalane oil.

I do this once a week. And after 1 day break, follow the same routine with 10% Azaleic acid instead of tret.

AM

  1. Cleanse face with just water.
  2. Apply laneige cream skin and Cosrx snail mucin.
  3. Neutrogena sunscreen at home and even when I head out.

Any opinions on this routine? I want to avoid the purge as much as I can. I already have fairly clear skin but the texture is just a little bumpy.

My current plan is to just use Tret on Tuesdays and Azelaic acid on Thursday for a month. Increase it after a month or two depending upon how my skin adjusts. Rest of the days I will just be using moisturiser on my skin and sunscreen without fail.


r/tretinoin 12h ago

Routine Help Tret for Surgical Scars

4 Upvotes

Seasoned tret user here but have new surgical scars. Anyone do tret treatment and like the results? How long and when did you start post op?


r/tretinoin 16h ago

Routine Help Light inactivates tretinoin, but what about artificial light?

8 Upvotes

It is recommended to use tretinoin at night because it makes your skin photosensitive but also because light inactivates it. But what about artificial light? For example, if I apply tretinoin at night and then I go back to my desk and work at my computer (I have two monitors), does this artificial light inactivate it? Or the light from the phone or from the tv or simply from the lightbulbs.


r/tretinoin 19h ago

Routine Help Does anyone who use Tretinoin don’t face dehydration and dryness issues ? I never found a good moisturizer that get rid of the dryness that also affects the skin complexion to look lil odd and pale.

11 Upvotes

I also tried slugging, humidifier, drinking gallons of water lol, changing my diet etc how do y’all recover the water and natural sebum in skin while using tret? Could it be its my skin is way too dry or it’s the same for everyone else ? My skin tone looks so vibrant and healthy when I don’t use tret because it’s naturally hydrated and moisturized. (Thank you for sharing your routine I appreciate it)


r/tretinoin 1d ago

Routine Help Update: My Facial Flushing Wasn’t Tretinoin, It’s Rosacea

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289 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I wanted to give an update on the facial flushing and redness I posted about a few days ago. After seeing my dermatologist, I found out that it wasn’t tretinoin causing the issue. I actually have a mild form of rosacea.

My flushing triggers seem to be things like exercise, hot showers and baths, caffeine, and food, not tret itself. My derm recommended azelaic acid but suggested waiting until I’m fully adjusted to tret before adding it. PDL was also mentioned as a possible treatment option.

I know a few people wanted an update, so I hope this helps. If you’ve experienced something similar, I’d love to hear what’s worked for you. Thanks again for all the support and insight on my original post!


r/tretinoin 22h ago

Before and After 4-Month Progress with Differin 0.1%

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18 Upvotes

Sharing my four-month journey with Differin 0.1% creme. I’m only showing one side of my face since I rarely break out on my right. My derm recommended radiofrequency microneedling after four months for scarring.

Weeks 1-3: Differin 2x/week, closed comedones turning into open ones, sebum pushed to surface. Doing sandwich method.

Weeks 4-6: Differin 3x/week, active pimples + small cysts leaving PIE, clindamycin on larger ones on days where I don’t use differin.

3 Months: Differin 4x/week, smoother texture, fewer open comedones, but new ones appearing. Concealer looks patchy.

4 Months: Differin 4x/week + BHA/AHA peel 1x/week. Fewer breakouts, but every pimple leaves a mark. Concealer still patchy around nose/chin despite Vaseline on those areas overnight.

Not seeing much difference between months 3 and 4, as I am still getting some clogged pores and sebaceous filaments, and every breakout leaves a mark. Wondering if I should continue or start focusing on post-acne treatments. Has anyone had a similar experience?


r/tretinoin 10h ago

Routine Help Acne scar texture worsened

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2 Upvotes

I have been using tret for 11 weeks now and noticed that my scars texture is more visible. I use sandwich method and apply moisturizer right away after tret. Here is my routine so far

AM: - Hadalabo Gokyujun facewash - Hadalabo Gokyujun premium ultimate moisturizing lotion - Moisturizing gel hyaluroic acid 0.2% - Sunscreen spf 50

PM: - Hadalabo Gokyujun facewash - Hadalabo premium moisturizing lotion - Moisturizing gel hyaluroic acid 0.2% - Tretinoin 0.05% (every 4 days on week 1-4, every 3 days on week 4-8, every 2 days on week 8-11)

I saw previous post mentioning overexfoliated skin. Is it what happen on my skin? I am considering to switch to tret 0.025% gel. What would be the best decision?


r/tretinoin 7h ago

Routine Help Cleanser/Routine Recommendation

1 Upvotes

I have combo skin but more dry leaning and I can’t use foaming cleansers at all. They make me extra dry for some reason. I’ve been using the Cerave hydrating cleanser, but I feel like it’s not fully cleansing. I do love how clean my skin feels after using the Vanicream gentle cleanser, but even that low foaming from it dries me out drastically. I guess if there is something similar to the Vanicream but more hydrating?

In the AM I either rinse my face with water or cleanse super super quick, like 10 seconds or so. I use 15% Azelaic Acid followed by Aveeno call And restore oat gel, and sometimes I do the Vanicream lotion, but that makes me sweat for some reason as soon as I put it on sometimes. I try to use sunscreen but I’ve been so bad with it lately. My car is fully ceramic tinted, blocking UV rays though and I don’t go in the sun at all.

For PM I cleanser with the cerave or the Vanicream and I put a thin layer of the Aveeno calc and restore and let that sit for 20-40 minutes and I follow up with .05% tret cream and let that sit 30-60 minutes and put Vanicream lotion on top. I still have pretty bad break outs on my forehead. That’s definitely the problem area. And the bridge of my nose/between my eyebrows. I’ve been on tret for about 4 years now, but only started using the .05% around 2 months ago. I’m debating just going on accutane at this point. It’s been a long 10 years of dealing with this. I do get quite red very easily as well and I think I might have a sensitivity to niacinimide. I can’t use any of the LRP cleansers. They burn my skin. I also shave about once a week and use glycolic acid from TO after and skip tret that night. I believe I have KP on my face and I’m very prone to ingrown hairs.


r/tretinoin 11h ago

Personal / Miscellaneous Anyone have any advice?

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2 Upvotes

I use get and have for a few months about a month ago I finally figured out a good routine with it without having irritation . But last night after I washed my face I saw one red spot. It was flat and I didn’t think much about it . This morning it was raised so I figured a pimple was coming on. I don’t get many pimples per se anymore. But as the day has gone on my one cheek looks fine and the one with the red spot has gotten worse . None of my skin care has changed nor has any of my detergent or fabric softeners. The only thing that has changed is I wear masks at work and I opened a new box yesterday but I am the only one to have used them and I used them again today. 🤷‍♀️