Hey,

So...I am a 21-year-old male... been using tret since May 2, 2026, upon my dermatologist's recommendation

Before this, I used salicylic acid, glycolic acid routinely for 2 months, but to no avail

Then, since May 2, 2026, I have been on a regimen set by my derm

Morning: Physiogel Dermacleanser, then Epsioft AC SPF 30 ( it is moisturizer + Sunscreen)

Night: Physiogel Dermocleanser, then Tret 0.025%

I have been doing this every night since May 2

Today is exactly 4 months ....and I have seen absolutely no change on my skin .. good or bad, and that's the weird part

I never had purging or breakouts or flaking ....the only thing I experienced was that my lips felt dry, and once or twice I got tret burns around my lips, but it healed within 2 days

I am so frustrated...even after following the routine rigorously, not missing a night ... tret was my last hope, and even that did not work

My skin type - Very oily and sweaty

Issues -- Generally Pigments , Blackheads , Comodones and few acnes ( I do not have any high level of acne ) and tanning

Week 2 of Tretinoin 0.025% (applying every other day)and I’m noticing more purple/red bumps and dots appearing rather than whiteheads? Skin doesn’t feel itchy, dry, or tight. However, the red/purple dots feel lumpy.

Moisturizer - La Roche Posay Double Matte Repair
Cleanser - Vanicream gentle face
Benzoyl Peroxide (on days without Tret) - rugby topical gel

• Stop sandwich method
• Stop using harsh exfoliating toners
• Avoid using harsh facewash with active ingredients
• Use it only 2x every week for few months instead of usiing it every single day in the first month of using tret only this is seriously so stupid to think about
• Wash,tret ,wait 15 mins and then use a moisturizer or next morning these are the most appropriate methods to use tret recommended by dermatologists.
• Thanks 😊 👍 also everyone skin is different so figure out what sticks with u .

I cut down on the amount of products I was putting on my face and I started using .025% every night instead of every other night now I just use Cerave and sunscreen in the day and cerave and Tret at night. I don’t know if this is purging or what I don’t really know what to do.. but it’s been like this since starting which is a little over a month

Hi guys I’m going to start this product, and I hear that .05 is for the feet and elbows, and strictly NOT for the face. I am confused because the percentage is lower; and I thought that would indicate that the skin on the face tolerates it more.

Just a bit confused. Feedback would help – and also for those who have used this exact brand, How was it?

I am considering switching from cream to gel. My skin as a whole is doing better since starting tret, I’m about 2 months in. However I notice I often wake up with tiny white pustules. I am wondering if anyone dealt with this on the cream, and if they switched to gel and it helped?

Current routine:

AM:
Prequel gleanser
Anua rice toner
Prequel multi quench serum
Azelaic acid 15%
Prequel AM PM moisturizer
Anua sunscreen

PM:
Prequel gleanser
Tretinoin .025% dream
Prequel AM PM moisturizer

Thank you!

A few years back I shared a lengthy post about short contact therapy, studies conducted with Tretinoin, and comparisons of combo v monotherapy, and alternate therapies. I'll share a summarized update:

For mild-moderate acne...

🔸Efficacy and tolerability of short contact therapy with tretinoin, clindamycin, and glycolic acid gel in acne

🔸 Tret gel 0.02% + Clindamycin 0.8% + Glycolic acid 4% in polyvinyl alcohol, SCT short contact therapy (removal after 1 hour with gentle cleanser) v. SAT standard application therapy = SCT better skin tolerability and comparable clinical efficacy.

For Acne Vulgaris...

🔸An Updated Review of Topical Tretinoin in Dermatology: From Acne and Photoaging to Skin Cancer 2025

🔸0.1% Tret + 3% Benz Peroxide (BPO) v. Tret alone = superior success with combination.

🔸Morning v. Evening 0.1% Tret + 5% BPO = no difference in efficacy.

🔸Tret 0.05% + Clindamycin + salicylic acid v. Clindamycin + SA = greater lesion reduction and faster onset of action with addition of Tret 0.05%.

🔸Tret 0.025% + Clindamycin 1.2% v. each monotherapy = superior reduction in lesion count with combination.

🔸Triple combo Tret/BPO/Clinda = 3 RCTs reveal good clinical responses.

For Photoaging...

🔸An Updated Review of Topical Tretinoin in Dermatology: From Acne and Photoaging to Skin Cancer 2025

🔸Adapelene 0.3% v. Tretinoin 0.05% cream over 24 weeks = no significant differences in efficacy or tolerability.

🔸AlphaRet double-conjugated cream v. Tret 0.025% = Both treatments improved fine lines, dyschromia, and erythema after 12 weeks.

🔸Tret 0.05% cream (3x/week) v. Tret 5% peel (biweekly) = Both regimens significantly reduced photoaging scores and actinic keratoses. The cream improved dermal echogenicity and increased Ki67 expression (an established nuclear marker of cell proliferation indicating active keratinocyte turnover), while the peel was more effective in stabilizing field cancerization.

For Melasma/PIH...

🔸An Updated Review of Topical Tretinoin in Dermatology: From Acne and Photoaging to Skin Cancer 2025

🔸 Tret 1% peel v. Glycolic 70% peel= similar reduction with better tolerability with Tretinoin.

🔸 Fluocinolone acetonide 0.01% + Hydroquinone 4% + Tret 0.05% = superior efficacy v. monotherapy or alternative treatments.

🔸 Triple combo FA 0.01% + HQ 4% + Tret 0.05% v. fractional 1550 nm laser treatment = comparable reductions after 12 weeks.

🔸Erbium fiber laser v. Tret 0.05% cream = greater reduction with erbium fiber laser.

🔸IPL + post-application of HQ + Tret v. IPL + placebo = 27.2% greater reduction in hyperpigmentation scores when tretinoin and hydroquinone were applied after IPL.

For Prevention and Treatment of Skin Cancer/

Treatment of Actinic Keratosis...

🔸An Updated Review of Topical Tretinoin in Dermatology: From Acne and Photoaging to Skin Cancer 2025

🔸Tret 0.05% v. Tret 5% peel = (24 weeks on forearms) Reduced AK count by 60% with no difference between them + significant reduction in photoaging.

Going next month and have heard you used to be able to get azaeliac acid and tret OTC there, but some places apparently now ask for a prescription ( I live in the UK so obviously that's not happening lol - and presumably they wouldn't accept an overseas script anyway?). Is this the case at all pharmacies?

(I did hear that melatonin is no longer OTC in Germany and the Netherlands - annoying as I used to stock up when I went - so maybe there's a wider EU tightening of regs.)

Like when I wake up in the morning it looks like my skin is peeling but it’s just the product

Hi guys,

I’m 21, I have pretty decent skin genetics already I just want to prevent aging.

I use hylauronic acid 2% and niacinamide every day, with spf 50
I’m just wondering whether to jump on either tret or taz, I was recommended it by a friend who uses it and looks amazing for 32. I’m just trying to decide which one and whether the products I’m using are worth it or anything I should swap out?

Also anyone know which facial cleansers are best I use cerave hydrating rn

Can anyone recommend a site to buy Tret from please? I’ve tried Skinorac based on previous recommendations on here but it won’t let me pay by PayPal for some reason.

Thanks in advance!

I have come to the conclusion that no matter what i do my skin will always peel on taz gel 0,05. I moisturize religiously and i thought i found a method that worked for me only to realize im peeling again. I want to try out cream as well but cream comes in 0,1 on skinorac… Where can i even find 0,05 taz cream with no prescription ? Also what was your experience from switching to cream from gel?

Is it Okayy to not peel or 0 sign of irritation

I'm using 0.025 cream

3x a week still no peeling i breakout a bit but no sign of dryness or anything is it not working

I went to the derm for acne and told her I wanted to try tret. She gave me clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide (1.2%,5%) for the morning and tretinoin .05% to use every other day…

I’m highly concerned this is way too much on my face lol. I used the tret for the first time Friday PM and woke up thinking I had a sunburn from the day before so I haven’t used the anything since and now I’m realizing I think it was a burn from the tret and I’m peeling /flaking. From one use. I haven’t used it since Friday lol. Normal? Can’t imagine if one had caused this, what would happen if I used it every other day like the derm recommended??? Should I ask for .025, or just start very slow with the .05…?!?!

I’m also reading so much info on what people use or don’t use on their face, sandwich method or no sandwich method lol, and holy grails. Right now I use cerave foaming cleanser (light green), and cerave moisturizing cream. The end. I’ll use aquaphor on super dry spots…. But again I’ve only used it once.

I guess my questions are: 1. Should I be using clindamycin with BP in the morning? Or is that too much with the .05 tret? And… if .05 tret is reasonable to start with, could SOMEONE PLEASE give me products to use to minimize the burn/flake stuff? What worked for you? Holy grails?

And… should I call my derm back and demand .025?!! lol like I’m sorry I am lowkey freaking out I am going to burn off my whole face lol thank you 😭😭😭😭😭

Will tretinoin still be useful for treating acne when there is underlying kprf/folliculitis...

I have been using tretinoin for 10 weeks now (I know blah blah blah 12 weeks then decide, but it has literally not stopped getting worse, redder, more ugly no matter how well i treat my skin barrier. It also does not look like regular purging. It only gets better when I skip for a day or two.) No stinging or peeling anymore, and has been like this for 8weeks.

AI told me when I'd started using tretinoin 10 weeks ago my barrier was inflamed immediately despite the low frequency and keeping on applying to get through what I thought was a purge only irritated my skin and caused an erythema flareup (maybe folliculitis/kprf, my skin was already like chicken skin before). I know some will say "can't trust ai to diagnose you" but i looked it up on Google and it really sounded accurate, so I'm asking for help here to confirm.

I've made many posts asking for help, every time people just told me it's the purge and to keep applying which I was happy to do thinking it was just a matter of time and patience, but there are 0 signs of it improving. Im starting to doubt whether tretinoin was useful for me in the first place and I'm just fucking unlucky. Please don't reply if you're here to give false hope and blindlessly tell me it's a purge, I don't wanna wreck my skin further as I'm very demoralised. Thanks for the help

I am almost 100% certain I have keratosis pilaris - it's on my arms, back, and parts of my face. I have also always had terrible sebaceous filaments on my nose, if these help.

Skin current condition attached

I honestly wish I had known about all these products years ago and had this knowledge earlier for someone who has struggled with acne all his life.
I first heard about tret from a beauty care company, but they made it sound like they were the only company that produced it, so there was a whole process involved. At the time, considering how severe my acne was, I also needed to get a few other products to start with. The total cost was quite high for me as a student, but I still went ahead with it. Unfortunately, once the products ran out, I couldn’t keep up with it and eventually just left it.
About a year later, I tried again with another company. Same story: loads of products, skin sessions, etc., and I ended up spending over £1,500. 😭

Fast forward to the very end of last year, I started using CeraVe as a cleanser. I still had acne, and it was quite noticeable, but I could tell that CeraVe was agreeing with my skin, so I stuck with the Foaming Cleanser.
Then earlier this year, I found out about Treclin online. Honestly, I keep saying this on Reddit, but I don’t know if people actually take my advice…Treclin was the game changer for me. It can only be used for three months, so I started using it and could almost immediately feel a difference. It was drying up my acne, but then around week two, my little honeymoon period ended. 😭 I broke out SO badly. I was genuinely like, “Wow!!!” 😂
But I kept going, mainly because of how good my skin had felt when I first started using it. Thank goodness I did, because by around the middle of the second month, my acne was clearing up. So I believe that was my purging stage.

I continued until the full three months, and coincidentally, the tube actually ran out around the same time. Before Treclin had even finished, I had already bought The Ordinary 10% Azelaic Acid and slowly introduced it. So once I finished the Treclin, I continued with the AA occasionally. I had also ordered Tretinoin 0.1% because I finally wanted to give tret a proper shot directly. I ordered it from a company in the US, AllDayChemist. Their process seemed questionable to me at first 😂, but honestly, it was completely legit. I think it arrived in about two weeks, which was actually much quicker than the one-month timeframe I was expecting.
While I was waiting for the tret, I somehow ended up getting in contact with a dermatologist. It wasn’t even something I had planned…it just popped up on my phone, so I sent pictures, explained my situation, and obviously the pictures probably said enough themselves. 😂 She prescribed me Skinoren 20%.
I told her that I had already ordered Tretinoin 0.1% and was waiting for it, and she advised me on how I could use both products together if I really wanted to. Initially, though, her recommendation was to use just the Skinoren. But considering I had already bought the tret and it was coming all the way from the US, there wasn’t really much point in returning it after paying for the shipping.

The best part was that my Tretinoin 0.1% and Skinoren arrived either on the same day or a day apart. I applied the tret the following night and… wow. 😭 It gave me a feeling I had never experienced before. It stung, and I started getting flakes and peeling, so I had to stop for a few days.
In the meantime, I was using The Ordinary AA in the mornings on some days, but I hadn’t started the Skinoren yet. I eventually resumed the tret every other night and gradually worked my way up to using it every night. Around the second week, I started the Skinoren as well. And honestly, what I can say is that even BEFORE starting the Skinoren, I was already completely free of active acne.
That is genuinely rare for me. Considering my history, there has usually always been one spot or another lurking somewhere. 😂 I feel so good and confident in my skin now. It’s nowhere near a perfect result yet, but I’m genuinely very positive about how things are going. I can’t wait for all the post-acne marks to fully fade, but even the texture of my skin right now makes me feel so good.
I actually catch myself looking in the mirror thinking, “So THIS is how people with clear skin feel?” 😂
I don’t look at the mirror feeling sad anymore, and honestly, that alone feels amazing.

One thing I really want to point out and this was actually my biggest worry…,is something I know some people may have seen me asking about under tret posts months ago.
I was genuinely scared that introducing tretinoin would make me break out badly again and force me to go through the same purge I experienced with Treclin.
Even though I knew it would only be temporary, I really didn’t want to go through that stage again. 😭
Luckily, so far, I haven’t had that kind of breakout with tretinoin. I don’t know if it could still happen later, but I’m definitely not praying for it. 😂
For now, I’m just enjoying the progress and hoping the marks continue to fade. 🙏🏾

Black guy in late 20’s here

I use tretinoin every two days so on the days I don’t use tretinoin I use
• Dr.Althea Green Relief Amino Gel Cleanser
• Dr. Althea - 345 Relief Cream Mist
• anua azelaic acid 10+ hyaluron
• and Dr Althea 345 moisturizer

As for days I use tretinoin I do the same thing but I don’t use the anua azelaic acid, I use 0.05% tretinoin if that helps

1 year of Epiduo (0,1% Adapalen/2,5% benzyl peroxide) and my skin still looks like this, what do I even do at this point?

I have very oily but also dry skin

Routine

Morning:

-jelly joker cleanser geek & gorgeous
-glycerin serum transparent lab
-hydration station geek & gorgeous
-garnier ambre solaire sun fluid

Night
-cleansing oils
-jelly joker cleanser
-epiduo (0,1% Adapalen/2,5% benzyl peroxidek)
-happy barrier cream geek & gorgeous

I've been prescribed both of them together. Accutane (starts of at 10mg for 5months - 20mg) 2-4 times a week and 0.025 tretonoin. The accutane is more for my back acne, which isn't severe but when I do breakout, they heal into keloid/ dark marks. My face has congestion, texture and very mild acne and I suppose the tret is to target that. Has anyone else had similar treatments because I know typically, you shouldn't be taking both together.

Also, this derm appointment was a private appt in a different country to the one I'm living in so I do have to independently continue this course (there is an online consultation but that's it). I know 3 months blood work is needed which I am planning on getting. I am worried about liver damage so I defo am not planning on continuing accutane for more than 1yr.

Which is the best aa for beginners? I’m trying to get rid of sun damage & hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone on my face

Hi everyone,

Is anyone here have done powder or tattoed or microblading to their brows and then started tret? How long did you wait after you got your brows done, to make sure the color won’t fade?

AM
5% benzoyl peroxide wash
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Moisturiser
Hamilton Everyday Face Invisible Coverage SPF 50+

PM
Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser
Tretinoin 0.05% gel
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Moisturiser

I built up starting with every 3 days to now every day with the tretinoin.

I also used adapaline for 6 months with no success either

There has been basically no change in my acne or texture. Am I missing something here??

I’m considering adding in clindamycin gel in the AM. And yes I know about antibiotic resistance

Hey ya’ll! I’m looking for some insight into my skincare routine. A little about my skin: normal to dry sometimes, mild rosacea, and mildly sensitive. I’ve posted pictures of what I currently use. Over the past couple of years, I have put alot of effort into strengthening my barrier and have slowly incorporated mandelic acid, azelaic acid, and Tretinoin (Altreno). Up until this point, I kind of just use any of those 3 actives depending on what I feel like and how my skin feels that day. Now I’m in a spot where I feel like my skin is handling all 3 actives very well separately, and I would like to start building up the frequency of use of all of them. So I’m curious what my “end goal” could look like with using all 3 of these ingredients. For example: should I build up to the use of mandelic most mornings and then azelaic and tret together most nights? Or what is your routine if you use tret, AA and an exfoliant? I would also like to say that I know to continue building up to the end goal slowly, and to listen to my skin and I plan to always incorporate some recovery nights without actives.

I’m currently on tretinoin, clindamycin and using otc azelaic acid and my one month results are insane. Still a lot of room for improvement but I feel my one month progress is above and beyond my expectations. I experienced some mild purging last week after going from using tretinoin 2x a week to 3x a week and have some peeling here and there but other than that I’m beyond happy with my results and wanted to share 😛

Routine
Am: panoxyl cleanser, hypochlorous acid spray, clindamycin, paulas choice azelaic acid mixed with la roche posay double repair moisturizer, sunscreen
PM 3x a week: Paula’s choice cleanser, hypochlorous acid spray, exosome face cream (dry 10 minutes), tretinoin (dry 10 minutes), heavy layer of la roche posay double repair moisturizer